[mingdingo]

The Koran burning fiasco generated a lot of criticism by peaceful muslims, but I wonder if they also criticize the myriad flag/effigy burnings by angry muslims across the world?

Terry Jones was just plain dumb to propose burning the Koran (not least because he would be up in arms if the Bible were to be burned). But in my view, muslims who are offended by Koran burnings should be equally as offended when people burn American flags and effigies in the name of Islam. Yet somehow I think their concern dies down for the latter, and I view it as a real problem.

But I have to say, the muslim clerics defending the Islamic center in NYC are really a credit to their religion when they oppose the Koran burning not on religious grounds, but because it will endanger American troops.

[kareemm]

But in my view, muslims who are offended by Koran burnings should be equally as offended when people burn American flags and effigies in the name of Islam. Yet somehow I think their concern dies down for the latter, and I view it as a real problem.

1- You realize this is a belief you hold, not a fact, right?

2- Allegiance to one's religion and one's nation often hold different importance to different people.

[chc]

It's a belief based on valid logic, which is much closer to a fact than the simple word "belief" would imply. If they are offended by rudeness towards one group but not equivalent rudeness towards another, that's either chauvinism or hypocrisy.

[mingdingo]

Maybe it's the press not doing their jobs, but I never really read about how moderate mosques put out any statements against flag burning, which I think they should be doing every time it happens in their country (like Britain very recently).

If it does, and it's just not reported, then I'm wrong.

[kareemm]

which I think they should be doing

right - you think they should be doing. that's fine and all, but the point is you're assuming _they_ should view the world the way you do. which they clearly do not.

("they", of course, being millions of people, or at least their religious leaders. let's leave the issue of painting such a large and diverse population with the same brush for another time, shall we?")

[pbhjpbhj]

>a credit to their religion when they oppose the Koran burning not on religious grounds, but because it will endanger American troops.

Hmm. That's the sort of kindness that you get from the mafia (or at least the mafia shown in films):

You really shouldn't do that now; who knows what our friends will do if you do. No, no of course we respect your rights to freedom - just, y'know we wouldn't want anything to happen to your little head now would we, capiche.

[harshpotatoes]

The difference of course being, the mafia will be the ones who break your legs, and have control over all people who fuck you up, while these religious leaders have no control over what the extremists might do. Just as many religious leaders have little say over what the pastor chooses.

I don't think the mafia comparison is helpful.

[pbhjpbhj]

>the mafia will be the ones who break your legs

So it won't be Muslims that are doing the burning and violent demonstration then?

Perhaps it's a stretch but this is clear - someone drew a picture suggesting that Islam may not be completely peaceful and the resulting self-enragement led to Muslims causing many deaths and much violent destruction around the world.

IMO it was simply a decision to be offended in order to excuse violent demonstration and terrorise none Muslims into submission, and it seems to have worked well.

http://zombietime.com/mohammed_image_archive/islamic_mo_full... some Islamic depictions of Mohammed http://www.dinocrat.com/archives/2006/02/04/shall-we-now-bur...

[danielford]

I see this argument all the time on the internet, from people of every worldview. "Why doesn't group X spend more time speaking out against crazy fringe faction of group X?"

Because everyone knows crazy fringe faction is full of crazy people, and speaking out against them isn't going to accomplish anything, aside from giving the crazy people more of the attention they so fervently desire.

[rsheridan6]

Why would Muslims be offended when people burn American flags? Why wouldn't they be more concerned with their own symbols than everyone else's?

[Ainab]

you can't compare Religous Book(Koran, bible, etc) to a flag. they are totally different, flag represents one nation while the other (religous book) might represent many nations. muslims don't burn Bible. americans can burn iraq's or iran's flag and no body will speak about that.

[hugh3]

Christians in Gaza Fear for Their Lives as Muslims Burn Bibles and Destroy Crosses

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/285123/christians_i...

[alextgordon]

So then it's OK to burn one nation's flag, but wrong to burn the flags of multiple nations?

There's really no difference between a flag and a holy book. They are both inanimate objects that some significance has been attached to (be it nationalistic or religious).

[viggity]

But I have to say, the muslim clerics defending the Islamic center in NYC are really a credit to their religion when they oppose the Koran burning not on religious grounds, but because it will endanger American troops.

Burning the Koran doesn't endanger US troops. Assholes whose culture that belongs back in 700 AD endanger troops.

Al Gore's documentary didn't endanger discovery channel employees, some asshole put them in danger.