Comments on: Republicans Outraged About Koran Kiss Apology

By: liberalgeek

liberalgeek — Fri, 23 May 2008 00:39:47 +0000

Hi Bob – thanks for stopping by. Your comment was marked as spam, sorry about that. I appreciate the Torah story, as well.

By: Bob

Bob — Thu, 22 May 2008 21:00:56 +0000

Hi,
Interesting discussion I stumbled upon here. Refreshing to see there are non-Muslims on the web who don’t hate us Muslims. I wasn’t sure either about the non-Muslim servicemen kissing the Qur’an. Seemed perhaps a bit excessive. But then, the Prophet put a Torah on a pillow while himself sitting on the floor, out of respect for the Torah, even though he didn’t believe every word of the Torah was from God. So you can make gestures of respect even if you don’t believe every word of a religion, as long as you don’t think it’s ALL B.S.–in which case kissing the book might be hypocritical.

By: Nancy Willing

Nancy Willing — Mon, 19 May 2008 12:30:04 +0000

I think that because kissing the Koran is a consistent part of the rite and ceremony of reading it, the kissing of it in appeasement of irate Iraqis was a decidedly appropriate thing in this case.

By: Joe M

Joe M — Mon, 19 May 2008 09:58:16 +0000

Not in the grand scheme of things, Pandora, but that doesn’t make my opinion of it any less valid.

No, the seas will not turn as blood, etc, etc, but I don’t think that what was likely a false kow-tow is a proper and ethical way to react to the situation. An honest apology was sufficient.

By: pandora

pandora — Mon, 19 May 2008 01:06:19 +0000

I agree, but as I read this I couldn’t help but think of all things that republicans (not all Rs, but usually very vocal ones) get upset about: Flag pins, the flag, artwork of certain artists, the bible.

This just struck me as another meaningless outrage. I would also guess that the officer who kissed the Koran was following some sort of protocol, that he was told what was appropriate… which may end up diffusing a potentially explosive situation.

Is this kiss really a big deal?

By: Joe M

Joe M — Mon, 19 May 2008 00:54:02 +0000

Pandora, the Republicans are far from being the only ones who show outrage over things that others see as trivial.

The initial outrage for this very event was the destruction of the Koran, a symbol of Islam. Chances are, it wasn’t the Rs behind that outrage.

By: pandora

pandora — Mon, 19 May 2008 00:50:39 +0000

I just wish republican outrage encompassed more than symbols. In the big picture, that is Iraq, this incident seems insignificant.

By: Joe M

Joe M — Mon, 19 May 2008 00:41:00 +0000

Jason,

With a quick google, I wasn’t able to find anything about kissing the Koran while gifting it, bit I did find that it is tradition to kiss the Koran 3 times before opening and after closing it to read.

As for the crazies, I was linked on the CNN article blogs section relating to the article.

*posted this on M-BA, too*

By: liberalgeek

liberalgeek — Mon, 19 May 2008 00:19:49 +0000

I guess it depends on what the point of the kiss was. If it is protocol, like bowing in Japan, or the cheek kiss in France, fine. If it is a sacrament, then I’m with Joe.

If the situations were reversed, and an Iraqi soldier shot a bible, I certainly wouldn’t expect them to make the sign of the cross, take communion, or do whatever it is that you’re supposed to do with holy water.

Basically, if failing to do so were an offense, go for it.

By: jason330

jason330 — Mon, 19 May 2008 00:00:24 +0000

…except for David Anderson who is headed to Iraq to help spread freedom.

By: Truth Teller

Truth Teller — Sun, 18 May 2008 23:54:04 +0000

Who was this dumb ass anyway or maybe he thought that this was his ticket home which it turned out to be. Even if that be the case he is still a dumb ass.
As far as Gen Hammond kissing it I have no problem but I am sure the wingnuts do after all they are big on displaying support our troops stickers and flag pins made in China. They love to tell us how much they support the troops short of joining up

By: Merit-bound Alley » Sniping at the Koran

Merit-bound Alley » Sniping at the Koran — Sun, 18 May 2008 22:59:18 +0000

[...] Check out Delaware Liberal for a different perspective on the kissing. Tags: Iraq, Koran, Maj. Gen. [...]

By: Joe M

Joe M — Sun, 18 May 2008 22:54:21 +0000

david,

How can you be sure that this saved lives? How con you even be sure that that was the reason the Maj. Gen. Hammond kissed it in the first place.

If he did, then doesn’t that imply that he thinks that these Iraqis are going to swing into a violent bloodbath if he didn’t? Is that respectful of him? Or even of you?

By: david

david — Sun, 18 May 2008 22:45:36 +0000

How do you know what the person who volunteered to do it believes? No it is not hollow to show respect for something even if you don’t share a sacred view of it.

I show respect to other nation’s flags not because I believe in them, but because I respect the people who do. Kissing the Koran is showing respect for it not pledging one’s allegience to it.

Would you kiss it to save hundreds of American and thousands of Iraqi lives? I would in an heart beat. My fellow soldiers and innocent human beings mean more to me than silly pride. That was the call of the commander and I applaud him.

It was a command decision to save lives; I don’t question it from the safety of my computer thousands of miles away.

By: Joe M

Joe M — Sun, 18 May 2008 22:38:31 +0000

Yes, we must always be respectful of our host country, but how respectful is it to show deference to a belief that you don’t feel?

I could run around, kissing copies of the bible, the koran, and dianetics all I want, but I’m not really being respectful of it if I don’t feel it. That kind of respect is very visibly hollow.