The Dove World Outreach Center Church in Gainesville, Fla., is subject of controversy. The religious members, along with pastor Terry Jones, plan to set copies of the Koran on fire to demonstration Muslim extremism. It has been subject of lots of coverage. There has been response from the United States of America government, and warned the chapel never to do so. Protests have already started within the Muslim world. General David Petraeus has cautioned the church that should the demonstration of burning the Koran take place, it will put servicemen and women in greater danger than ever before.
Dove World Outreach Center warned
As outlined by the Christian Science Monitor, Gen. Petraeus has asked the church to halt any Koran burning. He said it would only harm our troops, and he would know, as the commander of all United States of America forces in Afghanistan. He said that a group of American Christians fire the Koran will achieve nothing positive. He insists it will only be doing the Taliban and Al Qaeda a favor, as it will be a recruiting tool in opposition to perceived American bigotry. He cautioned that American soldiers and civilians abroad will be put in greater risk. He also lamented that winning over hearts and minds in Afghanistan will be next to impossible. Tensions between Muslims abroad and American foreign relations are already high. The Ground Zero mosque debate has currently been enough of a point of contention.
Church to think it over
The Dove World Outreach Center Church has put a temporary stop to the demonstration. The church is considering whether to undergo with it or not. According to CNN, Pastor Terry Jones and also the members are thinking it over for now. The chapel and its members are concerned about potential ramifications. Some pause was given to the members by the warning from Gen. David Petraeus, as the members intended to hold an “International Burn the Koran Day” on Sept. 11 of this year. The group claims that all of Islam was never the target of the demonstration. Instead, the aim was to demonstrate against radical elements of the Muslim world.
Cui bono?
The pastor and his congregation can believe anything they wish, and protest no matter what they wish as it is their right. However, Gen. Petraeus is right. This protest will only help the enemy. More extremists will be created by this protest of extremism.
Additional reading
CS Monitor
csmonitor.com/World/terrorism-security/2010/0907/Petraeus-Dove-World-Outreach-Center-s-Burn-a-Koran-Day-endangers-troops
CNN
cnn.com/2010/US/09/07/florida.quran.burning/?hpt=Sbin
No comments:
Post a Comment