Terry Jones' Koran Burning Inspires Afghan Riot That Kills 12 U.N. Workers

So, although it was Muslims who actually stormed the U.N. Compound and killed 12 human beings, it's really Terry Jones' fault for, y'know, burning a Koran and saying that Islam isn't a religion of peace. Islam is so a religion of peace! As long as, you know, you're a Muslim. For non-Muslims, it kinda sucks.

http://www.samharris.org/blog/...The last line is compelling.

The New York Times reported today that at least ten UN aid workers have been murdered by an Afghan mob. This senseless savagery occurred in Mazar-i-Sharif, “one of the most peaceful places in Afghanistan,” in response to news that a Florida pastor, Terry Jones, finally made good on his threat to burn a copy of the Koran. Pastor Jones and the members of his tiny congregation in Gainesville appear to be religious crackpots of the first order, but anyone tempted to condemn them for provoking this violence has lost the plot. As I wrote previously in defense of the Dutch politician Geert Wilders (“Losing Our Spines to Save Our Necks”):

Wilders, like Westergaard and the other Danish cartoonists, has been widely vilified for “seeking to inflame” the Muslim community. Even if this had been his intention, this criticism represents an almost supernatural coincidence of moral blindness and political imprudence. The point is not (and will never be) that some free person spoke, or wrote, or illustrated in such a manner as to inflame the Muslim community. The point is that only the Muslim community is combustible in this way. The controversy over Fitna, like all such controversies, renders one fact about our world especially salient: Muslims appear to be far more concerned about perceived slights to their religion than about the atrocities committed daily in its name. Our accommodation of this psychopathic skewing of priorities has, more and more, taken the form of craven and blinkered acquiescence.

There is an uncanny irony here that many have noticed. The position of the Muslim community in the face of all provocations seems to be: Islam is a religion of peace, and if you say that it isn’t, we will kill you. Of course, the truth is often more nuanced, but this is about as nuanced as it ever gets: Islam is a religion of peace, and if you say that it isn’t, we peaceful Muslims cannot be held responsible for what our less peaceful brothers and sisters do. When they burn your embassies or kidnap and slaughter your journalists, know that we will hold you primarily responsible and will spend the bulk of our energies criticizing you for “racism” and “Islamophobia.”

Will moderate Muslims defend Pastor Jones’s right to burn the Koran?

If Terry Jones is a Christian then how did he become GOD? Terry Jones is Burning the Koran again, causing riots and people are being killed. He says "I think it's what Jesus would do." They held a trial at his church and found the Koran guilty of being a violation of human rights.

What happened to love your enemies? Matthew 5:43-45 (King James Version) 43Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Or judge not? Luke 6:36-38 (King James Version) 36Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. 37Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: 38Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Or vengeance belongs to God? Romans 12:18-20 (King James Version) 18If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

These children who lost their parents, who are they going to blame? The God Terry Jones claims he follows!

Well, he now says he is "prepared to die". Great! Give him a gun and some training and send him overseas to ACTUALLY risk dying in the riots he goaded into being by shaking the hornets nest and then running to hide behind the 1st amendment, instead of sitting safely in his own town in his own church surrounded by HIS supporters in gainsville. Please....

as Kurt Vonnegut once so eloquently stated "I could carve a better man out of a banana."

besides, what in hell makes him think christianity is any more a religion of peace-because its the one he picked? the double edged sword of free speech is that we have to put up with any old idiot with a big mouth getting the chance of free publicity. Disappointing but not surprising.

lTerry Jones should be arrested immediately and charged, tried, and convicted of a hate crime and accessory to murder as the retaliation was murder and Jones initiated, instigated, and provoked such. He had NO RIGHT to burn their Koran/Quran which is their holy book that is comparable in importance to them as is the Holy Bible (God's Holy Word) to we Christians. What he did was not Christian and not something Jesus would ever advocate or condone. Jones is DIRECTLY responsible and culpable for murder. When will he be arrested for the hate crime he committed? When will Muslims and Islam get justice? I do not believe what Islam teaches but I, also, do not believe that anyone has the right to burn their holy book and incite riots and murder which Terry Jones did.

Burning books has always been the province of the Religious Right wing. Up until now, it has only been an exercise in extremism. The tragedy, is that those who were murdered might not have even been Christian. As far as hate crimes, hard to tell. He burned a book, not a person.

Angela Garcia as NeonMosfet

What about the atrocities done to Christians within the "nations of Islam"? The murders, done by beating, beheadings, raping? What about what has been done to innocent civilians who have been abducted, tortured, and violated in ways that one cannot fathom if of a sane mind? What about THOSE vile acts and perpetrators? Why don't the political sheep baa about these things? No, it's swept under the rug. WE have freedom of speech. NONE of the Islamic nations do. Shariah law has no place in a sane world and no place here.

Jones is an idiot of the highest degree. He is a bigot and far from being the Christian he professes to be. He has caused the death and injury of many people to achieve his own agenda, whatever that might be, other than gaining attention from the rest of the clowns out there that don't believe people have the right to worship as they wish. To take out his stupidity on all Muslims by burning the Koran is just wrong. He is a liar and a murderer in my view and should be held accountable for the killings and injuries his action has caused. The law says you are just as guilty of a murder if you are involved in an action that involves murder so why is he still free?

I like this righteous indignation I see. It is a pity I did not see it when Michael Issikoff published that false Newsweek article about the Gitmo Guards flushing the Koran. If i recall correctly, the ensuing riots killed some 30 people in Pakistan so Pastor Jones is barely an amateur.

I dare pastor Jones to go to Dearborn; I hope he makes it out alive! I am so sick of these wacko preachers with all of their ideas about what is good for America. Leave it alone and mind your own business! That's all we need is another Westboro Baptist Church on our conscience.

Terry Jones has less intelligence than a child, he has either never discovered the human aspect of man's life or he has "decided" to ignore them, he is racist, and outright dangerous. Since he appears to be totally ignorant of consequences of his actions, he is irresponsible, too, and should be locked up. Forever!

If this is America you cankeep it, as for terry he has just insited hate , NOT with muslems but with every human on earth.You do NOT destroy any book on FAITH, wether you believe in that faith or dontTerry JONES is the DEVILHope he drops dead of guilt shamless person who represents USA.and I am a christian.

This stupid pastor knew too well that his planned act would create protest among muslims and he was promptly warned by no less than the general in charge of Afghanistan mission but still proceeded to do his moronic and idiotic act of burning the holy Quran. The tendencies to be extremely violent were already a given thing, but why provoke them? This is the most stupid thing ever, and refusing to share of the responsibility of those who perished in the protest makes it more abhoring. If i will be given the chance to see this pastor, I'll punch him on the face so bad that he would wish he'll come back to his senses.

this article is outrageous. i am no friend to religious zealots of any stripe, but linking the murders to this "redneck hick" is absurd. why not link this violence back to Salman Rushdie? Islam needs to grow up and accept being called names in the schoolyard without resorting to murder. The taunting may be immature, but there is only violence on one side of this particular equation at the moment. Political violence tied to Islam might be one thing to defend, but I see no political cause in this - just chest-beating. and the escalation from a country hick's publicity stunt to full-blown terrorism is inexcusable. you may be embarrassed of your less-educated countrymen, but don't embarrass yourself in your rush to apologize for them.

I wonder if Jones has been charged with a hate crime, or perhaps involuntary manslaughter of the 12 people in Afghanistan.

If Jones had ever read the Qur'an, he would know that it tells the story of Christ's virgin birth and His resurrection. He would also know that the violence in the Qur'an is defensive rather than offensive. It's modern misinterpretations are as unfortunate as Jones' misreading of the Gospel.

No doubt. Jones is a douche. But in a modern society you're allowed to be a douche as long as you don't interfere with other people's rights. The response to Jones, however, is not in the same league. Attacking and killing people over a book demonstrates a profound level of backwardness that makes Jones childish prank pale in comparison. Blaming Jones for those murders let's the killers off the hook.

The "International Judge the Qur'an Day," a six-hour event, was held March 20, according to church-affiliated websites.On its websites, the church "accused" the Koran of "inciting murder, rape and terrorist activities." "If we are proven wrong, we will issue a PUBLIC APOLOGY," a press release before the event said. "Otherwise if the Koran is found guilty, it will be 'executed' in one of the following ways, chosen by an International Poll: 1) Burning 2) Drowning 3) Shredding or 4) Firing squad."

A subsequent press release, issued March 22, announced that the Koran was "found guilty and a copy was burned inside the building."The pastor of the Church and the Mullah of the Mosque equally responsible for this heinous crime of killing more than 20 innocent human beings. Our SC must take a note of this event and think twice before allowing hate crime speeches as no crime but rule that "it is a crime against HUMANITY" and the guilty must be punished accordingly.

I am all for taking Jones and his congregation, beheading Jones in front of them, then burn down the church with the moroons inside. OR sned Jones and his flock to Mazr e shariff, and let the locals take care of them. So many choice....then end is the same...

Yeah... I don't think he wanted publicity... I won't remember his name, unless of course he is next in line to be the next fred phelps.

I think all in all, perhaps it is a good move to show the world just how fanatical the religion is...

Maybe it will stop wars in the future? I mean if everybody stands up for themselves and what they believe to be right then perhaps cultural influence will prevent the war.

I cannot see pacifists winning long term if people are not aware of the crimes that the Koran stands for by those who believe it is law open for their interpretation.

Tim,

You are completely missing the point that Rede30 has made. The fact is that if it wasn't Terry Jones, it would be something else causing a loss of life to non-Muslims. And by pretty much acknowledging that his comments will lead to more violence, you are perpetuating the appeasement of radicals. Are we not able to express ourselves according to our 1st Amendment rights in America? If Terry Jones wants to burn a Koran in protest over what he believes to be a book of violence and racism, that is one thing. It is is right. If a mullah beheads 12 UN workers because of this is Terry Jones to blame? Sorry, but I'm not buying into it. Far be it for anyone in the world to terrorize others with threats of violence for speaking their mind or burning a copy of "their" book.

Why doesn't the media ignore him? Religious freedom sucks!

This "idiot hick" was exercising his freedom of speech. We cannot fault him for the actions of religious zealots. Those muslims didn't have to brutally kill those UN workers, but they did only because their mullahs called them to. Those types of people(Muslim fanatics) are no better than dogs. I have friends that are muslim, and they would never do such a heinous thing.

I've never seen a "Religion of Peace". Can some one point one out to me? Every, EVERY religion I have encountered is built upon the base belief: "We're Right, You're Wrong, And you either convert to ours or there will be Consequences." So, While Joness is right on the fact that Islamic extremists are subhuman barbaric people, well, so is every other religious zealot. Including him. It's so... Tiring.

Jones surely is overly zealous - but- why do you not show the same disgust for the mullahs and the uber-zealots that KILL and BEHEAD those that do not agree with them? Don't forget, they ( fanatic muslims) are here in the US as well. Don't think so? Just visit Dearborn, Mi sometime.