Tampa Photography Blog

Usually the anniversary of September 11, 2001 brings out extreme religious zealots who curse others’ beliefs.

But those fanatics are usually in support of Al-Qaeda, not America.

When Pastor Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Church in Gainesville, Florida announced that he would burn several hundred Korans on September 11, religious and military leaders, politicians and Christians alike were outraged.  He named the event “International Burn-A-Koran Day”.

"We are simply burning a book," he told CNN's Anderson Cooper. "General [Petraeus] needs to point his finger to radical Islam and tell them to shut up, tell them to stop, tell them that we will not bow our knees to them."

Leaders including President Barack Obama urged Jones not to go through with the burning warning that any blatant, offensive act against Muslims would create violence overseas. Jones said he is not backing down.

In defense of anyone who wants to exercise their First Amendment right, this is what the Constitution states: 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.

So, I do defend Jones’ right to protest the Koran.

However, when a war is still going on and a four-star general warns you not to burn a religious book (no matter how much you may disagree with what’s in it), you might want to listen. The idea that this one pastor at a small church in a college town called Gainesville may incite violence against our troops infuriates me. These soldiers and military leaders have enough to deal with overseas without Americans creating more trouble and resistance for them. (In addition to violence abroad, Jones is creating a security risk for the 185,000 residents of Gainesville as well as the tens of thousands of visitors who will arrive on Saturday for the UF vs. USF football game.)

I agree Jones has a right to burn the Koran. But I don’t understand what he thinks he will accomplish by doing this. Has burning someone’s sacred religious books ever created peace and harmony? Doubtful. Most likley this is just another publicity stunt aimed at getting international attention that would otherwise not be available to such a church.

Some suggested that the media not cover Jones’ book burning but we know that won’t happen. Unfortunately, this is a story and it will be told. I just hope it’s not at a soldier’s expense.

*Photo by John Raoux/AP*