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
Petraeus Condemns U.S. Church's Plan to Burn Qurans .
An older article, but the point remains.
it’s not his fault
are we to be held prisoner because of whatever we do may cause Islam nuts to act out somewhere
i’m sure some think we shouldn’t provoke the little darlings
They are deflecting from the photos of US Servicemen committing atrocities against Afghan civilians, by blaming the riots on the Pastor, because it makes “The One” look bad.
you’re wrong bubba but you’re giving a good effort trying to defend being wrong
(bubba is meant as a friendly gesture like hoss or pardner...i will assume you are a real Texan as I am a real Mississippian)
Some agnostic/atheist might try burning the holy texts of all of the world’s religions on the same fire.
See whose followers go berserk and start slitting throats while screaming about their god.
I was going to hold signs for the Republican nominee.
However, I found out Democrats are doing drive by shootings of stand outs.
Therefore I canceled it so I would not be held personally responsible for what happens. 0 gets re-elected.
This is the world you are living in.
And I am Christian, so no need to accuse me of being Islamic.
If it’s his fault than every act of violence is Hollywood’s fault.
Locusts is right. I compare islam to ringworm, in the visual sense that it’s only virulent when it’s alongside healthy tissue, when it becomes a deadly parasite.
But within the islamic ring, there is nothing but death and misery. The farther into the center, the more complete the deolation, such as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Afghanistan etc.
Locusts is right. I compare islam to ringworm, in the visual sense that it’s only virulent when it’s alongside healthy tissue, when it becomes a deadly parasite.
But within the islamic ring, there is nothing but death and misery. The farther into the center, the more complete the deolation, such as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Afghanistan etc.
So we’d better not take any chances, and institute a ban on anti-Islamic posts here on FR, lest somebody in Afghanistan learn about it.
What you term “radical” islam is REAL islam.
“Tolerant” muslims are considered semi-apostate backsliders, who dare not say a word against the supposed “radicals.”
As a conservative who lives in the real world, I know that a publicity seeking Christian pastor burning a Koran serves no other purpose than the promotion of one individual. The entire world already knows radical Islam is infested with death-embracing psychotics. Jones' actions enlightened no one.
Hey Islam, FU!
There - now let’s see how many more people these useless neanderthal thugs kill.
He was wrong then, and his “point” is wrong now. If you REALLY want to get people killed, and I’m talking massive dead here, quit defending our rights in this country. If this country falls, the world becomes one huge bloodbath. So just keep it up—you’re helping the enemy.
Sure, if we all simply submit to Islam, they won’t go berserk and slaughter any infidel in sight.
You are a pathetic appeaser. Your way is the way of the cringing dhimmi, keeping his eyes downcast to not “give offense.”
There were Jews in teh ghettos in leadership positions who told their people, “Don’t antagonize the Nazis! If we do, it will be OUR fault if they murder us!”
You are just as bad as those Jewish appeasers of the Nazis.
Your path of submission will lead to the exact same end.
RE: I continue to believe he is morally responsible for the deaths, because he knew that what he was doing would result in Muslim outrage
Based on this argument, we should all refrain from any speech that could potentially be taken by any violent person out there ( e.g. Jared Loughner ) because they could use this speech as a pretext to shoot anyone.
In which case a lot of posts in FR could be a potential cause of any violent act becaue we here at FR are morally responsible since we ought to know better.
#77 goes for you as well. You are a disgrace to all free men.
I am glad you agree with Obama.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.