I have a problem with the book burning because the motive behind the protest isn't just protesting, it's also seeking attention. Inciting violence because you're an attention whore isn't okay with me. Because like red said, the radical muslims can't separate fanatical Americans from the rest of us...but somehow we're expected to separate the radical Muslims from the rest of them. Whatever. On the other hand, the imam who wants to build that mosque near the WTC site also says that they will become violent if we prevent them from building that mosque-which is supposed to be a symbol of peace, tolerance, or other such nonsense-where they want. That is one instance where I do think the protesters should hold their ground. The spirit behind the protest is honorable, wanting to keep the imam from building what essentially is a monument to their victory in the place where 3,000+ people were murdered. It's not cowardice. I just think it's wise to pick and choose your battles.
it isnt senseless. the koran is worth protesting. are you aware that the koran is a bunch of made-up nonsense that makes people go crazy? protest is a good and healthy part of democracy. but something is accomplished, people have expressed themselves. sounds like a lot of people are getting to express themselves. not a problem. thats what i am telling you! who are we to tell this preacher dude he cant be critical of islam? i happen to agree that islam is terribel, but that is beside the point. i would support him even if he burned me in effigy.
it would be more honorable if he burned bibles with the qurans. as swerved pointed out, there are a few blank pages that can be burned if needed. :grin:
martin, your sense of fair play is skewed. You must defend to the death his right to protest. And you completely dismiss the fact that I have the same right to criticize the friggin' lunatic. Your sense of significance is also badly skewed. Some protests have repercussions that are huge and very bad for many people and counter-protests are completely legitimate. Others are thinly disguised publicity-seeking stunts that should be criticized as such. This one is both.
thats the whole point of protest, to bring attention to your cause. was salman rushdie inciting violence when he wrote the satanic verses? it caused a global furor. was denmark inciting violence when they allowed the cartoons to be published that dididnt properly respect mohammad? when the violence happens, 100% of the blame is on the person committing the violence. "they caused it by offending me" is no excuse. if you are violent, you caused it. no excuses.
what if a guy burned some korans, then after the muslims start bombing things, he reveals that the books were not actually korans, but were just bound blank paper, i wonder if people would be less offended. when we realize that there is no difference, that the whole act is symbolic, then i think we properly understand what an insignificant act this is, and how it is BS to give any respect to those who would threaten us because of it.
If we properly understood the insignificance this lunatic with a following of a handful would get no publicity at all.
There is a right way and a wrong way to bring attention to your cause. The preacher said he'd halt the burning if he got a call from the White House. If all you wanted was to bring attention to your cause, would you care if you got to speak with the president? It's about him feeling important enough to warrant a call from the president, not only about his objections to the Koran. I guess I'm just considering the intent of the protest rather than taking it at face value as a practice of free speech. I don't know much about the Rushdie incident, but do remember the cartoon. Was it simply practice of free speech or an intentional taunt, designed to provoke a violent response? I agree with this.
probably a little of both. but what is the job of a cartoonist other than drawing of course. To sell cartoons; and what sells? Controversy.
Apparently this preacher guy can't tell the difference between Radical Muslims and the rest. That is why he is burning something sacred to and representatives of all Muslims and not something more specific to the radical terrorist movement like pictures of Osama bin Laden. So in an effort to NOT look like the nut from Gainesville, I think we should be able to distinguish between radical Muslims and the rest of them. This shouldn't be too hard. We expect our children to be able to distinguish between the good and bad crowds at school.
