Qur'an burning free speech in America?

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Published time: April 04, 2011 20:16
Edited time: April 05, 2011 02:09

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Afghanistan, Politics, Protest, Religion, USA

Protests continue to rage in Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan following initial protests which left at least seven UN workers, five protesters died and many others wounded.

The protests erupted following reports that a pastor in the United States burned a copy of the Qur'an.

The pastor in question, Pastor Terry Jones of a fundamentalist Christian church in Florida, didn’t actually burn a Qur'an. He had initially threaded to burn copies of the holy book but backed down after being told his actions might endanger the lives of US troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. Jones was however present when Pastor Wayne Sapp burned a Qur'an on March 21.

The incident has pushed many to question just how far free speech goes in America. If what you say or do causes the death of others, are you free to say or do it? Issues surrounding the US First amendment are becoming more debated. Some feel, the principle trumps the outcome, while others contend free speech must be limited.

Blogger and political commentator Michael Haltman argued the act of burning the Qur'an was the wrong thing to do, but the US should not alter the First Amendment right to free speech.

He explained it is always wrong to burn the religious text of another group, whether it is the Bible, Qur'an or the Torah.

“Freedom of speech is crucial in America to the way we live,”Haltman explained. “I don’t know that changing it in this case is the right thing to do.”

The principle of free speech is paramount to America, it is a founding principle. It was wrong to burn the holy book, but cannot be responsible for changing the principle of the freedom of speech in America.

Senator Lindsey Graham said, “I wish we could find a way to hold people accountable. Free speech is a great idea, but we’re in a war. During World War II, we had limits on what you could say if it would inspire the enemy. So, burning a Qur'an is a terrible thing but it doesn’t justify killing someone. Burning a Bible would be a terrible thing but it doesn’t justify murder. Having said that, anytime we can push back here in America against actions like this that put our troops at risk we should do it, and I look forward to working with Senators Kerry, and Reid, and others to condemn this, condemn violence all over the world based on the nameof religion. But General Petraeus understand better than anybody else in America what happens when something like this is done in our country and he was right to condemn it and I think Congress would be right to reinforce what General Petraeus said.”

Haltman disagreed with Graham, explaining that free speech cannot be lost simply because you disagree with the speech. It is one thing to prevent speech which incites a clear and immediate effect, such as falsely yelling “fire” in a crowded movie theater. However burning a Qur'an, he said, is a different situation.

Journalist and former CNN host Rick Sanchez argued no one should condone the actions of those who have killed or committed violent acts in the protests, but at the same time, there is no question that Jones knew this could happen and still engaged in the act participating in burning a Qur'an.

Free speech is one thing, but performing an act that knowingly will incite violence and can cause harm to others is not free speech.

“He [Jones] is literally trying to stir the pot,” explained Sanchez. “You have to hold him accountable for what he has done.”

Sanchez argued Jones was well aware that his actions would cause violence and yet he chose to continue.

“If we can’t stop him, at least we can stop his actions,” he commented. “Speech is not free without restrictions. There are restrictions.”

One cannot use speech to incite harm. If it presents a clear and present danger, Sanchez argued, a person can be held legally accountable.

“We have the right to say whatever we want to say, but that right has to end at the point where lives can be lost or people can be hurt or property can be damaged,” he said.

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Comments (6)

Ahmed 07.04.2011 14:27

People who read this article should understand the Muslim people they are speaking about. There is a vast population of Muslims in the Middle East with literally NO education whatsoever. In other words, you would be hard pressed to find a large educated bourge oisie group in countries such as Afghanistan. Where do the people get educated then? A good amount of them are getting educated from smaller informal sources or at madrassas. Either way, the education is usually grounded in deep religious education.
If you were educated in a setting where a holy text is the primary source of knowledge and morality... then wouldn't you feel assaulted if people in a different country was literally burning your book just to throw it in your face? What else could book burning mean? Are you trying to win the hearts and minds of the Muslim people by burning their books? No. If you can seriously think that book burnings can be a positive, then I encourage you to speak up and make your case. But as far as I know, it rarely has ever been a positive thing to do.

We in the United States are forgetting a fundamental difference between "us" and "them". "We" are enjoying a top notch modern lifestyle whereas the Muslim nations at war are unsure if they will end up having the same quality of life that we are all blessed to have in the US. We need to stop viewing the Middle East from the same stale perspectives as we have in the past. These Muslims are people and deserve the same respect as anyone else in the world does.

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California Dreamin 06.04.2011 04:56

Free speech does allow the pastor to burn a Quoran. Do I agree with it? No. But he has the right. And to somehow say the Quoran is more Holy than the Bible is a joke -- the Quoran has no validity without the Bible; it relies upon the promises of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as well. But the point here is murders are being sanctioned in the name of religion -- Radical Islam to be exact. And every Muslim must honor Jihad against the infidel which is everyone that is not Muslim. How can this be? A religion solely aimed at kill or convert? Where is the tolerance there? And statements that all U.S. Babies will someday be named Mohammed? Come on folks, those that are of peace and believe in a loving God must see another way out -- for all of us to love, care and die protecting one another in a world that has otherwise gone crazy. Our military has been a perfect example having fought several world wars with the only land asked for is that which is necessary to bury our dead. Yes, I believe in Jesus Christ as the True son of God. I believe the United States was devinely ordained to bring the great miracles of science, freedom and hope to the rest of the world. Even now, most great inventions and technology breakthroughs are happening here. Why would this be unless God had planned this to be the place of hope and prosperity for the world? I am all for shutting down all porn, prostitution, drug trade and so forth -- let's work together to do it. We can. We must. But it will only work if we all do it together. With the vices gone from our land, this would be the perfect land, setting an example for the rest of the world once again.

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Michaelangelo 05.04.2011 19:39

All of the comments are stone cold ridiculous The question of RT was Is Quran burning free speech the answer is absolutely! Why is it you can burn a US flag in and outside of America?
Denigrat e Christians and Jews in and out of America Behead people in the name of Islam, kill Christian ministers in Pakistan etc etc etc,...... The reason you have this freedom in America is because millions died to afford this freedom. Whomever does not agree move back to your 12 th century countries and express your opinions back there.

What is worse the book burning or having the crucifix of Christ in urine? No one complains when it is Christmas bashing or Ten Commandments? Why is it the seperation of church and state does not apply?

RT should have had opposing viewpoints to look legitimate. When people are killed in the name of Islam is that free Islamic sharia speech?

Get a life and return to the 12 century....

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