U.S. soldier Uses Quran For Target Practice; Military Apologizes

[jundp 191]

Well... How is this any different then this? http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,2...38-2862,00.html

I can tell you... one was made out to be an international incident, and one was brushed under the carpet as a "prank"...

What these boys did was unacceptable as well. I think the reason that one was ade to be an international incident is because it was done by an American soldier, supposedly representing our country, in a country it is supposed to be helping. One is not worse than the other, IMO. They both perpetrate violence, hatred and vengeance.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Oh Lawd.

[adam75 0]

Many muslims consider the bible a holy book too. Many Arabs are christian. Religion is strange to me. At least when it comes to the whole idea of what is and isn't sacred.

The soldier got what he had coming to him, it should end there.

religion is not strange, some people are...when disrespecting their own book and prophet doesn't satisfy them, they try another one.

i am muslim, my christian friend gave me the bible 2 years ago..i still have it, and i still read it.

[jundp 191]

Many muslims consider the bible a holy book too. Many Arabs are christian. Religion is strange to me. At least when it comes to the whole idea of what is and isn't sacred.

The soldier got what he had coming to him, it should end there.

religion is not strange, some people are...when disrespecting their own book and prophet doesn't satisfy them, they try another one.

i am muslim, my christian friend gave me the bible 2 years ago..i still have it, and i still read it.

and if more people in the world were like you, adam, then there'd be understanding and acceptance rather than the hatred that is out there.

[adam75 0]

Many muslims consider the bible a holy book too. Many Arabs are christian. Religion is strange to me. At least when it comes to the whole idea of what is and isn't sacred.

The soldier got what he had coming to him, it should end there.

religion is not strange, some people are...when disrespecting their own book and prophet doesn't satisfy them, they try another one.

i am muslim, my christian friend gave me the bible 2 years ago..i still have it, and i still read it.

and if more people in the world were like you, adam, then there'd be understanding and acceptance rather than the hatred that is out there.

and you too, thank you.

[~PalmTreeGurl~ 154]

If someone used the Bible for target practice I would be offended. The Quran may only be a book to some people but for others it is something sacred. It all boils down to respect.

Do you respect that the bible is confiscated in Saudi Arabia, burned when confiscated? Do you respect that it is illegal to posses this "book" in certain Arab countries?

Sounds like some people are saying "Respet my book while I piss all over everything you respect".(Quote)

agreed!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

If someone used the Bible for target practice I would be offended. The Quran may only be a book to some people but for others it is something sacred. It all boils down to respect.

Do you respect that the bible is confiscated in Saudi Arabia, burned when confiscated? Do you respect that it is illegal to posses this "book" in certain Arab countries?

Sounds like some people are saying "Respet my book while I piss all over everything you respect".(Quote)

agreed!

Authoritarian Governments confiscating/burning/banning the Bible is reprehensible

A member of the US armed forces serving in Iraq using the Koran as target practice is reprehensible

Neither incident excuses, justifies or cancels out the other. Why do people always insist on seeing double standards where there aren't any.

Edited May 19, 2008 by Number 6

[Ban Hammer 12,841]

I agree. I don't think "it's just a book get over it" is right. Of course it's offensive to those who practice that religion. Yes, it's a book, but it's God's Holy Word to the Muslims.

Suppose someone burned an American flag....oh wait, people have done that already and the country was in uproar over it. But "it's a flag, get over it" would be heinous to say.

I may not be a Muslim, but that doesn't mean that I should disrespect their holy book.

Men like this soldier are, IMHO, just as bad as Islamic extremists.

yeah, i can see the comparison of him shooting a book to killing people with suicide bombs, rocket attacks, or airplanes into buildings

as wideawake stated, his career has taken a turn for the worse. he's gonna be the flavor of the month for a long time in his unit - i.e. on the first sergeant's chit detail list.

The mentality of someone who thinks this is acceptable is no different from the mentality of an Islamic extremist who feels the same disrespect towards Christianity. I did NOT say "suicide bomber" I said "extremist." Just like an extremist Christian thinks it's acceptable to punish the abortion doctor. I don't think it's too much of a stretch to think of going from shooting the book, which is disrespecting all that it stands for, to shooting the person who believes the words in that book.

And yes, his career has taken a turn for the worse. Perhaps it was poor judgment and he'll pay for it forever. I'm the daughter of a career Air Force man who did 3 tours in Viet Nam. I am somewhat aware of the way the military handles these transgressons, but the basic principles do remain the same in my eyes. Poor judgment, stupidity, Christian fanatacism, I'm better than they are mentality. Whatever it is. It's extremism. And it is the same.

well that in bold is generally what extremists do, ain't it - bomb someone?

[jundp 191]

If someone used the Bible for target practice I would be offended. The Quran may only be a book to some people but for others it is something sacred. It all boils down to respect.

Do you respect that the bible is confiscated in Saudi Arabia, burned when confiscated? Do you respect that it is illegal to posses this "book" in certain Arab countries?

Sounds like some people are saying "Respet my book while I piss all over everything you respect".(Quote)

agreed!

Authoritarian Governments confiscating/burning/banning the Bible is reprehensible

A member of the US armed forces serving in Iraq using the Koran as target practice is reprehensible

Neither incident excuses, justifies or cancels out the other. Why do people always insist on seeing double standards where there aren't any.

Thank you, #6.

[jundp 191]

I agree. I don't think "it's just a book get over it" is right. Of course it's offensive to those who practice that religion. Yes, it's a book, but it's God's Holy Word to the Muslims.

Suppose someone burned an American flag....oh wait, people have done that already and the country was in uproar over it. But "it's a flag, get over it" would be heinous to say.

I may not be a Muslim, but that doesn't mean that I should disrespect their holy book.

Men like this soldier are, IMHO, just as bad as Islamic extremists.

yeah, i can see the comparison of him shooting a book to killing people with suicide bombs, rocket attacks, or airplanes into buildings

as wideawake stated, his career has taken a turn for the worse. he's gonna be the flavor of the month for a long time in his unit - i.e. on the first sergeant's chit detail list.

The mentality of someone who thinks this is acceptable is no different from the mentality of an Islamic extremist who feels the same disrespect towards Christianity. I did NOT say "suicide bomber" I said "extremist." Just like an extremist Christian thinks it's acceptable to punish the abortion doctor. I don't think it's too much of a stretch to think of going from shooting the book, which is disrespecting all that it stands for, to shooting the person who believes the words in that book.

And yes, his career has taken a turn for the worse. Perhaps it was poor judgment and he'll pay for it forever. I'm the daughter of a career Air Force man who did 3 tours in Viet Nam. I am somewhat aware of the way the military handles these transgressons, but the basic principles do remain the same in my eyes. Poor judgment, stupidity, Christian fanatacism, I'm better than they are mentality. Whatever it is. It's extremism. And it is the same.

well that in bold is generally what extremists do, ain't it - bomb someone?

Charles, forgive me for being nerdy here, but I am an English teacher. An "extremist" is one who goes to extremes esp. in political or regligious beliefs, or who conducts himself/herself outside of the moral norm. So yes, it could be someone who is a suicide bomber, or it could be someone who writes expletives and shoots bullets through someone else's Holy Book. Because that person is, in essence, directing his hatred or actions "outside the moral norm" at the group of people who practice that religion.

Not every extremist bombs people. Hatred, violence, and cruelty can happen in many "extremes."

We can go head to head semantically here if you want...But please don't put words in my mouth.

[Teacher Mark 53]

I agree. I don't think "it's just a book get over it" is right. Of course it's offensive to those who practice that religion. Yes, it's a book, but it's God's Holy Word to the Muslims.

Suppose someone burned an American flag....oh wait, people have done that already and the country was in uproar over it. But "it's a flag, get over it" would be heinous to say.

I may not be a Muslim, but that doesn't mean that I should disrespect their holy book.

Men like this soldier are, IMHO, just as bad as Islamic extremists.

yeah, i can see the comparison of him shooting a book to killing people with suicide bombs, rocket attacks, or airplanes into buildings

as wideawake stated, his career has taken a turn for the worse. he's gonna be the flavor of the month for a long time in his unit - i.e. on the first sergeant's chit detail list.

The mentality of someone who thinks this is acceptable is no different from the mentality of an Islamic extremist who feels the same disrespect towards Christianity. I did NOT say "suicide bomber" I said "extremist." Just like an extremist Christian thinks it's acceptable to punish the abortion doctor. I don't think it's too much of a stretch to think of going from shooting the book, which is disrespecting all that it stands for, to shooting the person who believes the words in that book.

And yes, his career has taken a turn for the worse. Perhaps it was poor judgment and he'll pay for it forever. I'm the daughter of a career Air Force man who did 3 tours in Viet Nam. I am somewhat aware of the way the military handles these transgressons, but the basic principles do remain the same in my eyes. Poor judgment, stupidity, Christian fanatacism, I'm better than they are mentality. Whatever it is. It's extremism. And it is the same.

well that in bold is generally what extremists do, ain't it - bomb someone?

Charles, forgive me for being nerdy here, but I am an English teacher. An "extremist" is one who goes to extremes esp. in political or regligious beliefs, or who conducts himself/herself outside of the moral norm. So yes, it could be someone who is a suicide bomber, or it could be someone who writes expletives and shoots bullets through someone else's Holy Book. Because that person is, in essence, directing his hatred or actions "outside the moral norm" at the group of people who practice that religion.

Not every extremist bombs people. Hatred, violence, and cruelty can happen in many "extremes."

We can go head to head semantically here if you want...But please don't put words in my mouth.

No offense, but you misspelled religious.

[Ggreen 12]

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Dude.

[Niels Bohr 72]

Many muslims consider the bible a holy book too. Many Arabs are christian. Religion is strange to me. At least when it comes to the whole idea of what is and isn't sacred.

The soldier got what he had coming to him, it should end there.

religion is not strange, some people are...when disrespecting their own book and prophet doesn't satisfy them, they try another one.

i am muslim, my christian friend gave me the bible 2 years ago..i still have it, and i still read it.

Not everyone has the same intelligence as you. You may be able to know what it is to mean peace, while others well, don't quite understand what peace is.

You give them 1+1, and they give you 3 instead of 2. Afterall, if everyone was smart there wouldn't be poverty.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Taken from the book, ' How Consolemaster Creates His Own World. '