Planned burning of the Qu’ran embarrasses nation

Justin Tam
Staff Writer

Can a person’s constitutional right to lawful protest be abridged in the interest of the national conscience?
In a provocative and offensive video, pastor Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida planned a potentially volatile burning of the Qu’ran, Islam’s holy book, that gained national attention.

Jones’ proposed Qu’ran burning is an act of bigotry and derision against Islam.

In the wake of the controversy surrounding the proposed building of a mosque near the site of Ground Zero, where the World Trade Center formerly stood in New York City, Jones threatened to host a deliberately provocative demonstration in which he and his congregation would burn the Qu’ran, on Sept. 11.

The demonstration comes at a time when muslima harrassment has been heightened due to construction of the Muslim community center and while U.S. soldiers overseas face a precarious situation in the Middle East.

Due to the national outrage caused by this planned incident, Jones called off the demonstration, but not before General David Petraeus and President Barack Obama condemned Jones’ plans.

The effects of the coverage of this event are numerous and far-reaching. In Afghanistan and Pakistan, American flags were burned in protest and at least four people were killed in the chaos.

The Grand Ayatollah Lotfollah Safi Golpaygani, a high-ranking Iranian cleric, demanded that Jones be arrested and that “his church be closed forever.”

However, others like the All Saints Episcopal Church of East Lansing held a Qu’ran reading in an attempt to mend the damage done by Jones.

Jones’ threats to burn hundreds of Qu’rans were misguided and immoral at best. However, the First Amendment gives him every right as an American to do so. Though it is a right, the burning of Qu’rans discredits the America’s reputation as a tolerant country.

Jones’ proposed actions were shameful and demeaning to Muslims everywhere. The event has not only tarnished the U.S’s image, but put Americans’ lives in danger at home and abroad.

To alleviate this divisive intolerance, discussions about religious tolerance must take a stronger presence in the national conversation. This will hopefully prevent more intolerant and embarrassing acts from occurring in the future.