Hermann Schiavone
9/11 and the lone pastor’s folly
Today is 9/11. The United States and the rest of the world are commemorating the events that unfolded on that Tuesday morning of nine years ago. Events still imprinted in the memory of those who followed the drama and which left a devastating impact on the lives of many families and communities. Nine years after 9/11, the US and its allies are still struggling to bring some sort of order and normality in Afghanistan, the country then run by the Taliban and which was accused of harbouring Al Qaeda.
The anniversary of 9/11 has always been a solemn occasion in which peace and tolerance are preached. This year’s event seems to be different as the day is marked with controversy and protests that followed a statement by one pastor from a small Florida congregation who at one point vowed to burn copies of the Koran later on today.
The Koran is sacred to Muslims as the Bible is to us Christians. This was indeed an insane act by one man who does not in any way represent the views of a nation. Pastor Terry Jones does not even represent the views of his small congregation because his 100 or so followers were halved when the news broke out.
It is wrong for anyone to associate Islam with terrorism. Millions of Muslims across the world are law-abiding citizens who condemn the actions of the few fellow Muslims. The members of Al Qaeda, responsible for the 9/11 and other terrorist attacks, do not represent the Muslim communities. They were not adhering to the preaching of the Koran when committing the attacks on citizens of all faiths.
The burning of copies of the Koran in a small town would have probably gone unnoticed had the media ignored Pastor Jones. The news, however, made instant national and international headlines and condemnation for the pastor and his intentions came from every corner of the globe. Protesters in countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan poured onto the streets reminding us of the widespread reactions that unfolded a few years ago when a Danish newspaper published a cartoon depicting the prophet Mohammed as a terrorist and the publication in 1988 of the controversial book The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie.
Burning copies of the Koran would probably draw a bigger reaction in Muslim communities and it does not come as a surprise that world leaders not only condemned the pastor’s idea but also urged him to call it off.
On Thursday night, the pastor announced he was putting the event on hold. He claimed that a deal was reached with the Imam to relocate the Islamic centre planned near the site of the Twin Towers in New York. The Imam, however, denied the claims so we could be back to square one if Pastor Jones reverts to his decision. (The pastor is travelling to New York hoping to meet the Imam.)
The world’s eyes will be on Gainesville, Florida this evening to see what will happen. World leaders are holding their breath. Like the rest of us they are hoping the pastor does the right thing, acts sensibly and calls off the event. As President Barack Obama said earlier this week, such an event will be a recruitment bonanza for Al Qaeda. This is what Al Qaeda wants. This is the sort of thing any person in his right frame of mind wants to avoid.
Let us not forget, however, that such actions were not orchestrated by a government or a powerful institution. These are the actions of one man. Pastor Jones acted alone in this matter and the world leaders had to react. They did the right thing by not ignoring the pastor’s folly.
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albert muscat
Sep 12th 2010, 03:29
@ Franco Farrugia
What would have happened had it been the other way round? A Bible-burning session held by Moslems?
This is actually an interesting question, the answer however is that, Muslims of all colors ages and genders unless the suffer mental disorder by Quranic ORDER they must must equally respect and accept all Allah’s prophets and respect Christians and Jews Holy books. Probably you may never find a ten years old Muslim asking to burn the Bible, let alone such a stupid thing is requested or even passes an Imam’s mind.
Now, can we just envisage what would have been the ‘democratic’ west reaction if for example Iran, Lebanon or Egypt banned some churches to have steeples? Thank you.
@ Mr. Renald William would you please this time answer my question, who called it the Bible?
May Allah bless you all. Thank you.
May Allah bless you all.
joseph cachia
Sep 11th 2010, 12:43
If 9/11 left devastating inpact on few , what a huge devastated impact on the millions
of families who lost everything in american invasions ???
In AFGANISTAN, americans invaded the country to occupy for it's resources and make
ready to invade IRAN, not for any order.
No country needs america for order.
In IRAQ there was established order and peacefull daily life to all IRAQI's.
Since the invasion for OIL and to topple SADDAM who did'nt gave the bosh family right's
on IRAQI OIL, mayhem and murder is the rule of the day.
Joseph Cachia B'Bugia
Charles Sammut
Sep 11th 2010, 15:06
And whose is the hidden hand behind all these invasions and wars?
Who is the "terzo" in 'Fra due litiganti, il terzo gode.'?
Who cashes in on the booming trade in weapons and in surveillance and security equipment?
On behalf of who are flames being fanned in the US for an invasion of Iran?
Franco Farrugia
Sep 11th 2010, 18:45
I have no sympathy for Americans, but when you say that there was peace in daily life for all Iraqis, there is only one thing I can tell you: surely, you jest!
Franco Farrugia
Sep 11th 2010, 11:03
What I find irritatingly strange, Mr Schiavone, is the fact that the world's Moslems, AND THEIR CLERICAL LEADERS, were totally aware that this was one man's folly and not a whole nation's. The Moslems would have done well to ignore this man, as he deserved ignoring. But they did not. And just after Ramadan, too!
I am totally against the desecration of anything that is considered holy by people - the Koran and the Bible included. However, again, this was one man's folly, heavily publicised.
What would have happened had it been the other way round? A Bible-burning session held by Moslems? Would there have been the same reaction by Moslem state leaders and by Moslem clerics? And would the world's Christians have taken violently to the streets in a similar manner?
So, it's fine to burn the USA flag - don't get me wrong: I have no sympathy for that country - and it's fine to burn western leaders' effigies. It is also fine to burn christians churches and it is equally fine for a Gaddafi to behave the way he did, say the things he said, in a 'predominandly-Catholic' country, thus insulting Church and State! I think not!
Robert Callus
Sep 11th 2010, 13:00
What you are saying is true Franco. However, the world 'Muslims' you are talking about are the absolute minority. The media will not go into those millions' houses that condemn any type of violence and react to something like this only with prayer.
http://robertcallus.wordpress.com/2010/09/09/what-is-islam/
renald williams
Sep 11th 2010, 10:41
Agree with the following…
It is wrong for anyone to associate Islam with terrorism. Millions of Muslims across the world are law-abiding citizens who condemn the actions of the few fellow Muslims. The members of Al Qaeda, responsible for the 9/11 and other terrorist attacks, do not represent the Muslim communities….
Disagree with the following…
…They were not adhering to the preaching of the Koran when committing the attacks on citizens of all faiths….
Because unfortunately both the Old Testament (part of the Christian Bible)
and the Koran (in Christian terms the Islamic Bible) preach to commit attacks on citizens of all faiths…both of the same because being unfaithful, and other religions because being infidels. All one has to do is to simply read the Old Testament and the Koran.
Jesus is different… remember when the Hebrews in His time (in the name of Moses) and the Muslims today (in the name of Mohammed) wanted to stone an adulteress woman? Wishing the readable Gospel proof to all. Peace and health.
M. Borg
Sep 11th 2010, 09:52
"They were not adhering to the preaching of the Koran when committing the attacks on citizens of all faiths." - Had there been only Christians there, would they have been adhering to the preaching of the Koran when committing the attacks on 9/11?