September 11, 2010 is an anniversary no one wants to remember. Although I cannot see into the future, it may become a day no one will forget. The Gainesville’s Dove World Outreach Centre plans on burning the Quran that day. They feel that Islam is the work of the devil. Who can say otherwise. Terry Jones has strong feelings about Islam. Is this act an act of punishment? Is it hatred in its worst form?
No mater what happens on that day, it will be a day of disrespect. If Evangelist burn the Quran or if Muslims riot and kill Christians, it will show how little either side respects the other’s tenets. But who is to blame? Muslims for how many years of intolerance towards any other religion, Christians for a history of trying to defeat Islam at its source? Does it matter? Not to those who have been caught in the death and destruction over the last 1200 years. Not to the people who go about their daily lives in so many countries with the expectation that they will still be alive at the end of the day, but who unfortunately never make it home.
I don’t disagree with the Evangelists intentions. I do disagree with burning ANY book though. Perhaps there is a better way to prove their point. Perhaps not. Nothing else would even come close to enraging Muslims like burning their most important document. They think nothing of burning another countries flag or burning someone in effigy. So why shouldn’t Terry Jones do to them what hurts them the most?
Somehow each side needs to start respecting the others beliefs. Live and let live. Emphasis on the live part. Do the Muslims really have to build a mosque a few blocks from ground zero? Would an enclave of Christians be able to build a church in Mecca or Messina? Or anywhere in the Muslim world? Not likely. So until they are able to tolerate our religion why should we hold back with our protests?
We are not going to see tolerance this week. We will see people die. Probably at the hands of extremists. Islamic extremists. I don’t believe the parishioners at the Gainesville’s Dove World Outreach Centre will be on the streets killing innocent Muslims. But someone will be on the streets this weekend in many countries around the world. If I was a Christian, or just an American, i wouldn’t be on the streets this weekend.
