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For the second time in about 18 hours, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has condemned a Florida pastor's plan to burn copies of the Quran on the anniversary of 9/11. Clinton also expressed her hope that the media will not cover the event on Saturday "as an act of patriotism."
"It's regrettable that a pastor in Gainesville, FL, with a church of no more than 50 people can make this outrageous and distressful, disgraceful plan, and get the world's attention," she told a group at the Council on Foreign Relations this morning.
"It doesn't in any way represent America, or Americans, or the American government, or American religious or political leadership," she said, adding that the planned act "will have potentially great harm for our troops."
*** UPDATE *** A Pentagon spokesperson said on Wednesday that Defense Secretary Robert Gates "strongly endorses" General Petraeus' statements on the Florida pastor's plan to burn the Quran. Petraeus warned earlier this week that such an action could endanger the lives of American forces serving in Afghanistan, and harm the overall effort in that country.
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Just a question on flag burning. Years ago I witnessed a Girl Scout troup disposing of their worn American flag. The respectful method, according to them, was to cut it in strips and put them one by one in a campfire. So was that respectful? Is the difference in respectful and dis-respectful burning of the flag, the thoughts in ones mind at the time? Just food for thought.
http://www.ehow.com/way_5397554_flag-disposal-etiquette.html
BS filter
The preacher has the right to burn the Koran. Should he do it? No. Should the Repubs condemn it? Yes. I would rather see them burning Islamic extremists, but that won't happen till the next crusades. Obams won't comment, because the wacko's would be calling him a Muslim again.
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You got it right.
What we need to do is put together a Bible and American Flag burning right across the street from this Church - on the same day.
We can use this false preacher's twisted and phony logic to come to the same conclusion that due to the murders, deaths and violence perpetrated in the name of God (the Inquisition, witch burnings, KKK, white supremisists, abortion doctor killers, Timothey McVeigh, the constant wars like the crusades and many other wars caused by religion, persecution and killings of gays, etc., slavery of others) and the fact that America allows (and sometimes supported) these things, that America and Christianity are evil. Of course, in reality neither Christianity nor America are evil - and neither is Islam. It's just been perverted by a small minority of believers. Just like Christianity and America at times.
And when it comes to this false preacher's right to burn Korans - yes, he has the right. however, with great power comes great responsibility to use this power wisely. He is abdicating his responsibility to use this power wisely. he is also completely ignoring the teachings of God and Christ by doing this. Christ preached that love will win over the masses. He did not preach hate, condemnation nor did he preach that it was ok to step up with hate and intentionally offend and blaspheme in front of those of other faiths. He taught tolerance, peace and sitting down and talking with others to bring them to his faith with love.
And this false preacher is committing at least a couple of significant sins. at the very least he is guilty of Pride, Arrogance and Hate. (hateful action that he knows will do nothing but inflict hate upon others - no matter how he sugar coats it, arrogance in acting like he knows better than the President, other high ranking religious people and others. Pride - by broadcasting this and his hate as if he were joyful in his actions).
This man is a false preacher and nothing more. He mocks Christianity by purporting to be a preacher when he twists the word of God to fit his own hate and bigotry.
Yes - he has the right to burn the Koran. But he needs to think this out and read the scriptures for guidance BEFORE he commits any further sins.
All Americans should ignore this un-Christian and hateful Quran burning by this nut-job of a pastor from a tiny church....the media should not cover it and everyone should ignore this. The extremist Muslims issued a Fatwah and death threats against the Danish guy who drew a cartoon for heaven's sake. This guy does not represent America and American values. Stop paying attention to him...he belongs in a psychiatric asylum, not running a so-called "church". Jesus would abhor this.
I agree the media covering this story for a self serving purpose and putting the lives of our troops in danger is as irresponsible as the act itself and the government officials and others in the political realm who refuse to denounce it. It is an act of violence against another religion.
If her husband, Bill, just took 1 out of the 4 chance he had to get Bin Laden, we wouldn't be in Afghanistan right now and this hatred might not be as bad as it is. This is what to expect from a failed president
So you want those who govern us to intimidate a citizen by utilizing the politicians elected position of power to squash the citizens First amendment rights? Is that what I am hearing? FFS folks, think about it.
And you are complaining that we actually have a faction of governance that refuses to comment on the validity of someone exercising their rights? And that is a negative? Wow.
Also - our troops are already in harms way. Burning the Quran (screw Allah and Mohammed, btw) doesn't make AK47 rounds fly any faster. And trust me - they are already throwing the kitchen sink at us.
Are we afraid that we may provoke an enemy we are already AT WAR WITH? Have you all lost your mind?
Wow - I do not recognize my country any more. Support the religion behind the worst terrorist attack ever (the ideals of these men are MAINSTREAM Islam - just look to the ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN (yeah, what a great job Islam does as far as social orders go) for what is in store when you choose the MAINSTREAM islamic ideals. This isn't a few hundred guys with a bad interpretation of some religious myths. This is a social structure complete with laws (like stoning for adultery), as well as a religious faith.
You defend a religion that promises to KILL YOU for burning a BOOK? Maybe we should just kill them first. Just saying.
Thank you. Love your post. It says it all.
I agree. Little by little we are handing over control of our country. They don't even need to take it over by force. We are 'politically correcting' ourselves to death. We are so afraid of offending anyone that our government is cowering to their demands and condeming our own citizens who dare to make a bold statement against tyranny.
I thought this was the land of the free and home of the brave. The Rev. Jones has got some kahunas!
We don't burn books in this country. And that is about all there is to say that needs to be said.
Oh, yes, we do!! Religious leaders were burning Harry Potter books, and Tolkien's Lord of the Rings.
The movie "Footloose" was based on a TRUE STORY about a community that outlawed dancing and Rock 'N Roll music, saying it was the devil's work. The school burned many books, including some we consider classics.
I am not sure what to be more frightened by;
1) A crazy pastor who thinks God is telling him to be so blatently disresepctful of a faith that considers Jesus as a prophet.
2) People who think he is right
3) People who think that any of our political leaders should do anything other than condem it
The Pastor is dillusional no matter how I consider it, as I believe I can have a sense of what God wants for me, I know that God is not capable of inciting such hatred. If I were to believe that there was no God, than it would be a total fabrication of a hate filled mind. Frankly, the hate filled mind wins out for me in either case.
People who think it is a good idea are either just as hate filled, or believe the lies of those who would manipulate them. They scare me because they can vote.
People who think our political leaders should not condem it, do not begin to understand how important it is to counter terrorism to not to deliberately throw fuel on the fire of hatred. While Jones can exercise his right to free speech, the world needs to know that his actions are abhorent to most Americans, just as the actions of terrorists are to most people.
Teach Me Tonight:
1. God and Jesus are two different people so to say that the Preacher is misguided when he says God wants him to do this yet the Muslim world think Jesus is a profit. There is your answer the Muslim religion does not believe in GOD they believe in ALLA. You know the being that teaches their followers to kill those who dont believe in ALLA and think all females are beneath men.
First of all, God is not a human being. Second, per Christian teaching Jesus is a part of God.
and my Father are one. John 10:30
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...All things were made by him...He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not...And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us John 1:1, 3, 10, 14
Jesus saith...he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? John 14:9
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 1 John 5:7
Allah is only a name for God, if you believe there is only one power that is known as God, naming that power does not change what that power is. Calling God Jehovah or Emmanuel, does not create a new power that is God.
As very few Jews or Christa ins continue to interpret the Bible to say that we should kill non-believers (which it literally does say) neither do Muslims believe the Koran instructs them to kill. Only people who have fanatical hatred adopt these sort of writings as the word of God.
Many Christians still believe that men should be dominant over women and if asked can cite Biblical passages that support their view.
None of which changes my perspective that this man is delusional and filled with hatred, which makes him more aligned with evil than good.
John (Orange Man) Boehner, Sara (Retard) Palin, John McAge, Eric (Dipsh!+) Cantor, Mitch (Racist) McConnell, Lindsey (KKK) Graham, George (Liar) Bush, Liz (Spinster) Cheney, Newt (Adulterer) Gingrich, Jeff (A$$bag) Sessions and the rest of the KKK, I mean GOP, will be burning copies of the Quran on September 11. So why in the world would they condem this type of behavior?
And to boot, but no surpirse...NOT A WORD FROM FOX NEWS ON THIS ISSUE...HMMMMMMMM...is Glen Beck planning a "BURN THE QURAN RALLY" on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on September 11?
Just a note: The Democratic party is THE party of the KKK. Not an opinion - just a fact. Look no further than late Senator Byrd for confirmation of that.
Really? Was I just imagining things when David Duke served as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives and tried to run for U.S. Senate as a Republican?
I can't believe I'm saying this, but I agree with Hillary. If these people insist on doing this, they don't deserve ANY press time. For once it would be nice if the press would consider the damage it would do instead of ratings. Are you listening, MSNBC? FOX? NEWSWEEK?
Since when can an elected or appointed person use their position of power to intimidate the exercise of First Amendment rights by a citizen?
I don't know whats worst - folks that believe the boogie man will eat our soldiers if we burn the Koran - or those that support citizen intimidation from elected officials.
Wow, you must be really scared of Secretary Clinton. All she did was express an opinion that burning The Quran was not the right thing to do and you call it "intimidation"?
Feel free to grow a spine.
What's "worst" is that people don't consider how the Muslim extremists view what's going on right now. It's not just about first amendment rights...it's about individual accountability.
It's disturbing that you seem to think it's okay to trivialize a potential loss of life by comparing killings to "the boogie man." As we speak, there are Americans...there are Christians on foreign soil. Their soil. How many people that they would've otherwise left alone will be tortured, beheaded (like those Christian girls) and otherwise made to pay for something they had no part of? You see, we're dealing with an enemy that clearly doesn't distinguish between the person burning their sacred book and the person who is there solely for the purpose of good will.
All that aside, it is extremely disrespectful to burn something that means so much to someone. What about common decency? How about they take a step back and think about how this might affect others? Is that so much to ask? Amendment rights are important. This country wouldn't be what it is without them. But thinking about the consequences of your actions on an individual level (which many people in this country DO practice) is also what makes this the best country in the world. Thankfully these people are the exception.
Yeah sure, the media is not going to cover this event now, because Hillary hopes that they won't. I hope she publicly hopes for world peace too.
OMG, God just told me to stop those people from burning the Quran. I wonder if it was their God or mine.
I bet if it where the burning of an American Flag hillary would be the first to defend it.
Maybe they should compromise and stack all the korams up so the resemble a tall building in NYC and then fly model airplanes into them to burn them. Then the church gets its way and the islamos will feel more comfortable about it. :)
LOL!!
BURN IT !!!!!!! and all socialist scums.....
Clinton is true to her beliefs - - - and that is to have a "selective" press.
bboomer-1466467.....exactly!!!! those people and there ideology is in government places, so we see the results of that type of thinking, and things will only get worse, heck I'll buy some copies and sent them to the Pastor to burn, there's such a lack of back bone these days its sicking.
Right another left wing liberal fool who watches ABC, CBS, MSNBC to get the real facts. How many Demorats did ole keith ask? Get a life you losers.
This "pastor " can say anything he wants as guarded by our constitution ... however that right does not extend to his actions that violate local burning codes, just for a start ... if all the media refuse to give him any further coverage then hopefully it will be like a tree falling in the forest and go un-noticed ... unless of course all this pre attention has alerted the propagandist radiacals that would love to tape it ... the media has rather made their bed on this one now ... I would tend to at least hold the media partially responsible for making what might have passed un-noticed into a circus!
To quote the pastor: "How much do we back down? How many times do we back down?" Back down from what? Respecting someone else's religion? That's what this all boils down to. It's the same ol' same ol' Christian attitude. "We're right and everyone else is wrong."
Well, you've got to admit they started it. Until the Muslims got so fired up (pardon the pun) about the cartoon drawing of Mohamed and wanted to kill everyone in the Western part of the world, no one thought much about it. But when you poke the bee hive, you have weather the swarm and stings.
Come on! As children we were raised on stories of the mysterious and exotic Middle East. Aladdin's magicc lamp, the beautiful Jasmine, Sinbad the Sailor. We've always been fascinated with the Middle East, and the particulars of their religion didn't even cross our minds until THEY made an issue of it.
Now we have Muslims in America who are trying to force our business community to change their company rules to accomodate Sharia law. They had tolerance and understanding. They screwed it up themselves.
You talk about "respecting" someone's religion, but you and the left wing fanatics have no respect at all for Christianity or the people who believe in it. There isn't a single story where someone doesn't post a derogatory and hateful comment about Christians. Stop talking out of both sides of your mouth.
Missoula wrote"That's what this all boils down to. It's the same ol' same ol' Christian attitude. "We're right and everyone else is wrong."
Well that can be said about EVERY RELIGION not just Christians. The difference is the Bible just says to condemn those who seek a false profit and the KORAN says to KILL AL of those who dont believe in ALLA. BIG DIFFERENCE!!!!!!
Know your dogma before you criticize others....can you quote anything similar from the Koran or are you going on mythical, he told me so "information?"
Deuteronomy 13
13:6 If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers;
13:7 Namely, of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth;
13:8 Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him:
13:9 But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.
AlabamaVoter, what does healthcare reform even remotely have to do with some whack job southern pastor encouraging his "flock" to burn the Koran? What a moron! Now go back to watching your precious FOX Noise!!!
There are too many imbeciles who use religion as a tool to incite violence. These fanatics exist in all faiths and will tell you God, Muhammed, Buda, a pigeon or an alien told them to kill, burn, deface, denounce or hate another's religion. They need to be locked up and never release into society.
Every Religion has (and will always have) it's Nut's. There are Christian nuts that burn the Quran , there are Moslems nuts that burn people and property. There was a time when Catholics, Christians and Jews killed each other (and Moslems )in the name of their one true religion, ( or politics). Maybe nothing changes?
Part of the problem with this IS THE PRESS and people like Oberman. This is a church of ONLY 50 people. Why should the world care about what they do by exercising their Constitutional rights? No one would have known if the PRESS and the likes of Oberman didn't stir up the pot.
Still, I ask those of you who reacted negatively to this pastor to consider this question. Why is a 'radical' Islamic cleric given a free State Department trip funded by taxpayers allowed to speak against the U.S.and our policies here and abroad, BUT the administration seeks to SILENCE the pastor of a small church for even considering exercising his right granted by the Constitution? He hasn't even done the deed yet while this Islamic cleric has a proven radical record.
Imam Rauf is not a 'radical' cleric, he is a moderate. He has been sent by our State department twice on trips to the Middle East to promote how the US is tolerant of the Muslim religion, not to speak against our policies.
He was sent the first time by the Bush administration, the second by Obama.
He does not have a "proven radical record". there are a couple of quotes from him, partial sentences taken out of context, that are being used by radicals in the US to show him as anti-US, but they are just that, quotes out of context made to make a point that is not true.
It is looking like our religious leaders are leading into a religious war and the politicians are trying their best to avoid it. (except the GOP, seems like their silence is condoning religious war)
Will this hurt our troops? Most likely but the fact is; most all these musulms hate us anyway, so what's the difference. The only ones that want us in their countries are the ones that are profiting from it. We look like a bunch of fools supporting corruption and failing to win the hearts and minds of the people without paying them. Fact is that is winning the hearts and minds of the Afgan people is impossible because we don't buy into their musulm krap.
Sounds like there is a lot of fear out there, fear that we will suffer from angry musulms seeking revenge for desicrating their holy book. Like W said, "bring em on".
Musulms are like a bunch of fleas and their religion is like the plague, the black plague spreading death where ever it goes. It really is evil.
Then these people call themselves christians, hog wash, they too are a plague on man kind.
It's amazing what people think they can get away with when they say it's in the name of god.