Making An (Incendiary) Statement
What a unique way to commemorate a memorable occasion. Burn the holy book of a religion which its practitioners claim is one of peace.Of course that peaceful religion is also one that was gifted to tribal warring Bedouin, desert dwellers hardened by millennia of bare existence in an unforgiving landscape of constant attack and counter-attack. But who took to that peaceful religion on the basis of its encouraging the faithful to continue striking terror into the hearts of those not of their faithful tribe.
A religion whose history is rife with tribal warfare, assassinations, territorial acquisition, massacres, and exultant triumphalism. A religion whose creeping spread encompassed a huge swath of global territory and whose exemplars were hero-worshipped for their battle prowess.
Of course there are other world religions which in their earlier days spread murder and mayhem around the Globe, as well. However, it is only Islam that has spawned modern-day terror on a global scale.
Seems as though some folk feel like resisting the Christian compulsion to be forgiving and understanding.
The Dove World Outreach Center of Gainsville, Florida appears unwilling to be Christian enough to turn the other cheek. Unrepentantly furious that their countrymen have been slaughtered by violent jihadists burning with religious zeal to further their cause of a renascent global Caliphate where once again infidels exist as taxable chattel.
"Islam and Sharia law was responsible for 9/11", claims the Outreach Center's pastor.
"Unfortunately in Florida and nationwide, Islamophobia are actually on the rise", responds the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "I'm more afraid of those who have anti-Muslim sentiments and may think this is a legitimate action and may want to attack a mosque or attack a Muslim on the street."
What, precisely, is Islamophobia? Fear and hatred of an ideological movement posing as a religion? Disgust with the fervent followers of a religion that teaches its faithful contempt for kuffars, and insists that the faithful do not mingle with non-Muslims? That the penalty for leaving the faith is death? That encourages the mission of spreading sharia throughout the world. That holds all other religions false?
A religion whose followers have traditionally expunged all monuments erected in pride of faiths other than Islam. Those who have replaced synagogues and churches with mosques. Who take great pleasure in destroying all emblems of the 'false' religions, and who relentlessly disparage those religions and their symbols as disposable as refuse.
But whose fury is incandescent when their own edifices or holy books or signal figures are 'desecrated'.
So there is the challenge from the Dove World Outreach Center of Gainsville, Florida. Its intent to hold an "International Burn a Koran Day"; exceedingly uncivil, disrespectful and quite credibly provocative. This unreasonable move to 'pay-back' is a measure called to take a stand "against the evil if Islam". Not very dovish is it?
"We will burn Korans because we think it's time for Christians, for churches, for politicians to stand up and say no: Islam and Sharia law is not welcome in the U.S.", said the organizer, pastor Terry Jones. Obviously counting on the 'keeping up with the Jones' phenomena to assist in his endeavours.
He is bound to be disappointed. Not that the public doesn't have some degree of sympathy. Simply that they value their lives.
"We've got many death threats from jihad groups, but we cannot react by fear and we cannot compromise our beliefs. Somebody must stand up", Jones claims. Well, somebody is standing up; primarily members of the Al-Falluja jihadist forum. Who have threatened to "spill rivers of your (American) blood" along with "a war the likes of which you have never seen before".
These threats will certainly appear as a disincentive to act in concert with pastor Jones.
Harvest the wind and reap the whirlwind.
Labels: Human Relations, Political Realities, Religion
posted by Pieface @ Monday, August 02, 2010
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