The Right to Be Stupid

The Pastor in Florida has a first amendment right to free speech and to burn Qurans. I fully support this right.

But just because you have a right (legal) does not make it right (ethically). Burning Qurans is still stupid, foolish, disrespectful, and childish. It mainly serves to inflame both sides and give ammunition to terrorists. Burning Qurans hurts both Americans and Christians. Many of us have evolved beyond vengeance. Unfortunately many others remain stuck in hateful ways and are hell bent on perpetuating violence against each other.

See also:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100908/ap_on_re_us/quran_burning
and
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704358904575478241873665072.html?mod=WSJ_hps_SECONDTopStories#articleTabs%3Darticle
and
http://deepforestgreen.blogspot.com/2010/09/open-letter-to-dr-terry-and-sylvia.html

If you want to let the Pastor know what you think, please send him comments at:
http://www.doveworld.org/contact

Let the punishment fit the crime

The Iraqi who threw his shoes at President Bush was sentenced today to 3 years in jail. While throwing your shoes at someone is rude, I do not think the punishment fits the crime in this case. Islamic nations seem to have some very harsh punishments. Thankfully the US Constitution has many protections such as the 8th Amendment that says "Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted."

If someone threw their shoe at someone in the US, I wonder what the likely punishment would be?


For more info see:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090312/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iraq
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retributive_justice
http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.billofrights.html#amendmentviii

Wow, Queen Rania Really Rocks!

She is a queen, Muslim, sexy, AND articulate. Now if SHE could run for Vice President of the US, this is one lady I would vote for (in contrast to the painful Alaskan airhead who thankfully lost).

Watch Rania's videos and you'll know what I mean. Arabs, Muslims, Jews, etc, we are all real people.

For more, check out:
http://middleeast.change.org/blog/view/queen_ranias_youtube_channel_rocks

Afghan Student Sentenced to Death After Downloading Report

A 23-year-old student journalist in Afghanistan has been sentenced to death for downloading and distributing a report that is critical of the oppressive treatment of women in some Islamic societies.

My perspective: This is a tragedy and an outrage. It shines a poor light on Islam and on Afghanistan and on the US to allow such a thing. If a religion or government cannot tolerate the exercise of free speech, then it is too oppressive and deserves the ridicule it receives. It is most unfortunate that George Bush and his kind support this behavior by condoning this type of behavior and being intolerant of civil liberties.

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