It will be interesting to see how the rabid leftists reconcile their Islamapologist tendency, and their outrage at the Koran burning by Pastor Jones; against the backdrop of freedom of speech, and religion, when combined with the visible and quantifiable difference in violent response between Islam and other religions.

The progressive left has no problem showcasing the body of Christ and Crucifixion in a jar of urine as an artistic expression in the Smithsonian.   The progressive left has no problem burning the American Flag, banning visible readings of the Bible, stopping prayer from public forums or school events, eliminating the Pledge of Allegiance, and spewing various visible forms of hatred toward Christianity as a religion.   Indeed, the progressive left has no problem supporting road signs along the highway depicting Christ as a myth, or removing any mention of Christ from Christmas, or even Easter from Easter Eggs.   The progressive left has taken the constitutional principle of “Freedom of Religion,” and repacked it into the context of “Freedom from Religion.”   Burning a Bible, or promoting abortion is such a standard element of their ideology they don’t even consider objections to either as relevent points of discussion.   They consider them as arbitrary as what kind of cereal to buy for breakfast.

So it will be interesting to see how they approach the realization of violence brought on by this story. -KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghan officials say eight people have been killed at a U.N. office in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif when a Quran burning protest turned violent. At least two of those killed were beheaded, Reuters reported.

Demonstrators stormed the office Friday, opening fire on guards and setting fires inside the compound after reports that a Florida pastor burned a copy of the Muslim holy book on Sunday, March 20. The burning was reportedly part of a trial at the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Fla., according to USA Today.

The mock trial was overseen by the controversial pastor who last year halted plans to burn a Quran on the anniversary of Sept. 11. That proposal sparked protests and condemnation around the Muslim world.

Gen. Daud Daud, commander of Afghan National Police in the north, says the dead included five guards working for U.N. and two other people employed at the complex. He says one other person was wounded. Later, a police official in Balkh province, said the injured person, who was a foreigner, died.

A spokesman for Balkh province, Munir Ahmad Farhad, says several hundred demonstrators were peacefully protesting the purported burning when the gathering suddenly turned violent. (full article)

Yes, Pastor Jones burned a Koran.  Is it a despicable act?  Yes.   How horrid?   Perhaps as horrid as the previous thread where you see Sarah Palin depicted as being crucified.   Perhaps as horrid as “The Body Of Christ in Urine.”   Equitable despicability?  Sure.  I concur.  What Pastor Jones did was wrong and offensive.  I do not defend him.   However, his action has brought the divergence of religious ideological tolerance, and the violent nature of Islamists to a sharpened focus more than any other previous action.   Those same progressive leftists who chose to turn their heads away from the horrific visual of bodies jumping out of the World Trade Centers, are going to have to confront their Islamapologist mentality again.

This is not anything new.   Salmon Rushdie wrote the book “satanic verses” years ago and faced the hatred and violence of Islam.   Cartoonists have been threatened, politicians and reporters have been killed.   Thousands of bodies have been piled up against the ideology of Islam.   The progressive left can continue to turn their heads, but the actions of Pastor Jones, while erroneous, wrong and flawed, force the left to confront the obvious.   Islam is a violent ideological political belief system, evidenced with the actions of Jihadists and believers.

Here is the response letter from Pastor Jones:

In regard to the riots that have just taken place in Afghanistan at the UN headquarters, the actions of breaking in, setting on fire, and killing of at least 10 individuals so far is highly unacceptable for the government of the United States.

We, at Stand Up America Now, find this a very tragic and criminal action. The United States government and the United Nations itself, must take immediate action. We must hold these countries and people accountable for what they have done as well as for any excuses they may use to promote their terrorist activities. The time has come to hold Islam accountable.

Our United States government and our President must take a close, realistic look at the radical element Islam. Islam is not a religion of peace. It is time that we call these people to accountability. We demand that our United States government stand up and speak out against these acts. These people must be called to justice.

We demand action from the United Nations. Muslim dominated countries can no longer be allowed to spread their hate against Christians and minorities. They must alter the laws that govern their countries to allow for individual freedoms and rights, such as the right to worship, free speech, and to move freely without fear of being attacked or killed.

Dr. Terry Jones