30 Day Writer's Challenge | Day 20

Okay, let me preface this post by saying this is my blog.  This is my little political rant.  I will stand on my soap box and orate to all of those who will listen (or read...whatever).  With that being said, I don't care about your opinion at the moment.  I'm not looking to start a debate.  So unless your comment is conducive to my cause, shut it.

Everybody good? Ü

The entire nation and nations abroad are in a complete uproar about this (in my opinion) crazy pastor Terry Jones and his plan to burn Qurans.  Now, how I find this conducive to the "greater good" is beyond me, but I do believe he has a Constitutional Right to do this - whether or not it's the right or wrong thing.  That is an entirely different rant.

Yes, there are Jihad extremists in the Middle East and even in America that are burning flags and effigies of Jones and talking about the end to America, but aren't we supposed to be the better people?  And further more, WHAT GOOD IS ALL OF THIS DOING?  There are very good Muslims out there.  While listening to Sean Hannity last night on my way home, I was getting pretty upset by a caller that was a war vet and all he talked about was how all Muslims are the same.  They're all extremists and they're all trying to take over the world.

Okay, no.  That is not true.  There are peaceful Muslims out there.  And there are some that live here.  California just opened an American-Muslim school, Zaytuna College.  The fact that the state was willing to approve this project and open these doors, proves that there are people out there that can look past the extremists and look at the people who are actually trying to make a difference.  Or are trying to live their lives in a peaceful manner.  I think this is a great step into a direction that we are all striving for - well, maybe not all of us.  Especially Pastor Jones. 

So where am I going with this?  Intolerance breeds intolerance.  If there is one thing that I have learned with all of the over-publicized media hype about Jones and the Muslim Community Center near Ground Zero (again, another rant), it is that no matter what, we will always have intolerance and bigotry and people that just don't care to look past the stereotypes.  Who cares that we actually have Muslims going against their country to fight with us - side by side.  They're risking their lives to make things better. 

In closing, I want to end with one of my favorite quotes from Remember the Titans.  I know it's about a completely different war, but I think a lot can be learned from it if it's taken to heart.

This is where they fought the battle of Gettysburg. Fifty thousand men died right here on this field, fighting the same fight that we are still fighting among ourselves today. This green field right here, painted red, bubblin' with the blood of young boys. Smoke and hot lead pouring right through their bodies. Listen to their souls, men. I killed my brother with malice in my heart. Hatred destroyed my family. You listen, and you take a lesson from the dead. If we don't come together right now on this hallowed ground, we too will be destroyed, just like they were. I don't care if you like each other of not, but you will respect each other. And maybe... I don't know, maybe we'll learn to play this game like men. - Coach Boone

---Steps down from soap box---