Village Idiot

By Sydney Smith 

Terry Jones

Perhaps you’ve heard about Terry Jones who (along with maybe five other people) will be burning copies of the Qur’an in a ridiculous attempt to commemorate 9/11, seriously offend and outrage most people (regardless of their religious background) and somehow act as a “warning” to…someone (he’s not entirely clear on who that is but it would seem to encompass a number of people who aren’t Muslim at all): 

“We are talking here, not to the moderate muslim, we’re not talking to the american army, we are wanting to send a message to those people who do not mind threatening the president, who do not mind bombing buildings, who do not mind storming embassies. We’re sending a message to them that we can go beyond talk.” 

Naturally, there have been anti-American demonstrations around the world as a result of Jones’ plan. People are right to be upset. This is a disgraceful act that should be condemned. And certainly there are many people who have legitimate grievances against America as a country. 

This is not one of them. This is the act of a single man. And an idiot at that. 

This is a man who says his actions are not directed at “moderate Muslims” and still plans to burn their holy book; hoping perhaps that they’ll listen to his words instead of his actions? This is a man who thinks enraging people is a deterrent to terrorism. Who has gotten the idea that burning a book is really scary warning to people who are willing to kill and die for their cause. 

The Guardian has a great video of both James’ ranting and Hilary Clinton’s remarks at the State Department Iftar dinner. 

I hope that people hear the voices condemning Jones’ message as strongly as they hear Jones himself.  (A quick look at facebook will show overwhelming numbers against Jones’s venture). Just as Jones is guilty (among so many other things) of tarring all Muslims with the same brush, so too are people who take him as representative of America. 

Watch the video and see what you think. As disgusted as I am with this, I am almost more disgusted that any fool with a facebook account and a half-baked plan can get legitimacy.