International Burn-a-Quran Day

This blog is about personal security, but I feel this current event should be addressed since in a way it could affect you just because you are American or your country is positively affiliated with America.
Most citizens of democratic countries enjoy the safety that stability has brought, only dealing with security issues when they are chosen as a random target for violence or they have somehow stood out as a target. Actions like the public burning of another religion’s holy book could change that. You could become a target simply by being from a certain country. American’s have witnessed that through incidences such as the attacks on 9-11 and the kidnapping and beheadings of security contractors and aid workers in Iraq. So far, those kinds of attacks have been either few and far between or have been outside of America’s borders.

For those of you unaware of what I am talking about, Reverend Terry Jones at the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida has decided to host an International Burn-a-Quran Day in which he will burn Qurans. There has been a massive international public outcry against his intent yet he still plans on going through with it. I will post a link and let you read the news clippings for yourself, but I would like to comment on a few quotes taken from an associated press writer:

“The Quran, according to Jones, is "evil" because it espouses something other than biblical truth and incites radical, violent behavior among Muslims.”
If I remember correctly, wasn’t there a time in the history of Christianity that the bible incited radical, violent behavior? Anyone remember the Crusades? Or how about the Medieval Inquisition, Spanish Inquisition, Portuguese Inquisition, and the Roman Inquisition? Just some food for thought.

The next quote:

"It is the duty of Muslims to react," said Mohammad Mukhtar, a cleric and candidate for the Afghan parliament in the Sept. 18 election. "When their holy book Quran gets burned in public, then there is nothing left. If this happens, I think the first and most important reaction will be that wherever Americans are seen, they will be killed. No matter where they will be in the world they will be killed."
Anyone catch the fact that this guy is a candidate for the Afghan parliament?

And another quote:

“Kabul resident, Rajab Ali said, "If this (burning of the Quran) happens there will be chaos in Afghanistan and being a Muslim, if we don't defend the Quran then what else we can do?"

Burning the Quran will result in American deaths both at home and abroad, I can assure you that. I try to keep my opinions to myself but if you think that what this “reverend” is doing is justified I would first ask that you take the time to learn about the Muslim religion and what it is about. Then learn about radical Islamists and their terrorist organizations; how they got started, why people join, and who they target and why. Until you do that how can you intelligently defend your opinion? I have been targeted by Muslims. I’ve been shot at, mortared, IED’d, and had friends get killed by Muslims yet I do not hate the Muslim religion or its people.
If the Rev. Terry Jones goes through with his plan, attacks could become more frequent both inside and outside of America’s borders and her allies. Military personnel will not be the only target; it will be the average citizen at a night club, shopping mall, or sitting in traffic.

http://www.abc-7.com/Global/story.asp?S=13117609