Post by Enigmatic on Sept 9, 2010 14:06:14 GMT -5
There is currently a very loud debate going on here in the States regarding one Christian pastor's plans to commemorate the attack on the World Trade Center nine years ago. Terry Jones and the Dove World Outreach Center of Gainesville, Florida are planning to hold what they are calling the "International Burn a Koran Day" where participants will protest militant Islam by burning the Qur'an. The Dove World Outreach Center has long been an outspoken critic of Islam and prominent states that "Islam is of the devil."
Many groups have come out in opposition to this event claiming that the burnings are insensitive, racist, and will promote terrorism. The church however maintains that it is their right under the First Amendment to carry out there plans and other churches have announced plans to carry our Qur'an burnings of their own on the same day.
In reaction to the planned event and the controversy surrounding it Terry Jones has received death threats, their websites have lost their hosts, the insurance for the church has been canceled, and the bank where the church has a $140,000 loan has demanded immediate repayment of the loan.
Is this event warranted and justifiable? Is the church within its rights? Should the government force the church to cancel the event due to threat of militant Islamic reprisal? Is the reaction to the event warranted? Do organizations such as internet hosts, insurance companies, and banks have the right to take action against the church?
On a side note, my personal question is "are they actually burning the Qur'an?" It is my understanding that the only true Qur'an is in Arabic. If it is translated in to another language it ceases to be "holy." Based on the footage I have seen have the church is in position of only English versions. If that is the case, would they not then be burning inferior copies and not the true Qur'an?
Many groups have come out in opposition to this event claiming that the burnings are insensitive, racist, and will promote terrorism. The church however maintains that it is their right under the First Amendment to carry out there plans and other churches have announced plans to carry our Qur'an burnings of their own on the same day.
In reaction to the planned event and the controversy surrounding it Terry Jones has received death threats, their websites have lost their hosts, the insurance for the church has been canceled, and the bank where the church has a $140,000 loan has demanded immediate repayment of the loan.
Is this event warranted and justifiable? Is the church within its rights? Should the government force the church to cancel the event due to threat of militant Islamic reprisal? Is the reaction to the event warranted? Do organizations such as internet hosts, insurance companies, and banks have the right to take action against the church?
On a side note, my personal question is "are they actually burning the Qur'an?" It is my understanding that the only true Qur'an is in Arabic. If it is translated in to another language it ceases to be "holy." Based on the footage I have seen have the church is in position of only English versions. If that is the case, would they not then be burning inferior copies and not the true Qur'an?