I've been hearing and reading certain dismayed braying over the alleged incident of U.S. interrogators in Guantanamo Bay flushing the Quran in a toilet.
It's wrong to desecrate religious symbols and texts... unless they're Christian, of course. In that case, it's not only acceptable. It's hip. If you want to, for instance, immerse a crucifix in a jar of urine or smear elephant dung on a picture of the Virgin Mary, that's not disrespect. That's art. (What're you, some kind of Cretan?) The taxpayers will give you big dollars too.
When the Baptist church in Danieltown, NC put this message on their church sign "The Koran Needs to Be Flushed," it raised a ruckus. One local college professor criticized the Baptists for their "intolerance" and "aggressive disrespect for other citizens' deeply held views." I hope he complained about the NEA funded projects I mentioned above.
Call me nuts, but sometimes I detect a double-standard. When you bash Christianity, it's free speech. When you bash Islam, it's a hate crime. Personally, I think we should ALL be nicer. But there is that whole Patrick Henry thing about not agreeing with what you say though defending to the death your right to say it.
The top cleric in Saudi Arabia, one Grand Mufti Adul-Aziz al-Sheik, said, "We condemn and denounce this criminal act against Muslims' most sacred item." Is that the same guy who called fire and brimstone down on those Palestinians who used pages from the Bible as toilet paper while violating the Church of the Holy Nativity in Bethlehem three years ago? I guess not.
And for the record, we should note that the government of Saudi Arabia routinely burns Bibles whenever such contraband is uncovered. In late April, 40 Pakistani Christians living near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were arrested for "trying to spread their poisonous religious beliefs to others through the distribution of books and pamphlets." Apparently, Christians are supposed to respect Islam, but the favor need not be returned.
Trashing someone's sacred book is not torture. It's not illegal (in America, that is). It might even be an effective interrogation technique. I don't know if the Newsweek account is true. Probably, it's not. But if they did do it, the Saudi cleric is wrong. It wasn't criminal. It was just rude.
P.S. Here's a pretty insightful commentary from over at the Washington Times.
Article comments
1 - JR
Call me nuts, but sometimes I detect a double-standard. When you bash Christianity, it's free speech. When you bash Islam, it's a hate crime.
Yeah, 'cause look at all the bloggers who have been arrested for bashing Islam.
You're nuts alright.
2 - Jen
I think this op ed misses the point. Isn't the idea that Jesus taught tolerance? So it seems very un-Christian to call for another sacred book to be flushed.
3 - Scott
Hi Jen,
With all due respect, Jesus did not teach tolerance. At least not in the sense that is often meant today. He taught us to love everyone, even our enemies. He taught us to forgive.
But Jesus also said that no one can be saved except through him. That is exclusive. He also said, "He who is not with me, is against me."
What about the time, in John 8, when He called the Jewish leaders the sons of the devil? That's not tolerant.
I could go on and on.
But Jen, I do want to add this. I AGREE with you that we should be tolerant in the sense that people should have the freedom to practice their faith. Unfortunately, Muslim countries do not permit that. Let me take you with me to the Sudan next time I go and you can ask the African Christians there how tolerant their Islamic government is. Name a single Islamic government which offers true religious liberty.
But I also believe in the American value of free speech. And that means I/you can say things which may offend someone.
4 - JR
But Jesus also said that no one can be saved except through him. That is exclusive. He also said, "He who is not with me, is against me."
Hey what a coincidence, so did Darth Vader.
Name a single Islamic government which offers true religious liberty.
Name a single Christian government which offers true religious liberty.
5 - Scott
JR,
I have a feeling George Lucas was trying to take a dig at Pres. Bush. But nonetheless, Jesus did say it. And it is not a statement of ultimate tolerance, which was my point. To some, that makes Jesus a bad guy. After all, he was executed.
I can't even think of a single government which I would call a Christian government. I guess Vatican City.
But JR, honestly, if you don't think you have religious liberty living in the U.S., you need to travel a bit more. I've been to an Islamic country. Some of them really ARE trying to be theocracies. I'd love to introduce you to Christians who've been tortured, had family members butchered, for carrying bibles or wearing cross or praying out loud. If you can't see the chasm of difference, then I really can't say anything more.
Oddly, there are no swarms of Christians (or ANYONE) fleeing the U.S. to go live in Saudi Arabia, Iran, or the Sudan. But they sure want to come live here.
6 - Nancy
Actually, Jesus very likely didn't claim exclusivity himself, either. That little series of nuggets is propaganda/ spiritual blackmail courtesy of 2nd-3rd c. christian revisionists during the sectarian power struggles taking place back then: convert & give us your property, and you won't burn!
7 - JR
I can't even think of a single government which I would call a Christian government.
Then why bring up Islamic governments if you're trying to demonstrate a double standard? It's not really fair to compare the treatment of Muslims in a secular country to the treatment of Christians under an Islamic theocracy.
But JR, honestly, if you don't think you have religious liberty living in the U.S., you need to travel a bit more.
See, I thought you were the one claiming we don't have religious liberty in the U.S.: "When you bash Christianity, it's free speech. When you bash Islam, it's a hate crime."
8 - Scott Stiegemeyer
JR, of course I don't claim that we don't have religious liberty. If you re-read my post, I'm not commenting at all on our government or the Bill of Rights. I am saying that the American culture is developing a double standard in its treatment of Christian belief. Does this pose a potential threat to religious liberty in the U.S.? You betcha. That's why I wrote my post. Is it comparable to life in Saudi Arabia? No way, thank God.
Obviously, my use of the phrase "hate crime" is what we writers call hyperbole.
9 - Steve S
When you bash Christianity, it's free speech. When you bash Islam, it's a hate crime.
We need to clarify this massive misrepresentation, presented uner 'hyperbole'. Many people might not know it is 'hyperbole', because there is no indication it is such, until comment 8 when the author admits to it. It is very misleading and just the post itself twists an incident of flushing the Koran into yet another attack on Christianity.
The term 'hate crime' is severely misused here. It is not even applicable as hyperbole.
10 - Al Barger
Saying that desecrating a Koran is treated as a "hate crime" really isn't even hyperbole. Islamofascist numbnuts obviously consider it a capital crime, so that's ranking in considerably more serious than the type of penalities in American "hate crime" laws.
11 - JR
I am saying that the American culture is developing a double standard in its treatment of Christian belief.
America loves the underdog. So we have one standard for those we percieve to be dominant (Christians), and another for those with less real power and influence. If and when Christians become a minority, they'll be just as adorable as anyone else. Probably even more so, 'cause that Muslim prohibition against drinking is a bit of a buzzkill.
12 - Irreverent flusher
Who cares?
- The US invades a country on thin evidence.
- They murder innocent civilians includiung children and women(Haditha)
- They sodomize the prisioners (Abu Grahib) - and photograph it
- They emprision people without charge and without trail.
Sure, after all that flushing a holy book could give people something to rally around. But if they hadn't done the first things, no one would care.
You can now flush whatever holy book you'd like at Flushaholybook.com