NOT! Of course this did NOT happen!

In all fairness to moderate Muslims, we understand that these actions do not represent the hearts of all Muslims.  We understand that these extreme Muslim believers take extreme and terrible action against innocent people.  God's law is written on the hearts of every man.  Many Muslims, Jews, and Christians understand the moral authority of God through their conscience; and as it addresses all men that should suffice for the sake of this conversation.

What we are looking at in this article is more of a political subject, regarding the freedom of expression.  However...we can never fully separate God from politics.  The very rage that Muslims express at Koran burning is because of their devout faith in Allah, Mohammed and the Koran.  But in America there are laws in place that protect the freedom of individuals to express themselves, sometimes dramatically.

What would you think if we got news from the Middle East that Muslims burned the bible and Christians in America went on a wild rampage killing spree, killing every Muslim they could find?  Sounds ridiculous right?  Because it is ridiculous.  Does that mean that we agree with burning the Bible?  or the Koran?  No.  It means that we believe and agree with every person's God Given right to express themselves in whatever manner they see fit as a freedom of speech.  Including the stupid, irresponsible and inflammatory action of insulting someone else's belief system.

Of course we draw the line at killing other people and infringing other people's personal rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  If someone in the Middle East or in America burns a bible, does that affect your ability to speak out against such an action?  No.   Unless it was your bible that they burned, meaning, physically your personal possession which was forcefully removed from your person and burned without your permission and despite your objections.  This would be a flagrant violation of your God-Given rights as a human being.

But what we have here in the Middle East are surely individuals of Islamic religion and usually Arabic descent that clearly do not respect the God-Given rights of every human being to have freedom of expression.  Was the Koran that was burned by the pastor in Florida the property of some Islamic believer which the Pastor forcefully took from him against his will and despite his objection to burn in front of his face?  No!

What does this tell us about the beliefs of the Islamic zealots?  It tells us that according to their religion, that their book is so holy to them that anyone who dares question it, or does damage to it, or does not abide by the doctrine in it...is worthy of death.  It is as much as says so in the Koran itself.  We are considered infidels if we do not believe according to the Koran and worship the fearful Allah.

One has to admire the zealous behavior and strong belief of the Islamic people.  They obviously have very strong beliefs in their religion.  But this is a zeal not according to knowledge or love.  This kind of zeal is a dangerous thing.  Actions speak much louder than words of "holiness".  These extreme Muslims took their anger way beyond the line of reason or conscience.  The absolute disrespect of human life which was taken by Islamic rebels against United Nations personnel in their countries is unacceptable in the eyes of God.  Unless your God is this vengeful Allah which extreme Islam worships.

I have yet to hear in America of Christians responding in such a way to a "bible burning" by Muslims.  This perhaps illustrates the level of civility that America still holds in it's general population towards all religious beliefs.

I would not be surprised however if at some point a great passionate movement takes hold to expel the extreme element of Islam from American lands.  But of course this would not take place unless there was an extreme assault on the people in America, that threatened their very existence.  And even if this type of battle was engaged by such Americans...it is quite possible that they would only fight it because they want to preserve their lives...not necessarily for the defense of Christian doctrine.

But it is perhaps the very Christian doctrine that so permeates America that prevents Americans from being provoked in their homeland unless some great evil rises up.  It is tolerance, for better or for worse (unfortunately), that dictates that lack of response on religious terms.

America with all its honorable founding documents is merely a representation for a season of the good will of God Almighty to be patient and kind with His hard-headed children, that they might come through much trial to salvation He freely provides in Jesus Christ.

But America has its own failing built into the very documents that make it great.  The majority which rules the country, if they fall into godlessness and self-gratification, will elect for themselves the leaders that bring the nation to its end.  America is very near its end.  Freedom after freedom are being removed in the name of security.  The great prosperity this country knows is taken for granted by even the poorest citizen in America.  We do not know what poverty truly is...but we will.

For now...let's just say that there still remains a shred of tolerance for even the most extreme zealots.  And for now America will hold its peace because the law of God is still written on the hearts of its people.

But the waters are stirring.  The anger is rising.  The desperate are becoming more desperate.  And as the conditions of prosperity continue to dwindle, Americans fire will continue to grow.  Are you ready?  It's coming.

The Strong Watchman

By Allan Wall

April 5, 2011
NewsWithViews.com

As an American in the United States of America, you are allowed to do many things.

You can burn the flag. You can burn the Bible. You can produce obscene art and sometimes even get government money to finance it.

You can make movies and TV shows that ridicule Christianity, traditional morality, and that take the Lord’s name in vain.

If anybody objects to this, you can just accuse him of trying to impose his values on others. Then start talking about the Salem Witch Trial and the Spanish Inquisition.

Yes, you can do all those things, and more.

But can you burn a Koran?

Yes, but maybe not for long.

Terry Jones, pastor of the Dove World Outreach Center, in Gainesville, Florida, became the target of world condemnation last year when he announced he would burn a copy of the Koran in protest.

President Obama didn’t want him to do it. Neither did General David Petraeus, commander of U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

Actress/Activist Angelina Jolie spoke out against it. I’m still waiting for Angelina to speak out against anti-Christianity in Hollywood.

As a result of his plan to burn a Koran in the U.S.A., Terry Jones received death threats. His website was shut down. The mortgage on his church’s property was called in and – what a coincidence – the church’s property insurance was cancelled. The city of Gainesville threatened to charge the church for protection. And who knows what else happened behind the scenes? All this happened to a private group which wanted to burn a privately-owned book on private property.

What if the powers that be decide your private activity is objectionable?

In the end, Jones decided not to burn the Koran.

That was seven months ago. But now, he and his group have finally burned a Koran.

What they did was hold an American-style trial of the Koran, conducted in English and Arabic. The Koran was defended by an imam from Texas. And several former Muslim converts to Christianity were included.

If you’d like to really see where Jones and his group are coming from, you ought to check out his website, assuming it is still online. You can click here for that and you can also read Jones’sTen Reasons to Burn the Koran.

Then, even if you disagree with what Jones has done, you will know what you are talking about. It is probably more fun to be very indignant without knowing what you talking about. But being informed is an option.

Anyway, after the Koran was condemned, it was burned. So the “world” exploded in hysterical condemnation.

In Afghanistan, especially, rioters felt duty-bound to prove that Jones was wrong to call their religion a violent one. So they went on a rampage, killed people and burned Obama in effigy.

President Obama, rather than defend American principles of freedom of speech and freedom of religion, put the rioters on the same level as Pastor Jones: “The desecration of any holy text, including the Koran, is an act of extreme intolerance and bigotry. However, to attack and kill innocent people in response is outrageous, and an affront to human decency and dignity.”

Just as last September, General Petraeus, commander of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, got involved. Last September he had complained that burning the Koran in Florida could put the troops in Afghanistan in danger.

Earth to Petraeus. Your troops are already in danger. They’re at war.

This time, Petraeus said the burning "was hateful, it was intolerant and it was extremely disrespectful and again, we condemn it in the strongest manner possible,"

Excuse me, but is it really appropriate for a general to be making pronouncements over U.S. domestic policy? Is it a general’s prerogative to tell American civilians what they can or cannot do?

Why does Petraeus condemn the burning of one Koran? The U.S. Army has confiscated and burned Bibles in Afghanistan. Where was the outcry over that?

As if all this weren’t quite bad enough, several members of Congress have implied they might do something about the Koran burning. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Democrat) promised to look into it. Even worse, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham had this chilling threat for citizens who don’t get in line:

“I wish we could find a way to hold people accountable. Free speech is a great idea, but we're in a war,"

This reminds me of why we have a First Amendment. Contrary to popular opinion, the First Amendment was not written to give us freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition. Read what the First Amendment actually says:

“ Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Did you notice that? The First Amendment was specifically written to prevent Congress from taking away our rights ! And when you have senators like Reid and Graham, you can see why!

In the words of Judge Gideon Tucker, and popularized by Samuel Clemens, “no man’s life, liberty or property is safe while the legislature is in session.” Or his right to burn the Koran.

Graham and others may be willing to restrict our speech, despite the fact that that First Amendment is specifically written to prohibit the Congress from doing so.

What about using our soldiers as an excuse for taking away our freedom of speech? As a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom myself, I find that rather objectionable.

Our freedom is definitely in jeopardy. People had better speak out while they still can. Let your senator and congressman know what you think.

Muslim countries don’t have much freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Why should we follow suit?

The havoc carried out by Muslim berserkers proves Pastor Jones’s point about Islam being a violent religion.

In effect, they are saying “Islam is not a violent religion. And if you say it is, we’ll kill you!”

Wake up Americans, and all Westerners. Your freedom is at risk.

© 2011 Allan Wall - All Rights Reserved