The Dove World Outreach Center Church in Gainesville, Fla., is subject of debate. The religious members, along with pastor Terry Jones, strategy to set copies of the Koran on fire to demonstration Muslim extremism. It has been subject of lots of coverage. There has been response from the U.S. government, and cautioned the chapel not to do so. Protests have currently begun within the Muslim world. General David Petraeus has cautioned the church that should the demonstration of burning the Koran take place, it will put servicemen and women in greater danger than ever before.
Dove World Outreach Center asked to halt
Gen. Petraeus, commander of United States forces in Afghanistan, has advised the church that Koran burning would harm troops, as outlined by the Christian Science Monitor. The Taliban and Al Qaeda could be the sole beneficiaries, according to General Petraeus, as fire the Koran will only be a propaganda victory for the,. He cautioned that American soldiers and civilians abroad will be put in greater risk. He also lamented that winning over hearts and minds in Afghanistan can be next to impossible. The Ground Zero Mosque debate has already been enough of a strain, and American-Islamic tensions are currently high as it is.
The church may wait
The Dove World Outreach Center Chapel is weighing the decision to undergo with the burnings. The potential ramifications are on the mind of the members and Pastor Terry Jones, which is why, as outlined by CNN, the members will think it over. Some pause was given to the members by the warning from Gen. David Petraeus, as the members intended to hold an “International Burn the Koran Day” on Sept. 11 of this year. The church has maintained all along the protest was aimed more at the more radical segments of Islam.
Cui bono?
The pastor and his congregation can believe anything they wish, and protest whichever they wish as it is their right. However, Gen. Petraeus is right. If the idea is to demonstration violent extremism, you shouldn’t do anything that will only fuel the fire of extremism, which this demonstration will do.
Further reading
CS Monitor
csmonitor.com/World/terrorism-security/2010/0907/Petraeus-Dove-World-Outreach-Center-s-Burn-a-Koran-Day-endangers-troops
CNN
cnn.com/2010/US/09/07/florida.quran.burning/?hpt=Sbin
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