-
Not Just the Media: First Amendment Under Attack
May 22, 2013 | 3 comments
-
Curl is Right: Don’t Dismiss Benghazi
May 22, 2013 | 2 comments
-
Artur Davis Says Scandals Are Real
May 19, 2013 | 3 comments
-
Good New Book: ‘Precipice’
May 19, 2013 | 1 comment
-
A Long Record of Obamite Thuggery
May 16, 2013 | 4 comments
The Spectacle Blog
My friend Jim Guirard called me today with an interesting idea. The pastor planning to burn the Koran may not want to look emasculated by backing down. But rather than all or nothing, why not propose a more constructive alternative than an act of hatred? (Which, by the way, burning a Koran indisputably is: a senseless act of hatred.) Rather than burning something that a quarter of the world’s population considers to be a sacred and holy book, why not make effigies of all 19 of the 9/11 hijackers and burn those instead? What reasonable Muslim could possibly object to that? It is no insult to Muslims in general, but only an insult to murderous thugs (and maybe to their families; but that’s just tough luck). Rather than giving an excuse (not a reason, but an excuse) for other crazed and hateful terrorists to strike Americans , burning these effigies AND INVITING MODERATE MUSLIMS TO ENDORSE THE EFFORT would instead serve to drive a wedge between Muslim haters and those Muslims who are humane and decent people.
Frankly, I’m not for burning anything. I think it’s silly. But if you’re determined to burn something, why not pick a more carefully targeted “victim” of the burning so that it sends the message wthout unnecessary and counterproductive offense?
View all comments (17) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Quin Hillyer
http://spectator.org/blog/2010/09/09/burn-effigies-not-korans
Follow us:
ADVERTISEMENT
The Spectacle Blog
The #FreeKate Narrative Melts Down: Lies Exposed in Florida Teen Sex Case
Robert Stacy McCain | 5.25.13
SPONSORED LINKS
FLASHBACK TO: 1995
-
Pope Culture
A man of faith in a godless age is hitting Americans where it hurts.
-
Why the GOP Does Not, Like, Totally Suck
Mr. and Mrs. American Spectator Reader, let P.J. O’Rourke talk sense to your kids.
-
Dames at Sea
-
In the Absence of Guns
In Britain, defending your property can get you life.
-
The Metaphysical Martini
-
Counting the Costs of Clintonism
The debacle of this president’s administration is both a cause and a symptom of the decline of American values. Unless Congress impeaches him, that decline will go on unchecked. An eminent jurist surveys the damage and assesses the chances for the recovery of our culture.
-
Chuck McHagel
It won’t take long for conservatives to scratch this presidential wannabe off their 2008 scorecard.
-
The Legacy of Old John and Mother Fresh-Roasted
-
It’s the Best Time of the Year
The American Christmas, like the songs that celebrate it, makes room for everybody under the rainbow. Is that why so many people seem to be hostile to it?
-
The Bush Crack-Up
Was the President done in by the economy, or by the politics of the economy?
Clip of the Day
H/T to National Review Online
ADVERTISEMENT
Pete| 9.9.10 @ 5:12PM
Senseless act of hatred or timely expression of free speech that points out the hipocrisy of Left? This is far less extreme than building a victory mosque at ground zero, wouldn't you agree? I don't think your idea is bad, but there is no reason to back down on this a single inch. Our troops are in a much danger as they will ever be due to asinine rules of engagement and Obama's projection of weakness to the world. "Moderate" muslims won't give a lick about this, right, as they are so very understanding and transformational?
Pete| 9.9.10 @ 5:13PM
pardon my rant misspelling of hypocrisy...
Booger| 9.9.10 @ 6:28PM
Indisputable AND senseless? Well, Quinn, I'm glad you would never poison the well for anyone who disagrees. Allow a sensible dipute: Muslims have demanded a unique right throughout the world, including Western Civilization, to be free from any criticism or offense, a right which they themselves absolutely refuse to extend to anyone else. It is completely sensible to subject them to the same sort of affront they insist on heaping on Christians, Jews, Hindus, Zoroastrians, etc. Either learn to show tolerance to other religions, or quit expecting special treatment for your own. That isn't hatred, it's an expression of protest against tyranny by citizens of a free society.
SoCon| 9.10.10 @ 1:54AM
I never thought I'd find myself agreeing with a Booger 100% of the time, but I do.
Kudos, sir.
Chris| 9.9.10 @ 5:59PM
"AND INVITING MODERATE MUSLIMS TO ENDORSE THE EFFORT"
Where are the more than a handful of moderate Muslims protesting to stop the GZM? Sorry, but the more this guy gets pounded on, the more I support him. I mean the bank called his loan after his insurance company dropped him.
Booger| 9.9.10 @ 6:16PM
I have an even better idea: make an effigy of Muhammad and burn that. We could combine everybody draw Muhammad day with Koran burning day, the best of both worlds!
gsr| 9.9.10 @ 6:27PM
Quin, I'm afraid you still don't get it. We weren't attacked on 9/11 by "19 zealots", we were attacked by Islam, period.
"Moderate muslims"? Are you kidding? Learn about Islam first, then make your comments.
Margie| 9.9.10 @ 8:33PM
So let me get this straight.. burning pics of the terrorists would be better than burning the book where they are told to be terrorists? hmm.
David W| 9.9.10 @ 10:38PM
It seems to me that it is a "back down or else". Sure, I can't imagine why a Christian church would feel the need to do this (though thanks to the media and politicians it has become famous instead of just something to be ignored). We have to build the GZM or else "radical" (I say "purist") muslims will be upset and "attack our troops, join terrorist groups, murder innocent people, blah blah blah." Burn the Koran and the same thing. Draw a cartoon - ditto. Have a seeing eye dog and they are offended and the blind person has to leave. Convert to Christianity and you will be put to death.
I just read of a clip on Youtube that is very insulting to Catholics. Where is the outrage? Where is the President? Oh wait, the Catholics just use public pressure and sign petitions. They don't riot and kill innocent people (let's not forget the crucifix in a beaker of urine - wasn't that paid for with our tax dollars).
Maybe this whole thing is an overreaction to the "attacks" on Christianity/Judaism not just by Islam but by the secular left and the "moderates". Perhaps if there was more equality in treatment that church wouldn't be doing this.
james wilson| 9.10.10 @ 12:16PM
You're right, they should instead stand in a circle and piss on it. Either way, it would be good if this encouraged Muslims to actually read this odd collection of documents, which 95% have not. It is not inspiring, often incoherent, and frequently ridiculous. Allahu Akbar.
Oldefarte| 9.10.10 @ 1:13PM
Quin, I respectfully must disagree with you on this subject also. Understanding your intended meaning of TARGETING THE TRUE CULPRITS, I would counter argue that, in addition to the 19 Muslim terrorists of 9/11/01, there are millions of Muslims worldwide that are SYMPATHIZERS with same and of each/every bombing that effectively injures/murders not only our brave military members in the middle east [and at Ft Hood Texas,etc], but also their [Muslims] own innocent civilians [including CHILDREN who are blown to bits/maimed by these Muslim animals/barbarians]. This sympathy factor can now be seen by this moron Rauf attempting to build a Muslim mosque at the site of ground zero; and his attempt at brainwashing by proclaiming that, to twart that construction effort would be to further inflame Muslim hatred at Americans. No, I agree with this Florida minister's efforts at bruning Qurans as a finger-symbol to all Muslims, and as a statement for them to stop this religious hatred/violence directed at non-Muslims. When was the last time anyone heard/read of any Muslim standing up and proclaiming these dasterdly terrorists AMONG THEIR RANKS/MEMBERS for the bastards that they are. As far as I [and many others] feel, until these so-called moderate Muslims [which I do not believe exist] do so, they can simply GO TO HADES AND STAY THERE!!!!!!!!!
Patriot| 9.10.10 @ 1:24PM
Wow, Oldefart, I didn't see even one typo in your post. I'm impressed.
Oldefarte| 9.10.10 @ 2:55PM
Patriot, Start worrying about content/meaning and not about superficiality, okay?????
Patriot| 9.10.10 @ 6:09PM
Geez, I was trying to give you a compliment, Oldefarte; guess no good deed goes unpunished with you, huh?
Sometimes your plethora of typos gets in the way of your meaning.
Oldefarte| 9.11.10 @ 11:25AM
Patriot, According to Webster, a compliment is the act of PRAISING. In my DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU mantra, I think that the descriptive word you might have been looking for was CRITISIZE or CRITISISM, not COMPLIMENT!
Patriot| 9.12.10 @ 4:06PM
It was a compliment, just a back-handed one. :)
BTW--that's criticize.