Joe Klein Reserves Spot in Hell for Koran-burning Pastor Who's As 'Murderous' As 'Suicide Bombers'
Burning a copy of the Koran is morally equivalent to flying a plane into the World Trade Center and equally eternally damnable.
That's essentially the fatwa of Time magazine's Joe Klein in an April 1 blog post at the magazine's Swampland blog.
Klein was condemning Florida pastor Terry Jones's "trial" and subsequent burning of a Koran which allegedly have sparked a murderous rampage against UN workers in Afghanistan last week:
[T]here should be no confusion about this: Jones's act was murderous as any suicide bomber's. If there is a hell, he's just guaranteed himself an afterlifetime membership.
One has to wonder if Klein would say the same thing about a taxpayer-funded artist who photographed a crucifix soaked in a jar of urine or portrayed the Virgin Mary in elephant dung.
Oh wait, that's right, those demonstrations didn't result in angry Catholic mobs killing completely innocent third parties. Heck, they didn't even result in the death or injury of the "artists" responsible.
Yes, Jones's actions were either thoughtless or callously disregarding of the potential deadly consequences to innocent third parties, particularly U.S. troops, international aid workers, and any and all Christians in the Muslim world who on top of persecution for their faith may now be considered guilty by association to Jones.
That being said, Klein fails to hold morally culpable the murderous thugs who take vengeance in the name of Allah. Klein rightly considers Jones's provocative burning of the Koran as "un-Christian," but fails to slam as un-Islamic the act of killing people in the name of Allah.
Isn't Allah big enough to exact vengeance for himself? Klein clearly thinks, if there is a God, that he's big enough to deal with Jones for his actions. So why not a pronouncement of anathema on the thugs who are personally responsible for bloodshed in Afghanistan?
- Ken Shepherd's blog
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Comments
Joe Klein
Submitted by Tugboat Phil on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 6:23pm.
The people more responsible for this are the reporters that hyped this guy all last summer. If you wanted to, you could just ignore the kooks.
Pretend that Terry Jones is a Wisconsin school teacher that sent felony death threats to state Senators. We wouldn't even know who he was.
Tug..
Submitted by Gary Hall on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 6:31pm.
Indeed. You nailed it. We wouldn't even know.
Give Tug another minute of fame.
(;~> gary
Actually, Mr. Klein . . .
Submitted by Galvanic on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 6:33pm.
. . . the only persons responsible for the death of innocent civilians at the hands of radical Muslims are (drum roll, please) RADICAL MUSLIMS.
And if there's a "special place in Hell," I'm sure Mr. Klein can draw a map from memory on how to get there.
Using Joe Klien's 'thinking'
Submitted by DontFeedTheTrolls on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 6:34pm.
Folks who fought for civil rights in the 1950s and 1960s were guilty of inciting to riot and complicit with the KKK (like Sen Robert Byrd) who lynched people and threw firebombs.
Constitutional Rights Are Not Civil Rights!
Submitted by Avitar on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 7:06pm.
Civil Rights have only the authority of a judge behind them and can be repealed by simple civil act of Congress..
Joe Klein doesn't decide
Submitted by wingnut55 on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 6:37pm.
It's a good thing that Joe Klein doesn't decide who will go to hell. That is left up to The All Knowing God who sacrificed His own Son so that all who accept His sacrificial death on the Cross can avoid eternal punishment in hell. Joe would do well to remember this and, if he has not trusted Jesus death for his sins should do so very soon.
So if a Catholic had gone crazy....
Submitted by Prester John on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 6:52pm.
... over the dung covered Madonna or over "piss Christ" and murdered 10 people, the "artists" would have blood on their hands, right?
Herman Cain 2012
Terry Jones
Submitted by sarge329 on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 10:14pm.
No, since the artist and the liberal see things in much the same slanted, skewed fashion. They are both SO MUCH MORE intelligent and creative than the rest of us. After all, if we weren't such a bunch of hayseed hicks from the sticks, we'd readily admit our shortcomings and agree with them. If we weren't so bitter and clinging to our guns and Bibles ( hmm, where'd I hear that? Oh, that 's right. Some two-bit community organizer with ZERO leadership, military, and management experience) ,we'd know that we should follow their lead. Right off the cliff, like a bunch of lemmings. Thanks, but no. I'll stay right where I am. Never did like the taste of Kool-Aid, anyway.
but.....
Submitted by MidAmerica on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 6:58pm.
Is Mr Klien equally outraged at Muslims who are burning actual Christians, not just their Bibles, in different countries around the world?
Joe Klien Linked to Concentration Camps.
Submitted by Avitar on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 7:02pm.
Linking people to things they never had anything to do with sent many people to the concentration camps. At least the Republicans do not use the same tactics as their worse enemies.
it's like calling some gunpowder 'moderate'
Submitted by MidAmerica on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 7:03pm.
..........Mazar-e-Sharif is not a particularly radical town. It is not Pashtun, it is not Taliban. It is so quiet that NATO dispatched the near-pacifist Germans to keep the peace there.
I guess what Mr Klein is saying is that the idea of the existence of moderate Muslims is an illusion.
MAKING THINGS UP...
Submitted by JPTSO3 on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 7:07pm.
In '05 Newsweek published a false report that the Qu'ran was flushed down a toilet. Dumbasses rioted and 15 people were killed, as a direct result of that false report.
Has Klein reserved a spot in Hell (presumably next to Goebbels) for the Newsweek reporter and the editor who ran with that story? It killed more - and wasn't even true.
Please, folks...
Submitted by Tenebrous on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 7:31pm.
1) Burning the Koran isn't un-Christian. The Koran is a book that is filled with calls to murder, calls to hate Jews, and calls to take slaves. Burning it is a very visible way of saying, "This book is trash." It is trash.
2) About the pastor going to Hell, what if the pastor repents? He could, you know. Actually, I think God is much more concerned with the heart of this pastor and his motivations for doing these things. If they stem from vanity instead of a desire to see the truth established, then vanity is the problem, not burning a book of lies. Klein knows jack about Christianity.
3) Klein continues to demonstrate why he works for a magazine (or worked, I don't care where he is right now) for a magazine that got sold for $1. There is nothing murderous about burning a book. Are you saying that Islamists can't control themselves, Klein? Isn't that a bit suspect? So is it just Islamists or is it all poor third-worlders, Klein? Way to bring out your inner Klansman there, buddy!
Visions and Principles blog
I agree with your statement
Submitted by Henry Clay on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 8:20pm.
My fine friend, you actually hit upon something there. I am not one to assume what goes on in this Pastor’s heart, but if it is vanity- that is his sin. Another thing, was there not supposed to be a media blackout on this man? I thought all the major networks got together and declared Pastor Jones persona non grata?
Interesting that those so quick to damn people to Hell...
Submitted by Mike Bratton on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 12:16am.
...don't understand that they don't have a thing to say about who does, or doesn't, wind up there.
Jones is a lot of things--self-aggrandizing being among them--but murderous? No.
If burning a Qur'an is excuse enough for Muslims to kill, especially without immediate and blanket condemnation from the overwhelming majority of fellow adherents and Muslim clergy, what does that say about their religion?
--Mike
Jim Jones, and the Purple Cool Aid...
Submitted by upcountrywater on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 7:10pm.
Oh wrong Jones..Never mind... All I need to know about muzzies, I learned on 9/11. Terrorists from now till the end of time, unless of course we deal with them TODAY with the best that technology has to offer.
EDIT: Reap what you sow...
’400 Death Threats’ Follow Koran-Burning Preacher To OC
We’ve had about 400 death threats,” he said, adding that Hezbolla, the Shia Muslim militant group, had put out a “reward out on my head for $2.4 million.”
You Didn't Build That.
or how about the NY TIMES which exposed many many
Submitted by Paarl on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 7:50pm.
secret operations much to the detriment and safety of our armed forces and even we citizens/civilians here at home.....??
Paarl of Rhodesia
Debate Question
Submitted by Kingfish17 on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 7:54pm.
I'd love to hear Obama's response to a question posed to him in a Presidential debate, asking him to compare and contrast the burning of the American flag vs the burning of the Koran.
"You can’t go take a trip to Las Vegas...on the taxpayer’s dime." Barack Obama
Kf17, That's easy. The Qur'an is the word of god, passed through
Submitted by Dave. on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 8:35pm.
...his prophet Mohammed.
The American flag, however, was created by mere men, European white racists, actually, and therefore does not rate the same respect as the Muslim Holy book.
Don't you know anything?
Okay, quiver your arrows, sheath your swords, put your slings away, and lay down your spears, as the above is only sarcasm.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
the koran is the word of
Submitted by countryfirst on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 9:52pm.
the koran is the word of mohammad who was a self possessed prophet,was a pedophile, disgusting man, the mussies need to open their eyes, and stop worshiping a false prophet, if people would read the life story about this evil creature, he waqs not one of gods prophets,
Burning a Koran restrained next to Islamic radicals' brutality
Submitted by nkviking75 on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 8:16pm.
Joe, do a little research and find out how many Christians were being martyred by Islamist radicals in the last few weeks before Rev. Jones burned that Koran. Was Jones right? No. But the "sin" of burning a Koran is a pretty restrained means of revenge next to the brutality being poured out on Christians by radical elements of Islam.
“Always love your country — but never trust your government!" -- Bob Novak (1931-2009)
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
Thank goodness Joe Klein is
Submitted by Slyrr on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 9:38pm.
Thank goodness Joe Klein is on the case!
I guess the Lord can lay down the burden of being a judge over his children. Yes, Joe Klein has now crowned himself as the lord who will judge mankind.
I feel safer already.
Pastor Jones Response
Submitted by astonrickenbach on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 10:38pm.
Pastor Terry Jones response to the violence "It is definitely a consideration to stage a trial on the life of Mohammed in the future.'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1372827/Terry-Jones-Mohammed-trial-Koran-burning-sparks-2nd-day-violence.html
Burning a koran bad, burning
Submitted by LAM SON 719 on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 11:02pm.
Burning a koran bad, burning the US flag good. Anyone else see where that buffoon Petreus calls the koran "holy" but dismisses the bible. Time to leave afghanistan Petreus like obama isn't interested in winning anything, he just likes playing general.
Never burn a koran until you wipe with it first.
The problem here is not
Submitted by amyshulk on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 11:46pm.
The problem here is not correctable by US. It can only be fixed by them, and they don't want to. So useful idiots like Klein HAVE to blame the Pastor/US/etc.
Ronald Reagan
"The problem here is not
Submitted by ckc1227 on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 4:31am.
"The problem here is not correctable by US. It can only be fixed by them, and they don't want to."
And that's why it's time for us to get out of Afghanistan, and let them wallow in the 12th century for all time if they want. To hear Petraus, Graham, etc bend over backwards to apologize to these folks is disgusting.
I got it while watching the
Submitted by amyshulk on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 7:27am.
I got it while watching the news when we went into Iraq - didn't know it had a name "Domino theory" but when they showed the whole region, it clicked for me.
After the Cole, the 1st World Trade Center bombing, the marines killed in Beirut, then finally, 9-11, it made perfect sense to me. With bullies, you stand up to them or enable them - there is no other course, unless you can give them a juicier target.
Hmmmm, is that why Israel is always slammed? Anyway, I get your point, but just like you don't fix it if it ain't broke, you can't start and not finish.
All of this makes me ill. Especially the ROE. Just sickening. But if we lower ourselves to their level, instead of playing checkers while they are playing chess, we lose too. And pulling out without closure? Just be prepared for years/decades of Vietnam comparisons.
Ronald Reagan
SPOT IN HELL!?????
Submitted by Metsie62 on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 1:00am.
Is Terry Jones getting a writing gig at the NY Times replacing Frank Rich? Or Katie Couric's Chair at CBS? What about a Religios Program at MSNBC with Contessa Brewer? Those are the only spots in hell that are open that I know of
ken shepherd,,,you da man
Submitted by scarletandgold on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 2:29am.
ken shepherd,,,you da man brotha...keep writing like that...
Thanks for the kind words.
Submitted by Ken Shepherd on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 10:44am.
Thanks for the kind words.
Jones is nuts and Klein is stupid.
Submitted by acaiguana on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 8:58am.
I guess that about sums it up.
ACA
...
Quoted from: 'Acaiguana notes from the Underground' (Soon to be at theaters near you)
Burning the Koran is
Submitted by wiwf on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 10:25am.
Burning the Koran is definitely a terrible idea. But it isn't comparable to 9/11. Joe is a little ambitious in trying to bring moral equivalency into the picture.
Let's immerse Joe Klein in a
Submitted by Chiron on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 11:18am.
Let's immerse Joe Klein in a jar of urine and see if Allah laughs.
A spot in hell right next to Klein
Submitted by russedav on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 11:37am.
Evidently Klein will be right there himself to reserve the spot.
un-Islamic killing people in the name of Allah???
Submitted by russedav on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 11:45am.
I hate to break the news, but what's un-Islamic is to NOT KILL people in the name of Allah for those who know what Islam actually teaches, as seen acted out in the Arab world for centuries; it's the "moderates" who are the heretics as Islam takes heresy very seriously, as Christians used to before so many abandoned true Jesus-centered faith for the feel-good-about-me fraud variety popularized by "emergent" groups and many others who wouldn't know a Bible if it bit 'em in the leg. I've got some choice Kansas City ocean front property for anyone who imagines Islam is a "religion of peace" as opined by deluded theologians-in-chief Bush and Obama who are about as ignorant of Christianity and the Bible as Islam and the Koran, as with most in this formerly Christian nation now fatally doomed to destruction if God doesn't intervene soon.
GeeWhiz it's breathtaking.
Submitted by E.S.Blofeld on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 3:37pm.
To think human beings kill over the most trivial things. Dealing with the uneducated, inciting violence, creating fear...sounds like Congress. Stupid people killing for stupid reasons.
Ernst
"Isn't it pretty to think that way?"-EH
The US is not Afghanistan--or any where else in the world
Submitted by BlueHeron on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 5:15pm.
It's easy to forget that the free speech privileges we take for granted in this country are ever so rare in the rest of the world. The often times controversial speech, art forms, television and movie expression tolerated in the United States may hobble harmony and cohesiveness among our citizens but, oh well, that's America.
Lost in most all discussions of global issues is that of cultural differences. Cultural diversity is real. Those of us in the West tend to view other peoples through our own familiar cultural prisms.
The question not addressed in most stories about the Afghani response to the Koran burning is this: why would that action cause such an incendiary response? In this country, the Koran burning is viewed as the individual action of a Florida clergyman. Most of us find his actions to be despicable and provocative.
To people living in a repressive regime where personal expression can mean jail or death, individual opinion is assumed to be the government's opinion. In other words if President Obama doesn't shut down that paster, then the implication is tacit support. And by extension, the United States endorses Koran burning and hatred of Islam.
Just as I do not condone the pastor's actions in Florida, I do not excuse the murder of innocent people in Afghanistan. However, throwing labels around like extremist and so on does nothing to bridge the gap of cultural disconnect that each side in this tragedy is lacking.
Aztecs
Submitted by Kingfish17 on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 5:38pm.
So let me get this straight: The ritual slaughter of thousands, by ripping their beating hearts out and tossing them down stone steps, shouldn't be considered extreme, as long as it's just "something that's embedded in their culture"?
"You can’t go take a trip to Las Vegas...on the taxpayer’s dime." Barack Obama
Gap of cultural disconnect?
Submitted by SickofLibs on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 5:52pm.
There can be no bridge to understanding with these primitive cretins.
They can't possibly make it any clearer, and I for one, have no plans of converting to islam any time soon, or alternatively, living under sharia as a 3rd class dhimmi.
I find Jones' little koran-burning exercise neither despicable nor provocative - just stupid.