Burn-A-Koran Day to be held on anniversary of 9/11, tension mounts

[Inseriousity.]

But the Pastor is only being proved right by the response he is getting from the political class and from the Islamic world. We are seeing effigys of Terry Jones being burnt on the streets with many calling for this death for being critical of Islam and we are seeing the politicians condemn this outright, but whenever it is the other way around (muslims burning effigys of various people in the West) we never see such a response. The very fact the US army is warning their may be a dangerous reaction to a simple book burning rather proves his point.

Islam cannot seem to take any criticism.

Erm... isnt this whole thread a response? He's responding to extremeist muslims hijacking planes. And as we, the political elite and the MAJORITY of western islam, condemn muslim extremism/sharia law, we also condemn people who go to idiotic lengths to upset a minority of people, which will just serve to prove their twisted points even further.

[AgnesIO]

Hang on a second, I have not for one moment suggested that all muslims are extremists - what I am asking plainly is why is it that everytime somebody criticises Islam they are threatened with death? why do we have protests on the streets of Islamic nations threatening people with death who dare criticise Islam? why are our politicians so protective (or scared?) of Islam but not of other issues when it comes down to freedom of speech?

As for insulting Islam, I can hold any view I wish on the matter - just as many on here condemn the Catholic Church over and over again. My personal stance is that if a mosque is eligable for planning permission at Ground Zero then it should be built at Ground Zero. If a Pastor wishes to burn the Koran then let him build a Koran. If somebody wishes to criticise a religion then they can.

It seems as per usual, whenever somebody questions Islam - they are jumped upon, just as you have done so with me right now.

Islam cannot seem to take any criticism.

That is what you said. Indicating that Muslim's do not like criticism.

I don't believe in Islam, or any other religion. So god knows why you are trying to say I jumped on you for question islam?

[-:Undertaker:-]

Erm... isnt this whole thread a response? He's responding to extremeist muslims hijacking planes. And as we, the political elite and the MAJORITY of western islam, condemn muslim extremism/sharia law, we also condemn people who go to idiotic lengths to upset a minority of people, which will just serve to prove their twisted points even further.

I think he's doing more than upsetting a minority of people, he's provoked a big response for daring to criticise a religion. In doing so, he has been threatened with death - so my point is very simple, why is it that when the Catholic Church is criticised (or any other religion for that matter) the same response is not provoked but when Islam is provoked - look at the reaction.

In a democracy you have the right to upset, insult and criticise.

Islam cannot seem to take any criticism.

That is what you said. Indicating that Muslim's do not like criticism.

I don't believe in Islam, or any other religion. So god knows why you are trying to say I jumped on you for question islam?

Look at the reaction that the burning of a book is getting from the muslim world and you can clearly see why I have come about that conclusion, that Islam cannot seem to take any criticism.

Because had I questioned Christianity or any other religion, you would not go to the lengths you are doing so now to defend the faith. Again this is why I refer to the view that you appear to be taking on and that our politicians hold, which is that 'Islam is above criticism'.

[Nemo]

Look at the reaction that the burning of a book is getting from the muslim world and you can clearly see why I have come about that conclusion, that Islam cannot seem to take any criticism.

Because had I questioned Christianity or any other religion, you would not go to the lengths you are doing so now to defend the faith. Again this is why I refer to the view that you appear to be taking on and that our politicians hold, which is that 'Islam is above criticism'.

I havent been following this thread, but are you serious? Burning their holy book and you dont think there will be any kind of reaction?
Not even burning one, having an entire day for it

[-:Undertaker:-]

I havent been following this thread, but are you serious? Burning their holy book and you dont think there will be any kind of reaction?
Not even burning one, having an entire day for it

You think that death threats are an appropiate response to the burning of a book?

Are you serious?

[Mathew]

I call my weed the Koran, because burning that **** will get you stoned.

+rep lmao.

I would say they go over the top, and get offended by the smallest most pathetic things, but that's just my opinion.

But do they though? Or is it simply us just assuming that they get offended?

I must admit, I agree with Undertaker about people being scared of talking about Islam and Muslims (that's what I love so much about Sociology!). Take all the crap about "blackboards" and "bah bah black sheep" for example. It's political correctness gone crazy. Would I be offended if someone was talking about the colour of my skin? No.. and I highly doubt a black person cares whether we call them blackboards or not. It's people trying too hard to be politically correct and trying too hard to please everyone - you just end up being racist to yourself.

People are jumping on each other for voicing their opinions about something which should be a normal subject. Yet apparently, everything is "oh-so-racist" these days.

I'll say it yet again - this country is ****.

The world media should have just ignored him. This has been blown out of all preportion. I agree it is tasteless but who is to blame here? The man or the people who have made his story worldwide.

Agreed. The media are to blame for publicising this.

On another note, it would be interesting if someone on the forum who is part of the Islamic religion could voice their opinion on this, so we could maybe see things from another perspective.

[Inseriousity.]

I think he's doing more than upsetting a minority of people, he's provoked a big response for daring to criticise a religion. In doing so, he has been threatened with death - so my point is very simple, why is it that when the Catholic Church is criticised (or any other religion for that matter) the same response is not provoked but when Islam is provoked - look at the reaction.

In a democracy you have the right to upset, insult and criticise.

The people sending him death threats will be the extremists. They are the minority of people as you yourself have admitted earlier in this thread. As for when the Catholic Church is criticised, the same response is not provoked. If you go back and read the first post of mine in this thread, it possibly answers this question. There is a reaction but not a big one because Catholics are more reserved about their religion. They don't shout out generally, they keep their anger to themselves or moan about it in RE classrooms! That's not exactly the fault of Islam.

[GommeInc]

His views like any other views are valid in any free, fair and democratic nation.

The choice is (now that the West has no faith of its own) that we either stand up for democracy and civil liberties, or we allow those with a faith that is backward to eventually subvert our views/ways of living to match that of their own. Islam does not rule the west and nor should it, whether offically or not offically. Our politicians constantly drone on about how we should be tolerant of other views/ways of life - well maybe for once they should show some tolerence to the views of others themselves.

Or is it as I suspect, a one-way train?

They're still invalid. He believes all muslims are plane popping, train stopping and bomb dropping individuals whos main aim is to disrupt and provoke terror. Burning the book is an attack on all the followers, most of which are perfectly good individuals who have more right to life than this silly waste of space who doesn't even know his own religion based on tolerence. You don't seem to understand this and seem to also believe all muslims are evil :/ Burning the book is an attack on the purpose of the book and those who follow it. It's not just an attack on those who are blind and stupid, like the terrorists who caused the 9/11 bombings :/

This man is just as bad as the people who is trying to teach a lesson, it solves nothing. Freedom of speech or nothing, it's stupid, when that so called "speech" has more faeces all over it than most modern day Governments. If he wants to attack extremists, he should shoot the gun at those involved in terrorism, then point the gun at himself.

Also, we have no control over the Muslim world, or the world that loves terror, and I certainly don't want to live in that pathetic little world where we're just as bad as them :/

[Nemo]

You think that death threats are an appropiate response to the burning of a book?

Are you serious?

People take religion super seriously, people have wars over it for god sake, death threats are nothing in comparison.

Also, i can imagine people getting very angry over it. Im guessing you dont know what its like to be stereotyped and generalised, but its extremely terrible. So yes, having their religion that they care about so much, and some dedicate their lives to, being disgraced because of a few individuals is actually a very horrible thing so of course they'll be outraged. Im sorry but until you realise that, you should honestly stop.

As i said in all these threads though after i make my point, i find religious stupid and pointless and we'd be better off without it.

[AgnesIO]

I think he's doing more than upsetting a minority of people, he's provoked a big response for daring to criticise a religion. In doing so, he has been threatened with death - so my point is very simple, why is it that when the Catholic Church is criticised (or any other religion for that matter) the same response is not provoked but when Islam is provoked - look at the reaction.

In a democracy you have the right to upset, insult and criticise.



Look at the reaction that the burning of a book is getting from the muslim world and you can clearly see why I have come about that conclusion, that Islam cannot seem to take any criticism.

Because had I questioned Christianity or any other religion, you would not go to the lengths you are doing so now to defend the faith. Again this is why I refer to the view that you appear to be taking on and that our politicians hold, which is that 'Islam is above criticism'.

Any religion you say it about is not right.

If people wish to follow a religion they can, the only people who should be punished are the extremists found in ALL religions might I point out.