9/11 Memorial Service

Burn, baby, burn hardly seems like the mantra for remembering an unprovoked and devastating attack on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon nine years ago. Pastor Terry Jones is suggesting a different kind of burning to his Dove World Outreach Center tiny congregation (only 50 members), located in the Bible belt in Gainesville, Florida: a 9/11 ceremony for the burning of copies of the Qur’an. Speaking on MSNBC, Jones noted that "International Burn a Quran Day... will be as it is intended, as a warning."

And indeed, the First Amendment guarantees Mr. Jones and his flock the right to engage in what extremists in the Muslim world will seize as incredible evidence – clearly to be blown completely out of proportion if it actually happens – that the United States has declared war on Islam, and that Islam needs to amp up the attack on the U.S., her citizens and her assets wherever they may be. Common sense tells us that this really shouldn’t happen, but our Constitution guarantees the rights for protesters to engage in this level of protest.

One strong opponent of this protest is the general we have asked to command our troops in Afghanistan: David Petraeus. He believes that this gesture will be devastating to our military efforts in this theater of war: “ ‘It could endanger troops and it could endanger the overall effort,’ Gen. Petraeus said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. ‘It is precisely the kind of action the Taliban uses and could cause significant problems. Not just here, but everywhere in the world we are engaged with the Islamic community.’... Hundreds of Afghans attended a demonstration in Kabul on Monday to protest the plans of Florida pastor Terry Jones, who has said he will burn the Quran on Sept. 11.

“Afghan protesters chanted ‘death to America’ and speakers called on the U.S. to withdraw its military convoy. Some of the protesters threw rocks at a passing military convoy, although officials told the rock-throwers to stop... Military officials fear the protests are likely to spread beyond Kabul to other Afghan cities. In interviews with various media outlets, Mr. Jones has denied his protest will put troops in danger. Mr. Jones has been denied a permit for the demonstration but has said he plans to go forward with his protest anyway.” The Wall Street Journal (September 6^th). Jones said he was praying for guidance on whether or not to proceed with the Qur'an burning, but most indications were that the Pastor is undeterred. According to AOLNews.com (September 7^th): "'We realize that this action will indeed offend people, offend the Muslims,' he told CNN… But, he said, 'we cannot back off the truth of the dangers of radical Islam just because people are going to be offended.'… Speaking in front of a sign that read, 'International Burn a Koran Day,' the pastor told CNN, 'We are definitely praying about it.' But he stopped short of vowing to go through with the plan.”

Protests are rising, from Indonesia to Afghanistan, and are likely to spread viciously throughout the Muslim world. Add this protest to the attempts to push a Muslim facility at Ground Zero out of the way to the attempts to shut down efforts to build a mosque and adjacent academic and social facilities in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and you can see the potential for terrorists who want to accelerate their efforts to recruit new fighters. Not to mention this bit of joy that has resulted in two very recent Equal Employment Opportunity Commission lawsuits, alleging a pattern of religious and national origin discrimination and a hostile work environment at two plants in Greeley, Colorado, and Grand Island, Nebraska: “More than 160 Muslims have enlisted the federal government in two discrimination lawsuits against JBS Swift meatpacking plants, where they allege blood and bones were hurled at them, bathroom walls were covered with vile graffiti and company supervisors disrupted their efforts to worship during Ramadan, ultimately firing many Islamic employees.” Washington Post (September 7^th). There’s no way I would advocate shutting Mr. Jones down by force, but there is a lot to be said for asking politely and suggesting that the consequences could be particularly devastating for Americans everywhere. What exactly is the message we want to send to the Muslim world?

I’m Peter Dekom, and giving terrorist recruiter new material is not my idea of a good choice.