When You Think About It: On burning the Koran

Florida's evangelical, right wing, ultra-conservative pastor, Terry Jones, finally, accomplished what he had threatened to do some month's ago, i.e. burn a copy of the Koran. In front of his dwindling congregation (about 20-30 members) of the Dove World Outreach Center (how ironic is using the dove, an international symbol for peace, for an organization that has done everything BUT foster international peace and understanding!). Pastor Jones held a mock trial with Islam and the Koran as the defendants. There was a defense lawyer, a prosecutor, a jury, and "witnesses". It would even be streamed "live" on the Internet by an entity called The Truth TV (another ironic twist, don't you think?!). In the end, Islam was found guilty of promoting terrorism. The penalty would be to have Islam's holy book, the Koran, publicly burned, which he subsequently did.

The reaction in some of the Muslim world was predictably quick, visceral, and ultimately, violent. The next day, a UN compound in Kadahar, Pakistan was stormed and 12 UN workers were murdered. The day after that, another 9 people were killed and 81 injured in violent protests around the city.

It all seems so obvious; EVERYONE knew that this would happen. However, when you think about it, there is a lot more subtle irony going on here than meets the eye. Perhaps, Pastor Jones is crazy like a fox. Radical Islam fell right into his hands by reacting EXACTLY as he had hoped and predicted it would; viscerally and violently. In a way, they validated him and his mock trial by, in a sense, saying, "you can't call our religion violent! And we'll KILL you to prove it"!

So, when you think about it, what we now have is an insane act, committed by an insane individual, resulting in an insane response. And ALL of it in the name of GOD. Makes me glad to call myself a heathen!