“NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg: Terry Jones Has Right to Burn Quran” reports:
“New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is defending the Rev. Terry Jones’ right to burn copies of the Quran on Saturday, in what the controversial pastor has deemed ‘International Burn-a-Quran Day.’
“‘In a strange way, I’m here to defend his right to do that. I happen to think that it is distasteful. I don’t think he would like it if somebody burnt a book that in his religion he thinks is holy,’ Bloomberg said Tuesday at a news conference about the status of the World Trade Center site, according to The Wall Street Journal.
“‘But the First Amendment protects everybody,’ Bloomberg continued. ‘And you can’t say that we’re going to apply the First Amendment to only those cases where we are in agreement.'”
WATCHDOG: He may be a card carrying member of the ACLU ( he doesn’t actually carry the card), but the old dog isn’t about to agree with Bloomberg on this one.
This isn’t just about freedom of speech. This is about national security! People will die if Jones’ carries through with his threat.
Tragically, the worst laws are brought about because of actions like Jones. Just as we have laws against hate crimes and inciting to riot, now we probably will have to enact a law against acts of religious intolerance. Such a law may be made necessary, but it will take away a bit of all of our rights.
This is comparable to crying ‘fire’ in a theater. Shame on Jones!
I disagree.
Jones is nuts. He’s also insignificant. Wackos have been talking about burning books of some sort or another since the invention of the written word.
The press is sensationalizing this into something it isn’t. If anyone is being reckless, its the press for hyping this non-issue. The better approach for the newspaper editors would have been Bloombergs sentiment…dismissive condescension.
I disagree.
Jones is nuts. He’s also insignificant. Wackos have been talking about burning books of some sort or another since the invention of the written word.
The press is sensationalizing this into something it isn’t. If anyone is being reckless, its the press for hyping this non-issue. The better approach for the newspaper editors would have been Bloombergs sentiment…dismissive condescension.