"Idiotic on every level"
09/06/2010
Yes, that pretty well characterizes the intention of some jerk preacher to burn copies of the Koran. I am in total agreement with Jonah Goldberg on this. Reasonable people can disagree about the Cordoba Center, I think. But not this; it can have no effect but to increase the amount of hatred in the world. And I don't mean only on the part of the Islamists; it is itself an act of hate.
This guy is an idiot, right enough. But does the press really have to give him so much publicity?
Posted by: Mac | 09/07/2010 at 01:45 PM
Well, yes, because it shows what Christians are really like.
AMDG
Posted by: Janet Cupo | 09/07/2010 at 02:03 PM
It sells newspapers. And the more people get outraged about it, the more newspapers it will sell. The first thing newspapers are is self-replicating. Informative comes way down the list.
Posted by: Paul | 09/07/2010 at 03:43 PM
I agree, and only disagree that "reasonable people can disagree on the Cordoba Center". I would say that to any informed person, it is unreasonable to think that this center should not be built. If said center was being funded by the Saudis and was teaching Wahhabi Islam I would be totally opposed. To oppose an interfaith center founded by a Sufi moderate intent on teaching a nonviolent version of Islam defies common sense. See www.cordobainitiative.com
Posted by: Daniel | 09/07/2010 at 04:37 PM
Make that www.cordobainitiative.org
Posted by: Daniel | 09/07/2010 at 04:38 PM
Too true, Janet. No one outside of a relatively small number of Catholics even knows about the equally vicious and offensive stunt of P.Z. Myers. And he's a college professor, not some yahoo preacher. And his university defended him with the usual boilerplate about academic freedom.
So yeah, Paul, that's true, but some things are more interesting to the press than others.
Posted by: Mac | 09/07/2010 at 09:24 PM
After hearing about this again last night on NPR, I was thinking more about the role of the press in the situation. If there is indeed danger to our troops, or danger of violence here, it seems that the press is at least as equally responsible for the danger as the guy in Florida. You have an tiny, obscure church that's going to do something crazy, and if it hadn't been so widely reported, it would have stayed a crazy local thing.
AMDG
Posted by: Janet | 09/08/2010 at 08:21 AM
Very true. The press also played a huge role in the Koran-in-the-toilet story which turned out to be false.
Posted by: Mac | 09/08/2010 at 09:18 AM
I would have no hope of knowing anything about this loony pastor in Florida if it were not for media hype. It's almost like they want to see another attack on US soil.
And why is everyone so worried about this loony pastor's koran burning? B/c many Muslims are more than happy to employ extreme violence every time somthing upsets them. Nobody in guvvermint exerts pressure on people who desecrate the Eucharist. And what do Catholics do? Write letters/emails objecting strenuously. but not blowing people up/lopping their heads off.
I, for one, think a Mosque (or Islamic Centre or whatever it is) at the site of the Twin Towers is a colossally stupid idea, if for no other reason than that it will drive a further wedge into the already deep divide that exists in US society. How is that good?
Posted by: Louise | 09/10/2010 at 05:52 AM
As Mark Shea frequently points out, one reason so many artists and entertainers insult Christians and Christianity so freely and often viciously is that "Christians do not issue fatwas." They get the thrill of "transgression," with not only no risk but lots of praise. I wish this preacher would declare himself to be a performance artist. It might have been fun to watch the reaction to that.
Posted by: Mac | 09/10/2010 at 11:21 AM
I wish this preacher would declare himself to be a performance artist. It might have been fun to watch the reaction to that.
Now see, that's just clever! I wish he had thought of it.
Posted by: Louise | 09/10/2010 at 02:36 PM
We can be sure that we would have been hearing more about free expression and less about sensitivity if he had.
Posted by: Mac | 09/10/2010 at 02:55 PM