Let's try imagining the Roosevelt Administration, during WWII, apologizing to the German Reich for confiscating and burning copies of Mein Kampf used by members of the SS detained as prisoners of war to forward communications of National Socialist ideology.Yes? No?
Monday, February 27, 2012
Apopos the various apologies for burning Korans
From Never Yet Melted
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Oh God no!
ReplyDeletePerhaps if bin Laden had written a manifesto documenting his personal struggle against the power of the infidel, then we could make that comparison. As it stands, the Koran has centuries of history behind it, represents a wide and varied tradition of spiritual belief that ranges from mysticism all the way to the fundamentalism that we are more familiar with, and is also considered holy by people across the world in many cultures and nations other than the ones we are currently engaged with militarily.
To compare the Koran, and its significance in world culture, to Mein Kampf, and its significance in world culture, is quite a disparagement to the holy book of more than a billion people.
While it could be argued that Mein Kampf was the holy book of the cult of Hitler, semi-religious it must be admitted, its scope was narrow in both cultural and temporal reach. In contrast, as has been stated, the Koran is a text of such significance as to transcend the confines of both culture and time. The analog would be to have been burning bibles in Berlin.
Daniel DeCarlo
Americans were true blue. Men were men, and did not apologize for what was right. That being said there is no way FDR would have apologized. The biggest mistake made in this whole incident was not being more discrete.
ReplyDeleteThere are two questions that arise from this; was the koran replaced, without cryptic notes and why isn't there more outrage when muslims burn the Bible?
FDR, for all his faults, was a true leader. And even though he was crippled by polio he never apologized, nor did he bow to any foreign nation.
The mere fact that a United States President, sitting or not, would apologize for an accidental burning of the koran is appalling.
Where are my apologies for the many burnings of the Bible?
I believe Charles' account to be the ultimate summation of the differences "political correctness" has brought to American Society that makes us act very much different from FDR's time.
ReplyDeleteCertainly in the WWII time period, America and it's men still possessed a backbone. As we reference the topic of differences between outcry of koran burning vs. Bible burning; I believe it is clear that the more religiously conservative society in this case (which at this point in time is the Muslim world) act as we would 70 years ago. Whether or not we agree with their stance, they don't put up with nonsense.
We are unable to seek the apologies that Charles noted, for Bible burnings, as it would not be politically correct to ask for apologies. The liberalization of the Western world has taken away our once 'sociably acceptable' right to stand up for what we believe in and what is ours.
I think this scenario is a powerful example of the negative effects caused by, in my opinion, the liberal agenda. When standing up for the minority ideologies takes precedent over deeply ingrained personal beliefs of the general public, then we have failed freedom perhaps more so than the for mentioned Muslim world.
Coleman Tate
I'm going to have to agree with Daniel on this note, there is not comparison between the Koran and Mein Kampf in the modern world. The Mein Kampf if anything were the political ramblings of a deranged, and possibly psychotic, mad man. The Koran, on the other hand, consisted of more or less an ideologically driven religion concentrating on human nature, rather than political impact.
ReplyDeleteI think that this is an important division to make between the two readings, because political motivation, is no where near as strong as religious motivation. While one may argue that politics drive the religious movement, I believe that it is better phrased vice versa. Over the years, political decisions and moves have been made in lieu of what religious sect was currently controlling the political power in the states. Just as with the Crusades and even up until the recent wars in the Middle East, while there may not have been direct religious conflict, scenarios can be influenced by religious ideals.
This is proof that religious sentiment can be a drive for political power, which goes to show the importance and dominance of a political willpower. Therefore by burning the Koran and destroying a religious institution's sacred document, more people will become upset, than what is typically the norm for even the most politically ideologically driven manual.