Burning Qurans and Building a Mosque

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Editorial Board opposes the planned protest by Terry Jones and his church, the Dove World Outreach Center in Florida. On the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Jones and his group will burn Qurans.

The Board declares that action to be "un-Christian" and "just plain wrong." But it doesn't stop there. The JS Editorial Board goes on to equate Jones' protest with the many Americans opposed to the Ground Zero mosque.

Jones undeniably has a First Amendment right to burn books, holy or otherwise. But, as the saying goes, just because there is a right doesn't make it right. And it doesn't mean a single news camera has to show up.

This burning would be wrong even if no troops were endangered.

Earlier, there was the deep resistance to an Islamic center near ground zero. Why? Well, because it's insensitive and represents caving in to radical Islam, we're told. How is it insensitive? This remains vague. But polling does show lack of support for the center. Which proves, yes, "the people" can be wrong.

This center is insensitive only if one can blame all Muslims for the fanaticism of some Muslims. But by this measure, Jones' actions would constitute good reason for all of Islam to believe the fiction that all Christians hate them. And that, of course, is nonsense. There is a reason Jones has only 50 followers and why the vast majority of Muslims aren't terrorists. Bankrupt ideas are hard sells.

Clueless.

The Board declares insensitivity about building a mosque at Ground Zero "remains vague."

No, it doesn't. There's nothing vague about it. It's wrong to give radical Islam another victory. Weren't the murders of 3,000 innocents enough? Why be OK with a mosque so very near to the site of the slaughter? Why not care about the feelings of the surviving victims of 9/11, the loved ones of the dead, and their pain?

There's nothing vague about that.

It would be hateful and intolerant and unconstitutional to ban mosques in the U.S. and prevent all Muslims here from practicing their faith because of the actions of the radicals. That's not happening.

Book burning, even holy book burning, isn't close to being the moral equivalent of committing mass murder on an enormous scale.

The JS Editorial Board fails to grasp the difference, preferring instead to take the example of Jones' intolerance to accuse the people opposed to the Ground Zero mosque as being similarly intolerant and recruiters for radical Islam. That's as wrong as it is cruel.

Disgracefully, the Board has the nerve to rule that burning Qurans AND opposing the Ground Zero mosque is "un-Christian." That's a terribly inflammatory and unfair swipe.

Moreover, since when did the Board become concerned with the Christian thing to do?

It has shown such a lack of respect for Christianity, in particular, the Catholic Church, so frequently blaming the Church for the sins/crimes of a very few.

...The pastor, having already confirmed the false suspicions of many Muslims with his intentions, should reconsider. It would be the Christian thing to do.

Why would Jones reconsider when he's being given so much attention? He's feeding off the publicity and enjoying the power the media and government and military officials continue to give to this little man.

I suspect that dramatically more Bibles and American flags are burned in protest in this country and around the world every day than what Jones and his minuscule group of followers intend to set aflame on Saturday.

One more thing--

Isn't it twisted that the JS Editorial Board, defender of free speech, is exhibiting concern regarding Jones' protest endangering our troops when it has its own lengthy record of taking positions that have done exactly that?

The same goes for Obama.

Bottom line: This editorial lacks focus and consistency and sense.