Tuesday
Sep072010
US and Afghanistan: Petraeus Warning over "Burn a Koran Day" (Barnes/Rosenberg)
Tuesday, September 7, 2010 at 8:39 
In a telling example that the effects of whipped-up cultural conflict within the US may not remain at home, General David Petraeus offered a comment on this week's proposed "Burn a Koran Day". It is part of a concerted public-relations operation: the International Security Assistance Force is pushing Petraeus' remarks on its Facebook page.Julian Barnes and Matthew Rosenberg report for The Wall Street Journal:
The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan said the planned burning of Qurans on Sept. 11 by a small Florida church could put the lives of American troops in danger and damage the war effort.
Gen. David Petraeus said the Taliban would exploit the demonstration for propaganda purposes, drumming up anger toward the U.S. and making it harder for allied troops to carry out their mission of protecting Afghan civilians.
"It could endanger troops and it could endanger the overall effort," Gen. Petraeus said in an interview. "It is precisely the kind of action the Taliban uses and could cause significant problems. Not just here, but everywhere in the world we are engaged with the Islamic community."
Hundreds of Afghans attended a demonstration in Kabul on Monday to protest the plans of Florida pastor Terry Jones, who has said he will burn copies of Islam's holy book to mark the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Afghan protesters chanted "death to America," and speakers called on the U.S. to withdraw its troops. Some protesters threw rocks at a passing military convoy.
Military officials fear the protests will likely spread to other Afghan cities, especially if the event is broadcast or ends up on Internet video.
Mr. Jones, head of the 50-member Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Fla., said in a statement that "We understand the General's concerns. We are sure that his concerns are legitimate." Nonetheless, he added, "We must send a clear message to the radical element of Islam. We will no longer be controlled and dominated by their fears and threats."
Read full article....
Reader Comments (11)
Well, first attack the Imam whom argued to the Middle East that the War on Terror was not a "War on Islam" and now this.
Fantastic.
But, kudos to General Petreus on this. He has echoed Frank Rich's warning, but it is much more important coming from Petreus, naturally.
By the way, who doesn't love the Orwellian ring to "Dove World Outreach Center "?
U.S. Quran Burning Sparks Indonesia Protests Outside American Embassy
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/04/us-quran-burning-sparks-i_n_705973.html
Related: Debate over planned mosque near ground zero seen as opportunity to set story straight about Islam
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2010/09/muslim-world-planned-mosque-near-ground-zero-seen-as-opportunity-to-correct-misconceptions-about-islam.html
What the heck it's only money! Hey Let's give some more away be extending the tax cuts for the rich. I'm sure both of these expences will be returned to the average voters in spades. Please just don't spend me tax money where it's needed most.
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Setting the story straight about Islam to...Americans? Americans are more tolerant of Muslims and their religion than Europeans. There's no ban on minarets here. There's no ban on burkas here, either.
The article is not about whether Americans are tolerant of Muslims, nor
about how much more tolerance they show than Europeans. It's about using
the current controversies as an opportunity to educate and inform
Americans about a religion the vast majority knows little or nothing
about: " .. most Muslim commentators are arriving at the conclusion that
there are serious issues with the West's view of Muslims and that now
may be the opportune time to correct misconceptions"
I totally agree with your point about Americans being *much* (my choice
of words) more tolerant towards Muslims than many Europeans. But that
tolerance, the fruit of the broader traditional American value of
freedom of religion upon which the country was founded, is being
undermined by people and groups who abuse Americans' lack of factual
knowledge about American Muslim communities and Islam in America to sow
fear and misconceptions. I have found that ignorance of other
denominations and religions is quite the norm, even in a country with so
much religious and cultural diversity. Ask the average Protestant or
Catholic (not people who take a special interest like you and me) about
details of the liturgy, articles of faith or revered religious
figures/saints of the other denomination, and you'll see how little even
Christians know about each other's beliefs and practices.
I have been extremely proud of the fact that in America you can wear a
yamaka or turban or headscarf or build a mosque or temple where you
want. At least up until recently. The last thing I'd want to see is a
restriction of those freedoms or a reduction of that tolerance - let
alone Koran burning(!), which not even European anti-Islam groups have
tried yet (I think.... I hope).
The article is not about whether Americans are tolerant of Muslims, nor
about how much more tolerance they show than Europeans. It's about using
the current controversies as an opportunity to educate and inform
Americans about a religion the vast majority knows little or nothing
about: " .. most Muslim commentators are arriving at the conclusion that
there are serious issues with the West's view of Muslims and that now
may be the opportune time to correct misconceptions"
I totally agree with your point about Americans being *much* (my choice
of words) more tolerant towards Muslims than many Europeans. But that
tolerance, the fruit of the broader traditional American value of
freedom of religion upon which the country was founded, is being
undermined by people and groups who abuse Americans' lack of factual
knowledge about American Muslim communities and Islam in America to sow
fear and misconceptions. I have found that ignorance of other
denominations and religions is quite the norm, even in a country with so
much religious and cultural diversity. Ask the average Protestant or
Catholic (not people who take a special interest like you and me) about
details of the liturgy, articles of faith or revered religious
figures/saints of the other denomination, and you'll see how little even
Christians know about each other's beliefs and practices.
I have been extremely proud of the fact that in America you can wear a
yamaka or turban or headscarf or build a mosque or temple where you
want. At least up until recently. The last thing I'd want to see is a
restriction of those freedoms or a reduction of that tolerance - let
alone Koran burning(!), which not even European anti-Islam groups have
tried yet (I think.... I hope).
"I have been extremely proud of the fact that in America you can wear a
yamaka or turban or headscarf or build a mosque or temple where you
want"
*************
The Carmelites moved their monastery away from Auschwitz. I believe that monastery was built as a shrine to Edith Stein, a convert from Judaism. So, why can't the Muslims show that same degree of sensitivity? Yes, they have the right to build it there, but a mosque close to Ground Zero is very poor taste. I think it will actually be counterproductive. The families of the victims are upset about it and the polls show that most New Yorkers don't want it there. I am a New Yorker and I don't want it there.
I think most Christians are aware of the liturgy of various denominations -- The Augsburg Confession (Lutheranism) to the Divine Liturgy (Eastern Orthodox) to The 39 Articles of Religion (Anglicanism) to the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Most of it is common knowledge in America.
"I have found that ignorance of other
denominations and religions is quite the norm, even in a country with so
much religious and cultural diversity. Ask the average Protestant or
Catholic (not people who take a special interest like you and me) about
details of the liturgy, articles of faith or revered religious
figures/saints of the other denomination, and you'll see how little even
Christians know about each other's beliefs and practices."
***********
If this is true, how do the politicians plan to educate the people on Islam? I have a Koran in my house, but I don't think I could ever get one of my neigbors to read it.
The NYT first published a story on plans to build the Cordoba House community centre in December 2009. There were no objections to it then and none until (former) politicians, followed by people like Pam Geller, started spreading a lot of disinformation about the project and Imam Rauf in May 2010. I guess to answer your very pertinent question, "how do the politicians plan to educate the people on Islam?", one would have to find a way of making the politicians (former and current) stop speading fears and misconceptions about Islam in America and the American Muslim community first. ;-)
Seriously, though, I think a lot of interfaith dialogue is necessary and the American Muslim community in particular has its work cut out for it. These controversies are actually a golden opportunity for them to try an educate people on the moderate form of Islam practised by the vast majority of American Muslims - in large part due to the fact they're American and in America!
http://blogs.aljazeera.net/americas/2010/09/08/stopping-us-muslim-backlash
The most recent statements by Rauf indicate they're looking for a comprimise. We'll see.
As for The Augsburg Confession, the Divine Liturgy, the 39 Articles of Religion and the Catechism of the Catholic Church - I can hardly imagine that your average Christian (not a religion enthusiast) knows the main articles of faith of even two of these, let alone the terms you've used to describe all four :-).
But maybe you're right. My impression is based just on an experience I had in a group of mostly evangelical Christians plus a few Catholics, a Lutheran and some Baptists. The Catholics had to explain numerous details of The Passion of the Christ to our Protestant friends, in the course of which many of the differences between our denominations came to light and we were all surprised at with how little we actually knew about the other forms of Christianity.