Burning a Koran: Right or Wrong?

[Bailey Guns]

I've been hearing a lot the past few days about the Koran burning in Florida. Muslims around the world, especially in Afghanistan and Pakistan, are acting with the predictable, violent outrage. Many people have been killed in the protests and at least one that I've heard of was beheaded.

Of course the Taliban leaders are blaming the US and inciting the people to riot and lash out violently.

Even Gen Petraeus said:

"We condemn, in particular, the action of an individual in the United States who recently burned the Holy Koran. We also offer condolences to the families of all those injured and killed in violence which occurred in the wake of the burning of the Holy Koran."

I'm curious how others feel about this. I've heard many people say the actions of the Florida preacher who did this were wrong, he's endangered US lives all over the planet, etc... The thread on 1st Amendment rights also got me to thinking about this. I support not what the guy did, really, but his right to have a PEACEFUL protest and air his views. That's something Muslims don't seem to get in a lot of places.

Maybe I don't get it. I don't necessarily condone what he did because I just don't really see the sense in it. But I don't necessarily think it's wrong, either. And I sure don't blame him for causing the deaths of many people in the mid-East. I also don't see that his actions have put US lives in danger.

My take is this...radical Muslims will use any convenient excuse (such as this) to strike out at Americans. I blame the people who killed in the name of desecrating the Koran for the deaths. I think Petraeus is way outta line in what he said. The actions of some of these people confirm in my mind how wacked out so many of the Muslims are. It also confirms how so many of our leaders are politically correct and spineless. I expect more from a 4-star general. I've pretty much lost all respect for Petraeus...I guess the politics of a douchebag boss have corrupted him.

Religion of peace? I think not. This kind of thing makes it harder and harder for me to be accepting of the Muslim religion and not lump them all into the radical category of murderous thug and adopting the "kill them all" attitude.

[ronaldrwl]

It's a right

[Mtn.man]

The General is saying what he is told to say.

It is a right.

And radicals will use any excuse to continue.

[ghettodub]

It's a right, while I think it's stupid and pointless, it is still a right. If the media didn't cover that crap as much and sensationalize it so much, it wouldn't be as big of a deal. I don't believe that every muslim is bad and wants to kill all Americans, and just as many people have been killed in the name of Christianity too.

I dunno, I guess my rambling is just going towards "I wish people would just care about their own shit, and not what everyone else is doing."

And now, a related video that this thread reminded me of.

[Bailey Guns]

The General is saying what he is told to say.

Yeah, maybe. But to me, that even makes it worse. If he was a Lt or Captain with his whole career ahead of him...well, OK. I can understand that a little easier.

But a guy who just appears to be selling out time after time? And he's an O-10 with probably 30+ years of service. I like to think I'd tell Obama to pack sand. I've quit far lesser jobs with no backup plan because I didn't want to go along with the "program". This guy sure isn't worried about retirement or promotions or anything like that.

No...he's a sell-out.

[Bailey Guns]

Yeah...lots of people were killed in the name of Christianity...several hundred years ago. And when violence happens now in the name of Christianity, Christians everywhere quickly and loudly denounce it. I hardly think that's comparable to what goes on in the Muslim religion.

You don't see Christian preachers and priests advocating violence against the rest of the world in any mainstream Christian church. You see it everywhere in the Muslim religion.

[ghettodub]

Yeah...lots of people were killed in the name of Christianity...several hundred years ago. And when violence happens now in the name of Christianity, Christians everywhere quickly and loudly denounce it. I hardly think that's comparable to what goes on in the Muslim religion.

You don't see Christian preachers and priests advocating violence against the rest of the world in any mainstream Christian church. You see it everywhere in the Muslim religion.

There are wackos in every religion, and sure, it has been a while since Christianity did that, but it did go on for what? A thousand years?

I don't totally disagree with you, and it's becoming harder to not lump them all in to one pile. I've just known too many Muslims who are very against the extremism that you see so much of today, so I try to not judge the entire group based on the nuts (which, unfortunately, is a lot of them...).

And back to your original point, it's idiots like this that makes me not like the first amendment at a lot of times (between Koran burners, Westboro, KKK, etc), but, it's still their right...

[trlcavscout]

It is a right, right or wrong. If U.S. civilians are over seas in dangerous areas they are responsible for them selves. This stuff has happened before so people should be a little smarter about their own security, as should the UN.

[Mtn.man]

It is a right, right or wrong. If U.S. civilians are over seas in dangerous areas they are responsible for them selves. This stuff has happened before so people should be a little smarter about their own security, as should the UN.

Kinda the way we feel.

[Lex_Luthor]

Unfortunately, all Muslims are encouraged to eradicate all non-believers who will not convert to Islam, as direct orders from "god" (Allah) via the prophet Muhammad. Muhammad himself killed hundreds, if not, thousands of people to demonstrate how it should be done in the name of their god. I agree with the previous statement that those who remain silent are showing their support for it. And when confronted with the same option to either kill a non-believer or denounce Islam, I bet 90% of Muslims would kill another human being to further spread their infectious religion.

Now, if the general or colonel or whoever he is, was referring to the Bible, would he have quoted the word "Holy" in front of it? And what walk of faith does he follow, if any?