Global disappointment & outrage over the burning of the Holy Quran to mark the 9/11 attacks

 An “emergency summit” was held in Washington, September 7, 2010, denouncing the plan to burn the Quran Saturday September 11th, 2010, to mark the 9/11 attacks. The summit comprised of leaders of the Islamic Society of North America, who contacted Jewish and Christian leaders for support.Attendees agreed this demonstration is a reflection of an act of hate, ignorance, & bigotry.

 If such an act were to be performed towards other holy scriptures, such as The Bible or Torah, there would be no doubt that authorities would take a strong, universal stand to immediately prohibit & aggressively impose legal actions against all who par take in such an act of hate, without hesitation or any passive stance.

  The summit meeting took place amid growing concerns from the White House, State Department, and General David Petraeus, top American military commander in Afghanistan. This, over Pastor Terry Jones, of the Dove World Outreach Center, plans to put copies of the Holy Book, The Quran, in a bonfire to mark this week’s anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Jones was also known & gained some local notoriety last year when he posted signs in front of his church declaring, “Islam is of the Devil”.

  Theodore McCarrick, Archbishop, asserted America was not built on hate, stating that the majority of Americans do not support this outrageous and grave act, agreeing it is stemmed out of hatred & if carried out, will inflict animosity and breed even more hatred. General David Petraeus warned this act would inflame public opinion and incite violence, endangering the lives of American soldiers stationed abroad.

  Leaders agreed that this so-called “anti-Muslim frenzy”, may potentially tear apart the country and jeopardize the United State’s image as a forerunner in religious freedom and diversity.

The imam behind the plan to build the Islamic center near ground zero, Feisal Abdul Rauf, finally spoke out about the controversy September 8, 2010, stressing his strong stand & dedication in the pursuing the building of this Islamic center. The New York Times published the imam’s statement:

“…By backing down, we cede the discourse and, essentially, our future to radicals on both sides.”

  Robert Gibbs, White House Press Secretary, agreed with the imam, adding that Jones’s plan was “un-American”, also stressing, all it will accomplish, is put the lives of US troops in harm’s way.

Clergy members in Washington and Florida maintained they attempted to discourage Jones from proceeding with this heinous act, however, Jones was relentless with his decision.

Although interfaith events are not unusual, the ‘Emergency Summit’ illustrated the urgency and passion expressed by the participants. Religious leaders met with Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr., urging him to prosecute religious hate crimes, aggressively.

Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, Rabbi David Saperstein, stated;” We know what it is like when people attack physically & verbally, while others watch & remain silent. This cannot [should not] happen here, in America, the year 2010.”

  The clergy members blamed the tense climate on politicians who were manipulating a thorny issue during the election year. The Rev. Richard Cizik, president of the New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good, commented; “To those who choose to exercise derision, bigotry, & open rejection toward fellow Americans due to difference in  faith, I say, shame on you. As an evangelical, I say to those who do this, you bring dishonor to those who love Jesus Christ.”

Despite an umbrella group, representing 100,000 churches coming out to support the mosque, the meeting did not discuss stands on the proposed mosque in Manhattan, stressing; “People have had multiple opinions on where the location of this project should take be, but the legal right to build the site is clearly undeniable.”