That was predictable.
From here:
President Barack Obama has apologised to the Afghan people for the burning of Korans by American troops at a US base.
In a letter to President Hamid Karzai, Mr Obama expressed his “deep regret” and said the incident earlier this week was a genuine mistake.
Demonstrations against the desecration have continued for a third day across northern and eastern Afghanistan.
Two foreign soldiers, believed to be Americans, have been killed, along with at least six Afghan people.
[….]
Crowds shouting “death to Obama” have been throwing stones and setting fire to the US flag.
Meanwhile the Taliban has called on Afghans to kill and beat all invading forces in revenge for “insulting” the Koran.
On the principle that one might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb, why not get it over with, burn all the Korans, replace them with Bibles, withdraw all the troops, light the blue touchpaper and stand clear.
I have to disagree with you on this one David.
It’s inconceivable to me that the US military doesn’t have a reverant protocol for the destruction of Korans. How many times has this happened to them? Someone very high up needs to be publically demoted.
Even though I don’t share a Muslim’s deep mystical bond with their Koran, doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t show respect for their belief. The Koran isn’t a comic book that can be thrown out with the trash. There are accepted means for its disposal.
Jim, you could well be right, of course, but I remain unconvinced.
It seems that Karzai wants to go a bit further than demotion:
Perhaps if the US military adopted Sharia law it would help.
The Afghan murder and rioting is inexcusable -but it comes after the fact.
A truly sorry state of affairs. It becomes tempting to just put up a wall and say to the Afghan people that they are on their own, don’t come here anymore. Not for help, not for immigration, not for anything. But I have to remind myself that the mobs are not all of the people, and that there are still many people who do need and derserve our help. Not an easy situation, and most certainly not one with any easy answers.
Sorry, but I cannot help thinking fo what the Prophet Isaiah wrote,
“He cut down cedars,
or perhaps took a cypress or oak. He let it grow among the trees of the forest, or planted a pine, and the rain made it grow. It is used as fuel for burning; some of it he takes and warms himself, he kindles a fire and bakes bread. But he also fashions a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it. Half of the wood he burns in the fire; over it he prepares his meal, he roasts his meat and eats his fill. He also warms himself and says, “Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.” From the rest he makes a god, his idol; he bows down to it and worships. He prays to it and says, “Save me! You are my god!” (Isaiah 44:14-17)
Whatever the spiritual significance people attach to it, the Koran is ink printed on paper. Before it was a book it was a tree. From the same tree, from the same paper, came everything from newspapers to facial tissue.
I’m not saying we should not respect others’ faiths, but this reaction is ridiculous. However, the question must be asked, how did this fact become known at all? How did anyone know a Koran was burned? Who thought it was a good idea to announce it? Someone in the military?
Another view that we should leave the Afghans to it here:
And the next Twin Towers will happen five years after that; and the lives already lost will have been lost to what purpose?
The mindless rage displayed by the Muslim street has once again proven that there is no middle ground with radical Islam.
That said, we are called to respect their faith -not because of their threats, but because of how it reflects on us.
I’ve said it before: If a Christian lays down with a Muslim in peace, they will rise a Muslim.