Burn a Bible (and maybe a cross) ... NAACC / LA Community Policing

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Burn a Bible
(and maybe a cross)
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Burn a Bible Day - What could be more American?		Burn a Bible (and maybe a cross) OPINION by Bill Murray Bmurray3rd@aol.com NAACC.org / LACP.org / "Community Matters" This Week September 11, 2010 By now you know the story .. A previously unknown preacher with a small Pentecostal congregation in Florida, Pastor Terry Jones, managed to grab an international spotlight last week with his announcement that he planned to burn the Koran, the holy book of Islam, today, Sept 11th, on the ninth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. Originally Jones said he was protesting the entire Muslim faith as responsible for the events of 9-11, not just a radical jihadist group, and blamed the writings in the Koran as promoting a "false religion" that are "of the devil." Later he admitted he'd never actually read more than a page or two of the Koran, telling the New York Times, "I have no experience with it whatsoever. I only know what the Bible says." Eventually Reverend Jones linked his burning the Koran to the planned development of a Muslim cultural center a few hundred yards from "ground zero" in lower Manhattan, and on Thursday announced he'd reached an agreement with Islamic officials in New York City to move the planned Islamic center. That drew an immediate repudiation from New York, where Islamic officials said no such agreement had been reached .. and the Koran burning was on again. Maybe. Reverend Jones told reporters he'd been "lied to" and was going to put the Koran burnings "on hold." He said he was going to pray on it.

An amazing group of individuals who normally don't mix, much less agree, weighed in on these proceedings over the past couple weeks. President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton, Defense Secretary Gates, Attorney General Holder and General Petraeus were joined by some strange bed-fellows, including Tea Party conservatives Sarah Palin and Glenn Back. Even Angelina Jolie chimed in. There was wall-to-wall coverage on television, in newspapers and over the Net. Our appetite for this "story" seemed insatiable. The world press couldn't get enough of it. Well, as of this writing the Koran burning is off again .. and frankly I'm disappointed. All week the media hoopla reminded us that Americans have the right to burn whatever we wish, including a Koran (free speech and all). Virtually every available talking-head filled the airwaves and newspaper columns expressing "shock" that anyone would actually put a match to Islam's Holy Book, yet pointing out that Pastor Jones had every right to do so. I was hoping we'd get to see these rights affirmed .. in fire. I was hoping we could show the world we'd honor the rights of the individual to demonstrate his or her beliefs freely (as long as the flames were confined to a fire department approved pit), even if these beliefs were basically abhorrent to most other people. I think someone ought to go thru with it. But in all fairness, and in the spirit of ecumenicalism, tolerance and inclusion, I think we ought to burn the Bible, too .. both testaments .. and we should probably torch a cross as well. I further suggest that, again in the spirit of being fair, we should also burn a Star of David, a statue of Buddha, an American flag, a copy of the Bill of Rights, a Mexican flag, a Canadian flag, a Confederate flag and a Swastika. And while we're at it we should take advantage of the fact that the NFL begins its season this week. We should offer up to the flames t-shirts and hats from all the pro football teams in Florida .. Tampa Bay, Jacksonville and Miami (since we don't know which local team Floridian Pastor Jones might favor). This way Americans would send an unmistakable signal to the world that our freedom of speech is all inclusive. Its governmental, religious and cultural. Lets make this thing a GIANT bonfire, with video friendly flames that leap into the sky, simultaneously affirming our liberty and America's commitment to defend the right for an individual (regardless of IQ or mental state) to offend any and all groups. Feel free to add combustible items to the list above, and toss anything at all into into the flames. Especially if it'll piss someone off. Perhaps we can establish this as an annual event celebrating our way of life each 9-11. We could call it "Burn a Bible Day." What could be more American? Bring on the burgers and hot dogs ..