You must have heard by now, Pastor Terry Jones of Florida plans to host something he is calling "International Burn a Koran Day" on September 11th. Jones was kicked out of the last congregation he led because he used the church till to pay for his own expenses but don't let that fool you into thinking this Pentecostal pastor isn't on a mission that he has been called to by God himself. Though everyone from local to national politicians, army generals and embassies from foreign countries have spoke out rejecting the demonstration, Jones has insisted that he and his 50 person congregation will continue their plan to burn one of the most holy and revered text in the world.
Do I think he's crazy? Absolutely. Jones stated on CBS "We are definitely probably insulting all Muslims," um, yeah, you think?
Jones is not phased by offending roughly 22% of the world population because in his mind "The fact that we offend them is the lesser of two evils." You see, Jones argues that because radical Islam is going to eventually take over America we have to be even more radical in defending our American way of life from Islamic zealots. What did pastor Jones say about endangering the lives of American soldiers in Afghanistan? "We understand what the general is saying, and I'm sure that it has somewhat some truth to it."
The most upsetting thing about this display comes from another quote from Jones CBS interview. He states, "We think it's time to turn the tables, and instead of possibly blaming us for what could happen, we put the blame where it belongs - on the people who would do it," he said. "And maybe instead of addressing us, we should address radical Islam and send a very clear warning that they are not to retaliate in any form."
Oh, okay. So we burn the holy text believed to be verbatim the word of God taught by the holy prophet Muhammad and then we just tell the rest of the world that they better not do anything about it. Even if we could prevent retaliation directed at America in general, the many soldiers and American diplomats scattered through the middle east are already being targeted because of Pastor John's inability to make any damn sense.
This so-called congregation reminds me more of a cult than of a group of 50 passionate Pentecostals fighting evil. Do I think this falls under the category of exercising the right to free speech? Yes, but just as much as shouting "fire" in a crowded theater falls under the good old first amendment. This time however, inciting a stampede of panicked movie goers seems a lot more amusing than furthering an agenda of violent intolerant hate. If you want to endanger yourself to make a statement then that is one thing. Taking on the role of a hateful, ignorant, crooked pastor who wants to send a message to the Islamic world while hiding behind the constitution and the FBI while safely in wherever the fuck Florida USA, is a completely different and much more gutless action.
Could we send Pastor Jones a basket full of snakes and a pitcher of red kool-aid? Maybe some white nikes? Perhaps the good pastor just needs a distraction to realize how bat-shit crazy it is to light any book, especially one with such loaded dangerous ramifications on fire to make a statement about the dangers of radical religious intolerance.
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