To Burn Or Not To Burn The Qur'an?

    The Qur'an is the main religious text of Muslims.  Muslims believe it is the book of order and divine guidance for all of mankind.  Islam believes that Allah disclosed the Qur'an to the prophet Muhammad, verbally through an angel Jabril, over the course of 23 years.  It basically means to Muslims what the Bible means to Christians.  Needless to say, It is very offensive to intentionally damage or disrespect the Qur'an.
     There is a Reverend in Florida, named Terry Jones, that has very controversial views of the Muslim faith to include the Qur'an.  He has recently gained worldwide attention because he plans to burn copies of the Qur'an to celebrate the September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States.  Some people are praising him as a hero and some people are attacking him as a derelict.  Muslim, Roman Catholic, and Jewish leaders have condemned his plans.  Jones is clinging on to his First Amendment rights and plans to go through with it.  He calls the Qur'an evil because he says it supports something other than the biblical truth and it agitates radical and violent behavior among Muslims.  Jones said that if Muslims wanted to burn Bibles, they would be protected by the First Amendment as well.  He wouldn't like it but he wouldn't threaten to kill them either.

     Jones has been warned by many that if he goes through this, he could endanger himself, U.S. troops and Americans everywhere.  Amid hundreds of death threats, he still says he is going to do it on September 11th.  In Indonesia, Muslims have already held demonstrations, at the U.S. Embassy, and threatened violence should the Reverend go through with it.  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that the plans are outrageous and disgraceful.  She hopes that it is not considered an act of patriotism.  General David Patraeus the U.S. Commander in Afghanistan has even tried to get him to back down.  General Patraeus said that this definitely could endanger U.S. troops, American citizens, and the overall effort in Afghanistan.

     I know that everyone is protected by the Constitution in the United States but does there come a time where it may be detrimental?  And if so, should something be done if it's a matter of national security? I think that's a tough one.  Let's not forget that there are Americans who are Muslim and the fact that not all Muslims are terrorists.  I do not think what the Reverend has planned is smart at all.  Why would you intentionally jeopardize the lives of yourself and others by doing something that in itself is so disrespectful?