I would just like to say to Mr. Charles Moton that no message that promotes hatred and intolerance whether it be from a Christian, a Muslim a Jew or an atheist deserves deeper reflection, beyond the point of reflecting on its absurdity.
Pastor Jones” promotion of burning the Koran is a publicity stunt that is only fostering further intolerance in our country. It sickens me that our country has even come to this point and frankly when I hear arguments like this one and Pastor Jones”s I can”t help but think that our country is digressing intellectually.
Every form of Western religion has had its hand in oppression. You say that Muslims are against the equality of women, yet have you forgotten that in our own nation women have fought for centuries to be treated as equals. Furthermore, wasn”t it this same nation who has had its hand in killing billions of people at home and around the world.
The point is that Christianity and Islam are not what are at odds. It is the people who practice these religions that are at odds. These are ideologies, they are not the brains of the people who follow them.
I think what needs true reflection here is how we are approaching our arguments and “reflecting” on a particular topic. To base an argument that promotes bigotry and hatred, on what a particular nation does, or what a few people from certain nations do, makes us just as bad as the people we claim are so wretched. Intolerance just breeds intolerance no matter what group of people it comes from.
If we do not begin to open our eyes and try for once to be the pluralistic society that we claim to be, then we are all in for a very rude awakening. Possibly, what we should truly reflect on are our own critical thinking skills and the ability to think like individuals. We have to begin to educate ourselves and realize that the perpetuation of hate only leads to more hate and destruction.
We need to use our critical thinking skills to understand that it is not religion that is the problem, it is people that use it as a means to control others, which is the problem. I just hope that someday we wake up and realize that we are all human beings who deal with pain and heartache. And that we need to learn to think on our own. We can”t continue to foster such negative relations with other people simply because they read a certain book and practice certain beliefs. How will anyone ever take us seriously if we approach relations with others this way? Let”s reflect on that.
Ronni Duncan
Eureka
