Posted on 04/03/2011 9:02:11 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Terry Jones burned a Koran, and an Afghan mob killed at least seven UN personnel. Connected? Surely, but that hardly makes Jones responsible for murder, he told ABC News in a Nightline interview last night:
CLICK ON THE ABOVE LINK FOR THE VIDEO OF TERRY JONES' STATEMENT
Terry Jones, the Florida pastor who oversaw the burning of a Koran last month, said he did not feel responsible for the violent protest at a United Nations compound in Afghanistan today that left at least 11 dead. Instead, he said the violence proved his point.
“We wanted to raise awareness of this dangerous religion and dangerous element,” Jones said. “I think [today's attack] proves that there is a radical element of Islam.”
As for the 11 dead, which included seven U.N. staffers and guards, Jones told “Nightline” anchor Bill Weir, “We do not feel responsible, no.”
Interestingly, I had a conversation about this with a family member yesterday. While I agreed that Jones was a publicity hound looking for attention, that doesn’t make him responsible for murder. The only people responsible for murders are those who commit them, and those who specifically incite them to kill. Any other position eventually wipes out free speech, free religious practice, and freedom altogether. If we held others responsible for the acts of every nutcase whose violent reactions may or may not have connections to something they did or said, we would have no speech at all — a point we made repeatedly during the Left’s Loughner frenzy, which they conveniently forgot during the Madison protests.
James Joyner warns today about acknowledging the “murderer’s veto”:
Should Jones have burned the Koran? No. But not because doing so might incite some evil people halfway around the world to commit atrocities against innocents. Rather, he shouldn’t have done it was needlessly hurtful without adding any value to the debate. Indeed, aside from generating publicity for himself, he’s likely generated sympathy for Islam and disdain for churches of his ilk.
But Jones is not the slightest bit culpable for the actions of others. Yes, he was warned that violence might ensue. But we’re not responsible for the evil, illegal actions others might take in response to our freely expressing our thoughts. Even if they’re ill-informed, half baked, bigoted thoughts. If we allow the possible reaction of the most dogmatic, evil people who might hear the message to govern our expression, we don’t have freedom at all. It’s worse than a heckler’s veto; it’s a murderer’s veto.
The responsibility for these murders lie with the people who committed them, just as with the murders and violence following the publication of the editorial cartoons in Denmark a few years ago.
CLICK ON THE ABOVE LINK FOR THE VIDEO OF TERRY JONES' STATEMENT
Oh yeah, and it will be your fault for posting this stuff when the next rampage happens.
“FRee Republic made me do it!”
We should simply bomb these people to Kingdom Come and let God sort it all out.
Isn’t he a friend of Fred Phelps..
Blame the perpetrators. Islam gives the insane among its disciples the excuse to come out of the closet without having to pay for their crimes.
Exactly, if some Podunk church makes them do it.....why wouldn’t a web site that allows posters to insult Islam do it the next time.
They object to our free speech, the same free speech that allows us here at FR to post anti-Islamic posts. Which anyone with an Internet connection in Afghanistan to read.
Unlike the appeasers I think this episode has added to the debate, added some badly needed reality, possibly pulled a few heads out of the sand.
Since when is burning a book a stunt? its just paper. If I burn a bible right now, nobody will riot.
Hey workerbeeCitizen How you bee?
Seriously? Are you trying to equate anonymous postings on a conservative political website to a Christian Pastor publicly setting Koran's on fire?
It's a bit of a stretch.
They rioted over a secular newspaper in Denmark printing a cartoon of Mohammed, the publication was not a “Christian” publication.
His “stunt” didn’t get anybody killed. Murderers who have been murdering all along murdered because THAT is what they do. This is a pr thing for them, more than it ever was for terry jones.
You are talking bout insane people who murder their own children for pr so they can hold them up for a camera somewhere, or for “honor.” How dare you make such a ridiculous statement!
If our flag can be burnt, I don’t see any problem with someone burning a Koran. And if the ragheads don’t like it, too bad.
Absolutely correct... the Pastor knows people will die as a result of his little publicity stunt...what does that say about him personally?
If anything, Ban Ki-Moon, along with the savages has the blood on their hands, because the UN instructs their so-called “Peace Keepers” to not fire back.
Why did they attack UN workers instead of US Marines?
Thanks again for what you do with your tireless work on the threat assessment thread. It is truly unparalleled and brilliant work.
What you said is true. But that doesn't absolve him of his participation in what is currently happening. He knew what the result would be, but went ahead anyway.
It probably was triggered by the photos of the dead soldiers our soldiers took....ahh but that would make the “Golden One” in the White House look bad...so they blame it on the Pastor.
Not a stretch at all when it comes to the swarm that feeds off death and will set out to look for any, and I MEAN any, excuse to justify themselves POLITICALLY. It could be as obscure as a blog that only got one hit in ten years if they are looking for an excuse. They will choose and use anything. ANYTHING.
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