Isn't the killing in Afganistan worse than the burning of the Koran?
By toyota4k
@toyota4k (1208)
Philippines
April 3, 2011 2:05am CST
I think the killing of the innocent UN workers was worse than the act of the shallow minded pastor burning the Koran. I was just wondering, doesn't Islam teach of forgiveness? I think the incident in Afganistan was more than wielding a tooth for a tooth.
A crime by an individual should not be put to blame on unknowing human beings. If crime is something not that bad to them, they should have rather singled out the one responsible from Florida?.
4 people like this
9 responses
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
3 Apr 11
I understand that the Quran is the Muslim holy book.
That's all good and well.
But let's face facts here. Holy books are mass produced in this day and age, printed with cheap ink on cheap paper and sold for bargain-basement prices to whomever wants to purchase them.
It is not the "book" that matters to people. It is the book's meaning. And by that standard, any true believer in any religion should realize that the book itself, especially when it's someone else's book from across the globe, has no bearing on your life whatsoever. If you believe, then the words live inside of you. You do need to protect the printed word.
But most Muslims understand that. They're offended. Rightfully so! But they're not driven to murder because they're good people! It's the killers responsible. And they kill regardless.
To me, the killers didn't kill because the Quran was burned. They killed because they were killers. They always kill. They've killed before and will kill again.
They just love to propagandize their killings and make the rest of the world cower in fear. And on other discussions on myLot, I see that their goals are being reached! People are cowering in fear and stating unequivocally that the rest of the world should not be doing anything to "incite" killers - killers, by the way, who are already killing and already waging war and who will continue to kill.
Okay. So if a burned book caused the deaths of other people, then what explains the thousands upon thousands of innocent victims killed by terrorists every single year?
The terrorist terrorize other Muslims. They terrorize Jewish people and Hindu people and women of all types and tourists and basically everyone who is even the slightest bit different from them and not a part of their ultimate cause.
Who or what is to blame for that?
I find it absolutely pathetic and disgusting that a burned book is cited by some as the reason innocent people got killed.
Where I come from, the actual killer is responsible! Anything less is giving the nod to murder! "Oh, we shouldn't be doing things to upset them! We better do exactly as they want!"
Cowards.
The killing of innocent people is so much worse than burning a book that it doesn't even register on the same scale of hatred!
Personally, I think it's time for people to stop treating everything so differently and so selectively and call a spade a spade.
A guy who burns a book: MORON!
People who kill: MURDERERS!
Terrorists are using any and everything to "justify" their killings. Their goal is ultimate conversion of the world, and they will extort their way there at every conceivable opportunity.
Draw the Prophet, people die. Burn a book, people die. Your women show skin, people die. You won't convert, people die. The common factor here: People die. Why? The killers kill without cause and then attempt to force the rest of us to toe their selected line through pure fear.
Morons shouldn't burn books. That guy is a complete bozo! But the killers killed, not the guy burning the book.
It's time to eliminate these killers from the planet and stop placating them by sacrificing our freedoms so that people may stay safe.
They've been holding the world hostage long enough. They hold their own people hostage. They're maniacal murderers.
2 people like this
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@Graptopetalum (1807)
• Canada
6 Apr 11
matersfish, have you read the Koran? You mention a lot of atrocities committed by Muslims but call Terry Jones a moron. Have you contacted Rev. Jones and suggested a better way to combat Islam or at least a better way to combat Islamic violence? Have you seen the trial of the Koran that he had before burning it (I haven't been able to find it - I really think he should have given a speech explaining his objections while the Koran was burning) and assessed his arguments to be stupid? Have you told him why you disagree with his arguments and has he replied? Personally I don't think it's possible to separate Islam from violence because of the Koran. Therefore the only way to end Islamic violence is to end Islam.
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@Masihi (4413)
• Canada
3 Apr 11
That is a really touchy situation, especially the views on both sides are very strong. I would say the Muslims are overreacting - I mean taking human lives who didn't burn the quran is overreacting big time, don't you think? I think the Reverend who did the burning made an irresponsible decision to burn the quran, because he ***KNEW*** what the reaction would be. In fact, in the 9/11 anniversary planning of the quran burning, there were riots and deaths over then, and the quran ***WASN'T*** burned at the time.
The only reasonable way to deal with disagreements in religion is to have intelligent discussions and debates. Intentionally inciting violence and hatred will only cause more harm than good.
In my opinion, both parties were in the wrong.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85147)
• Shingle Springs, California
4 Apr 11
Perhaps he ought to be put on trial for murder then...
@Graptopetalum (1807)
• Canada
6 Apr 11
How can you have a debate when one side keeps insisting that it's in the right and then becomes angry and violent at the first hint of criticism, even if totally justified? If you're opponent is willing to use violence to achieve their objectives, unless you can come with something very cleaver, you either have to let them win or resort to violence yourself.
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@maidangela7349 (1191)
•
4 Apr 11
They are both religious events and there is no logic whatsoever in any religion. So there is not point in trying to understand either of these two events they are just stupid if horrific acts caused by people believing religious nonsense
@Graptopetalum (1807)
• Canada
6 Apr 11
I think it's very extreme and untrue to say that there's no logic in any religion. Atheism is a religion, some atheists even get into groups and sing hymns to whatever. Is that devoid of logic?
Surely if Jesus is the son of God it's logical that he was born to a virgin. Therefore there's some logic in religions.
@maidangela7349 (1191)
•
6 Apr 11
We thanks for confirming my opinion. Atheism is, of course, not a religion and the word means someone who does not believe in any gods. So to say that atheist sing hymns is clearly illogical. Any people doing that are not atheist. Jesus, if he existed, was not born of a virgin that is illogical and impossible. In any case all the religions that sprang from the supposed events around the life of the man they call Jesus have evolved along illogical lines
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
6 Apr 11
"Surely if Jesus is the son of God it's logical that he was born to a virgin. Therefore there's some logic in religions."
It can't end logical if it doesn't even start out that way.
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@dawnald (85147)
• Shingle Springs, California
4 Apr 11
Burning somebody's holy book is awful, and should be condemned. But the killing of innocent people over this is far worse. It's one thing if the mullahs had put a fatwah on the guy who burned the Koran. But encouraging mobs to kill westerners, was just wrong. Probably those people who were killed were totally appalled at the Koran burning, and they weren't even given a chance. This is not a tooth for a tooth at all, it's all out of proportion. What if the UN goes into Afghanistan and says, well you killed 12 of our people, let's drop a nuclear bomb on Kabul? Totally out of proportion...
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (164045)
• Boise, Idaho
3 Apr 11
It would depend on how you were brought up, where you were brought up and what your belief system is. Yes, they should have rather singled out the one responsible from Florida. A crime is a crime. It should have consequences. And innocent people should not be blamed for something they did not do.
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@jujunme (2501)
• United States
3 Apr 11
The burning of the Koran, although a despicable and very stupid act is not a crime.Unfortunately,anyone has a right to burn any book they choose without the fear of facing criminal charges.as sad as that sounds,the pastor was within his legal rights to do this.
Either way,the burning of the Koran, although as i mentioned horrible,there is no comparison to the savage and reprehensible act of murdering innocent people there is no justification for this whatsoever.
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@_sketch_ (5742)
• United States
3 Apr 11
I don't think that people should get so worked up about such things. They are books. They can be used for symbolic purposes, but if they aren't burning your book, does it really affect you?
The pastor did this to get a reaction, to make a point. People are responding just as expected. Why feed the fire?
Yes of course any kind of killing is worse than the destruction of an inanimate object.
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@_sketch_ (5742)
• United States
3 Apr 11
Exactly. It is on the web. Books aren't as rare as they used to be. Because of globalization and technology, the burning of books does not mean what it used to mean.
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@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
3 Apr 11
toyota4k,
I don't think we can ever convince the Muslims that they really have some internal issues with regards to their beliefs and it is real mortifying.
So much about being a peace loving religion and all their denials that their religion is not responsible for the thriving of terrorist cells. Well, they can deny all they want but this Afghan episode just reinstate the point where they can trivialize and raise a past agenda to justify their act of brutal mutilation.
What really disturbed me here is that they did not go after the real culprit of the Koran burning but execute the very people that were there to help, not forgetting save them from a certain ruthless dictator. How's that for a lesson about biting the hand that feeds?
I just hope that the rest of the world will find alternative solution to oil and let these bigots have all the oils to themselves. Most of all, fight to their self extermination.
@Graptopetalum (1807)
• Canada
6 Apr 11
Yes I quiet agree, the killings in Afganistan are worse!
I'm horrified and disgusted at how the Western media, politicians and legal systems seem far more worried about Koran burnings, cartoons of Mohammad and collateral damage caused by people fighting Muslims (usually terrorists or insurgents who don't wear uniforms, attack civilians, and hide among civilians making collateral damage pretty much unavoidable) than they are with Muslims burning down churches, punishing rape victims, firing rockets into Israel etc. etc. etc. People frequently object to Christianity for some reason and then praise Islam although it's worse by the criteria they used against Christianity.
Have you read the Koran? It's full of exhortations to commit violence against "unbelievers", to take revenge, "slave for slave, woman for woman, free man for free man", it even advocates wife beating! If it wasn't considered scripture, it would be banned as "hate literature".
Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. Obviously nobody is doing a very good job of opposing it. Historically Christian missionaries have had total tunnel vision and employed a "softly softly" approach which has proved a complete and utter failure. Yet they don't seem to be trying anything else! Einstein said that the definition of insanity was repeatedly doing the same thing and expecting different results, so I must conclude that missionary organizations who try to convert Muslims are totally insane!
If you accept that Islam is an inherently evil religion (which I believe, all Christians and probably followers of some other religions should believe this), how should it be opposed? I have little doubt that it will come down to a big war, probably soon. This is because Muslims are willing to use lethal force to get their way so it's going to be very difficult, perhaps impossible, to stop them from taking over the world without using violence. If there's a good way to oppose it, I'd like to hear. Jones has done more than most people but I think it's too soon to access the long term effects.
I can't help wondering if the killing of UN workers was some sort of divine retribution as the UN is currently trying to create a Palestinian state with borders what would leave Israel impossible to defend. This is to be done without Israel having a say in the matter. This is a flagrant violation of God's plan and an attack on his people. Those who curse Israel will be curses and those who bless Israel will be blessed.
@Graptopetalum (1807)
• Canada
6 Apr 11
So presumably you don't agree with abortion.
What about if somebody is about to set off a bomb and the only way to stop them is to shoot them? What about if you're on a submarine with a hull breach and you have to seal a compartment with people still in it to save the rest of the crew. What if somebody is threatening to kill your family and the authorities don't care? OK, fortunately most of these things are rare but they do happen.
@Umbra75 (56)
• United States
8 Apr 11
What about not trying to be smart by shoving hypothetical questions at people who will more than likely never have to be in those situations, because it makes you sound like a child crying over not getting it's way.
Just my two cents for that.
The original post was asking if people thought that the Koran was more or less important than the taking of people's lives. Not about abortion or shooting bomb wielding nut cases or being stuck in a submarine.
For my answer, no book, no matter how sacred for any religion, is more important than a human life. None of those people who were killed should have even been harmed over a book that can easily be reprinted. It's just a book. It has no power of itself. It's just ink on some pages, and it's physical so it would wear down on it's own over time. One idiots decision to burn it (which, BTW, he chickened out of, but his church went ahead and did it anyway), is no excuse for others to lose their minds and harm anyone.
And yes, I do feel the same way about the Bible. It's important, but considering you can by a brand new one in even the least expensive stores, hearing that someone burned one wouldn't bother me. The physical pages have no power. They're physical, so whether through burning, or just turning into dust over time, it is not going to last. It's THE WORD, not the printed words, that hold all the meaning.
Anyone who believes in what a book is written about, instead of the book itself, should understand this. Only those who think that the book itself holds some kind of power would react to it's being harmed. They know nothing about really believing anything, accept what they can physically see and touch. That's not even belief. It's just interaction.
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