There is a big difference between the mosque and the Koran burners

[mkultra]

While both are exercising their rights, and neither should be stopped, the mosque is being built as a service to a community and the Koran burning is simply meant to insult and disrespect an entire religion.

[jobycom]

1. That comparison is so obviously bigotry that no explanation should be needed

It should be grounds for tombstoning from this site to make that comparison. Claiming that trying to build a symbol of your religion is equivalent to trying to assualt and dehumanize an entire people by burning a symbol of their religion is as hateful as any other bigotry I've heard.

And I'm not sure Pastor Jones is exercising his rights. You can't burn a cross to intimidate African Americans because it's not an excercise of speech but an attempt to intimidate and attack. It's usually accepted by our courts that there is a difference between expression to make a point and using expression as a threat or assault to dehumanize an entire people and put them in their place.

[cleanhippie]

2. You most certainly CAN burn a cross....

As long as it is YOUR cross and its on YOUR property. The state is required to prove whether it is intimidation or not. See Virgina v. Black for details.



And while I am totally opposed to Jones and his ilk and ideas, I am MORE supportive of his Constitutional right to do it.

[jobycom]

8. You cannot burn a cross to intimidate someone, which is what I said.

nt

[Turborama]

4. Sadly, it's one that seems to be common ground for far too many Americans

Judging by what I've witnessed recently.

And I agree wholeheartedly with your response.

Another very important clarification is needed with this. It is not going to be a Mosque.

As Daisy Khan stated to Christiane Amanpour on "This Week", they are building an Islamic Community Center based on a similar concept as the http://www.jccmanhattan.org/">Jewish Community Center in Manhattan.

AMANPOUR: Rabbi Joy Levitt, how did it come about that the two of you were working together on this?

LEVITT: Well, we got a call from Daisy when they began to think about this project, and said we want to build an MCC just like the JCC.

AMANPOUR: A Muslim community center.

LEVITT: That's right. And the JCC in Manhattan was imagined in 1990 and built its building -- actually we opened two days after 9/11. And have been thriving; about 2,500 people walk into our doors every day. We were really honored to be able to unpack what we've learned, some of the things that we...

AMANPOUR: Well, what was it meant to be, the Islamic center? Is it mosque with a dome and minarets and loud calls to prayer five times a day? What is it?

KHAN: Well, all religions Americanize over time. They go from a place of worship to a place of service, and community centers have been developed by Christian communities like YMCA, and the Jewish community has developed the JCC. And Muslim community is inevitably going to also develop such a center.

So when I visited Joy Levitt and I saw the JCC and I said, this is what we have to do. So it is a community center, but it also has a prayer space within it because it would meet the needs of the Muslim community's need to worship on Fridays.

AMANPOUR: And what about it would be the community center?

KHAN: Well, there will be 500-seat auditorium; there will be a swimming pool; there will be, you know, athletic facilities. There will be cooking classes. There will be schools, you know, small education forums, conferences, and it's basically become a place where ideas can be exchanged, but tolerance, mutual respect can also be extended.

Full transcript: http://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek/week-transcript-karzai-khan-levitt/story?id=11454631&page=3

[Blue_In_AK]

9. I was making that exact point to my husband this morning.

What is the difference between cross-burning and Koran-burning?

[rhett o rick]

12. There is no difference. Burn flags, draft cards, Korans, Bibles, or crosses.

If the state can prove that you are trying to intimidate individuals, then it would be illegal. Burning a cross on your own property is not illegal, while burning it on the lawn of someone else may be illegal.

[rhett o rick]

10. You are way off base here. You're not sure the Pastor is exercising his rights? Well figure it out

and come back. Until you can figure that out, you are out of line calling someone bigoted.

Burning a cross is an exercise in free speech unless it is burned on the lawn of someone for intimidation purposes. If the good pastor was going to burn the Koran on a Muslim's front porch, then he would be out of line.

[jobycom]

13. The camera makes it someone's front porch. When you figure that out, come back. nt

[rhett o rick]

14. So the camera voids the Fourth Ammendment? nm

[Codeine]

20. I'm sure you have case law to back up that ridiculous assertion.

Right?

[mkultra]

17. well, he is foolish for calling my op bigoted in any case.

[yellowcanine]

3. That is only true if one thinks with their brain and not their ass.

Just sayin.

[cleveramerican]

5. the similarity is......

both are being urged to surrender to the angry mob.

I am with Mayor Bloomberg, let 'em build the thing, and let 'em burn the things.


and bad news for Pastor Jones.... its available on kindle.

The Massachusetts Bible Society, who I've never heard of before, has pledged to print and give away 10 Korans for every one burned.
That seems like sensible response.

[mkultra]

7. maybe they shoudl burn some kindles

Frankly, i think anything that makes those idiots waste their hard earned money is good. Burn on fools.

[TheKentuckian]

6. One is using their rights to weave into our tapestry and the other to unravel it

But both are within their rights.

Freedom is hard and can get uncomfortable.

[IggleDoer]

11. Park 51 had approval from the appropriate ;legal authorities.

The church was denied permission to burn anything by the local fire department.

They are doing something illegal, just like they claim Mexican immigrants have been doing.

[mkultra]

18. honestly, the legality doesnt really lend credence

I mean that if they where truly being oppressed, legal means could be one way it could happen. Not that they are though.

[gratuitous]

15. The major difference I see

Is that the Muslim center didn't seek out any publicity, it was thrust into the national limelight by bigots with their own agenda, whereas Mr. Jones thrust himself into the national limelight.

[mkultra]

16. i hadnt considered that but it is true

One organization is being victimized by the media, the other is using it as a tool.

[Codeine]

19. No religious building is a "service to a community."

Religion is poison.