Burning Questions
Commenter Bob Royfills writes in The New York Times:
Suppose we try a bit of role reversal. Koran burning is a vile and stupid idea, without question. But suppose someone in, say, Afghanistan proposed to burn a Bible. How many death threats would result? How many Afghans in the United States would be in fear of their lives? And, to the point--what explains this difference?
Another smart one is from James:
Instead of burning copies of the Koran, we should hand them out and encourage people to read them. And if we could add readings from the Hadith and fourteen centuries of history, so much the better.The media - particularly this instance of it - likes to write of Islamophobia, but a phobia is defined as an irrational fear. Spend some time learning about Islam, and if you do so with an open mind, you are likely to start thinking that a fear of Islam might indeed be eminently rational.
Perhaps this marks me as intolerant, but I ask you: when we read almost daily of acts which if perpetrated by any other group would be denounced as monstrous crimes, why should I tolerate those who by their silence (if nothing else) acquiesce to such acts?
Anna's comment is reminiscent of some of the things Crid was posting the other day:
"The mosque project near ground zero upholds a great American principle, but it's not a sensible idea"Of course, not.
What all these comments of the last couple of weeks have shown is the illiteracy of the population. I am terrified by the shallowness of the culture where the majority of people believe that if you smile(or rather show your expensive teeth), you are friendly, you are good and, if you use the words "Freedom, peace, tolerance, the Constitution" all the time everywhere, you are just wonderful. No need to know anything, no need to study any culture, one's own including, no need to think, just smile and repeat "Freedom, peace ..." Several hours of hard work of memorizing platitudes and slogans - and you are set for life. Or at least until reality knocks.
Of course, comments "are no longer being accepted" after just 23 of them have been posted.
Suppose we try a bit of role reversal. Koran burning is a vile and stupid idea, without question. But suppose someone in, say, Afghanistan proposed to burn a Bible. How many death threats would result? How many Afghans in the United States would be in fear of their lives? And, to the point--what explains this difference?
I wonder how British law enforcement and military personnel would have reacted to a (hypothetical) Anglican church proposing to burn rosaries during the height of the troubles? I suspect they would have leaned pretty hard on the rosary-burners to call off their plans because of the potential risks to further inflame a conflict that had a strong religious component to it.
Christopher at September 10, 2010 7:40 AM
I wonder why they don't just laugh and say, "Go right ahead and burn those Korans, you silly preacher, we'll just print up some more!"
vi at September 10, 2010 9:34 AM
Handing out copies of the Koran is a silly idea. The majority of our population is far too busy caring about the lives of Kardashians than to even recall how to turn pages in an actual book and/or comprehend the words contained within.
CJ at September 10, 2010 9:48 AM
xkcd
smurfy at September 10, 2010 9:52 AM
I wonder if the prohibition against defiling the Koran or other holy works stems from the days when "just print up some more" was not an option.
It may still not be in some parts of the Muslim world. In a mostly illiterate part of the world where obtaining a book is a rare and difficult thing, burning a book could represent a major loss to the community.
When American Christians need a new Bible, they can just go to the Motel Six and steal one (or to any courthouse in Alabama and read it on the walls).
But when Muslims in Waziristan need a new Koran, it might take them weeks to get a one.
Conan the Grammarian at September 10, 2010 2:37 PM
When I heard about this preacher's plans to burn the Koran, i originally admired his balls to do so. On the other hand, I do worry about our men overseas getting shot up even more just because of it. I don't think many Americans would be out to kill Muslims if they burned the Bible or the Book of Mormon or whatever other religious text they chose, but I don't think we should tolerate it, either should it happen. I am an Islamophobe and I believe their religion is built upon irrational thinking and action and I hate to see an American do something irrational that may cause even more backlash for our young men that are in the thick of the Islam world doing their jobs.
Jessica at September 11, 2010 12:46 AM
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