Classic Rant #329 (September 8, 2010): Stupid, Stupid, Stupid

Here is my open letter to the Florida minister who plans on burning copies of the Muslim Quran to protest the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks:

Dear Pastor Terry Jones:

Please do not go ahead with your desire to burn copies of the Quran to protest the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Your deed serves no good purpose, and could put American troops overseas in peril.

As an American, I also carry a scar from that attack. It is something that I will never forget. I was not there--maybe 40 miles or so away--but I can still smell the burning odor that permeated the air even where I was.

But to burn the holy books of a group of people just because a group of extremists did this is reprehensible.

Hitler burned books during World War II. I don't think you want to be linked to him in any way, so why do what he did? It serves no purpose.

It only serves to incite groups against the U.S. We have so few true friends around the world, and making more enemies is just not too smart.

And Gen. David Petraeus warned that your actions could incite extremists to carry out attacks against our servicemembers around the world. Why would you want to put them in greater harm's way than they already are?

Another reason not to do this is that I am sure you are aware that Jews are entering their most holy period of their calendar. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the High Holy Days, represent holidays where Jews reflect on their lives. To carry out your actions during such a holy part of the calendar is something of sacrilege.

Although legally you have the right to burn these books, others also have the right to burn the American flag. You say that you are doing this for America, but are you any better than those that burn our flag?

Please, do not carry out your plan. Even some members of your church will not follow you when you do this.

Think sensibly. What is this accomplishing? Is it remembering all those who perished during these attacks, or is it creating further hatred?

Please think about not doing it. That is all anyone can ask.

(And for Rosh Hashanah, I am taking the next day off. I should be back on Friday. Hopefully, by this time, Jones will come to his senses and decide not to do this. I saw him interviewed on the CBS Evening News last night, and he seems open to not doing this if God tells him not to. Hopefully, he will see the light.)