US Politics Video: Clinton Denounces "Disrespectful, Disgraceful" Burn-a-Koran Day

Speaking at an Iftar, the nightly meal breaking the Ramadan fast, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton denounced the plans of a small Florida church to hold "Burn a Koran Day": "I am heartened by the clear, unequivocal condemnation of this disrespectful, disgraceful act that has come from American religious leaders of all faiths, from evangelical Christians to Jewish rabbis, as well as secular US leaders and opinion-makers."

Clinton's intervention follows statements by General David Petraeus, the commander of US forces in Afghanistan, and the US Embassy in Kabul.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gsLsdBR2N4[/youtube]

Afghanistan: The US Embassy Statement about “Burn a Koran Day”
US and Afghanistan: Petraeus Warning over “Burn a Koran Day” (Barnes/Rosenberg)

Comments

[Dave]

I like what Jihad Watch has to say...

"I don't support the Qur'an burning, as I don't like the idea of burning books in general, but what Holder, Petraeus, Clinton and the rest seem to have forgotten, if they ever knew it, is that burning this book will not harm Muslims in Indonesia, Afghanistan or anywhere else. It isn't as if there aren't any other copies of the Qur'an. And if Terry Jones and his followers want to do something that Muslims and Holder and Clinton and Petraeus detest, that just makes them detestable in their eyes. It doesn't warrant or justify murderous rage and cries of "Death to America."

And the idea that the Muslim world's response to this is reasonable and that we must do our best to placate it is simply aiding and abetting a madman in his madness. Holder, Clinton, Petraeus, Gibbs and the rest should be seizing the opportunity to say that in America we believe strongly in the freedom of expression, and will protect our citizens' right to express themselves even in ways we may dislike. They should be pointing out that what Terry Jones does affects only Terry Jones, and does not harm Islam or Muslims -- and that Muslims bring far more harm to themselves by going crazy over this, issuing threats, and potentially victimizing innocent people. (Which is not to say that if they killed Jones or someone else connected with this event, that that would be justified, either.)

This could have been a teaching moment for what it means to live in a free and pluralistic society. Another lost opportunity."

http://www.jihadwatch.org/2010/09/attorney-general-murderous-muslim-rage-over-quran-burning-idiotic-and-dangerous----no-wait.html

[Catherine]

Even pastor’s old church condemns Quran-burning :-)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20100908/pl_yblog_upshot/even-pastors-old-church-condemns-quran-burning

[WitteKr]

Oops, a little too soon maybe... NYT: "But details of the pastor's planned meeting with the Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf remained elusive. Mr. Jones did say he got a promise to move the New York mosque, but the Imam, in a statement issued shortly afterward, said he had not spoken to the pastor.
"I am glad that Pastor Jones has decided not to burn any Qurans. However, I have not spoken to Pastor Jones," the statement said. "I am surprised by their announcement. We are not going to toy with our religion or any other. Nor are we going to barter. We are here to extend our hands to build peace and harmony."
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/10/us/10obama.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

[Catherine]

WitteKr,
RE the NYT report you posted, this story is quickly taking on "only in America" characteristics. :-)

[Catherine]

"These imams should be jailed for inciting hatred."

And Geert Wilders is being presecuted for the same. Your reply focussing on the way the Cartoons came to light and how they were maliciously used, while true, has nothing to do with the discussion you started on a teaching moment, once the trouble has already started, for what it means to live in a free and pluralistic society. I tried to engage in that discussion seriously with my example of what turned out to be very successful attempt at teaching democratic values while defusing tensions. Three weeks after Fitna came out, after months of build-up and controversy, including Wilders hinting that that the film would show to parts of the Qur'an being torn out and set on fire, the whole thing was largely forgotten in Muslim-majority countries.