I can’t remember when the first time the issue of “Ground Zero Mosque” started, but it seems like it was a long time ago and every day new debates, new articles, new videos are posted and discussed about building a mosque near “hallowed grounds”. I am not going to take the time to discuss the incorrect title of Ground Zero Mosque or comment on how this debate has caused religious tensions and intolerance around the country. But I mention the “not-a-mosque-at-not-ground-zero because of it is connected to something worse that is going to happen that I believe needs a little more attention. It is about another religious issue that again, places Muslims in the ‘Other’ category.
Now if building an Islamic Center five blocks away and not anywhere in view of Ground Zero amounts to Muslim insensitivity (according to critics of the project) then what should we make of Pastor Terry Jones, who plan on burning Qur’ans on September 11 2010? In a segment with Rick Sanches on CNN’s Rick’s List Jones claims that by doing this (I can not find one word to describe how crazy, insensitive, offensive and horrid this is) Jones is saying “Stop to Islam, Stop to Islamic Law and Stop to Brutality” and goes on to say how he does not understand why people defend Islam and uses the example of “why defend oppression and Saudi Arabia when women can’t have driving licenses”.
In response to Jones’s plans and to his reasoning I wrote him a letter that I want to share with you.
Dear Pastor Terry Jones,
First of all, my question is what is to be gained from burning Qurans? How will offending 1.5 billion Muslims world wide by burning their holy book be beneficial to anyone, including yourself and your beliefs? Don’t you think that this act will just cause more problems? Don’t you remember what happened when a Danish cartoonist published a cartoon about Prophet Mohammed? You argue that the reaction of Muslims and the death threats that you received prove the inherent violence in the Islamic Religion. Well that is the most illogical argument I have heard because basically what you are doing is similar to igniting fire with lighter fluid. These issues are not taken lightly and should not be. Can you imagine the hurt; the frustration and anger Muslims worldwide will feel by your proposed actions? Did you consider the effects that this might have on American troops abroad, in Iraq and Afghanistan?
Tell me how you would react if Muslims start burning bibles…..
(I can tell you right now that it won’t happen. Islam teaches us to respect and honor the Bible and Torah. We believe in Jesus and His message.)
The disheartening thing is that that you are defending your plan by claiming that you are in American and have freedoms. I don’t think this is what our forefathers intended when they gave us those freedoms. Seriously, give me, a Muslim American, a reason to why you are going to burn my Holy book. I guarantee none will be good enough but saying you want to “Stop Islam” is not an argument. In all honestly I think what you claim to be a protest will cause the deaths of 9/11 victims to go in vain. You are proving to the terrorists of 9/11 that America is a country of ignorance and hatred and that America is the enemy of Islam. That was their argument and is still their argument.
Have you thought about the aftermath of what this might lead to? I do not have the authority to label this indented act as a terrorist act but I believe it to be one. You are terrorizing Muslim Americans and their confidence and security of their own country. After your global protest in less than a couple of weeks, how do you think Muslims in American will feel? Will any be comfortable in their own country? You will be the cause of more hate crimes. The peace, the tolerance, the understanding of one another and our differences are values I believes this country stood for. Because of you, and people like you I now fear what this country will become. The brutality that needs to be stopped is what you are planning Pastor Jones.
Now, if you picked up the Quran and read it in its context you would not be planning this horrid event. Which scares me. You said plainly: “I have no experience with it [Qur’an] whatsoever. I only know what the Bible says.” That statement alone refutes everything you are trying to do. You cannot “Stop Islam” if you do not know what it teaches. If you truly tried to understand the message of Islam you would understand why people are defending it. Islam is a religion that gives its believers hope for tomorrow. It brings people together from all over the world as they stand side by side and while prostrating to the same lord. Islam shows the unity in differences, and the harmony in the collective. Do you honestly think that if Islam were a religion of violence 1.5 billion people would follow it? It is the fastest growing religion for a reason. How many people convert to Christianity at your church? At my local mosque alone we have converts to Islam every month. Have you ever tried to figure why that is? If Islam were a religion of violence then wouldn’t we hear about more violence against “non-believers” in Indonesia, Malaysia, China, India, Pakistan, Europe, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Tunis, Syria, Jordon, Lebanon, South Africa, South America, Canada. Really, just anywhere in the world, but we don’t, do we. Unfortunately, we do hear of violence caused by a few people who claim to be Muslim, but they target specific structures for political reasons. But you are basing your conclusion on one horrific event that was caused by 19 individuals from 1.5billion Muslims.You do that math.
As a spokesman for the Christian faith, do you think God is happy with your plans? Do you think your God would want you to hurt other individuals who believe in Him. If you truly believe God is on your side, then I am sorry to tell you God is not.
There is only one God : He is the compassionate, the All merciful, the absoule ruler the pure one the source of peace the inspirer of faith the guardian the victorious the compeller the greatest the creator the maker of order the shaper of beauty the forgiving the subduer the giver of all the sustainer the opener the knower of all the constrictor the reliever the abaser the exalter the bestowner of honors the humiliator the hearer of all the seer of all the judge the just the subtle one the all-aware the forbearing the magnificent the forgiver and hider of faults the rewarder of thankfulness the highest the greatest the preserver the nourisher the accounter the mightly the generous the watchful one the all comprehending the perfectly wise the loving one the majestic one the witness the truth the trustee the possessor of all strength the forceful one the governer the praised one the appraiser the originator the restorer the giver of life the taker of life the ever living one the self existing one the finder the glorious the only one the one the satisfier of all needs the all powerful the creator of all power the expediter the delayer the first the last the manifest one the hidden on the protecting friend the supreme one the doer of good the guide to repentance the avenger the forgiver the clement the owner of all the lord of majesty and bounty the equitable one the gatherer the rich one the enricher the preventer of harm the creator of the harmful the creator of good the light the guide the originator the everlasting one the inheritor of all the righteous teacher the patient one.
Those are the ninety-nine names of God, the God that Muslims worship, the God that brought Islam to guide them in this world. The God that unfortunately has been used to legitimize actions that He would denounce, actions done by alleged Muslims. What happened on 9/11 affected everyone in the United States and in the world. However Muslims in American and Muslims abroad are the ones paying the price nine years later. Your actions will not affect the terrorists, (it will definitely anger them) but your actions will affect the lives of fellow American citizens. People, who want to worship God peacefully, keep their jobs, have a family and live in American like everyone else. You will be taking that away from individuals whom you probably never met.
Your next argument makes no sense to me. People defend Islam because it’s misunderstood by many of the public and by you. What brings Saudi Arabia and women can’t drive into the argument? Is that why you are burning Qurans? If you are to understand Islam fully you would understand that no where in Islam does it state Women Can Not Drive. I am more than happy to get into a discussion with you on Women’s rights in Islam in another letter (which existed long before our constitution added the 19th amendment by the way). But if you are upset and truly believe that Saudi Arabia is an oppressive country (again, this needs another long discussion and is not the point of this letter) do you honestly think burning Qurans will change that? Not only is this a terrorizing horrid unnecessary act but also I truly believe you will not change anything by doing it. Nothing will stop Islam, as it is the number one fastest growing religion, for reasons I honestly think you should sit down and objectively figure out. All that you are doing is hurting fellow citizens, making them feel unsafe and destroying the values of our country.
I know this letter won’t make you change your mind. But you want to stand up and do something about what you believe in and so did I. I just chose a more civilized, respectful way of doing it because I am a Muslim and this is how we are taught we should act. I also will not hold the rest of Christian America responsible for your actions.
