As I have stated previously on this blog, I spend a lot of time sifting through news articles from around the world in order to maintain what I consider a healthy worldview. Even though US news networks like CNN or Fox will cover world news, I’m not for a minute about to put all my eggs in either of those baskets. So, I subscribe to RSS feeds from BBC News (mainly for Africa) and Al Jazeera (mainly to get a feel for what’s going on in the Mid-East)… Sorry to the rest of the world… I only get bits and pieces about you!
Well… today is one of those days that I’m glad I get a well rounded view on things, because I don’t think I’m going to be seeing this come across some of our domestic networks (I may be wrong though).
A few weeks ago, there was a lot of controversy over the US Military in Afghanistan possessing Bibles translated into Afghan language and soldiers talking about their primary duty as Christians being to convert Muslims… which in Afghanistan would be a death sentence for that person (not that it wouldn’t be worth it)… just saying.
Now, clearly this is going to create quite the uproar in the Muslim world. Most of the news feeds on this issue were obviously coming from Al Jazeera rather than some of the other networks.
Today, however, another news feed just rolled across my reader. Apparently the US Military thought that the best way to deal with this controversy would be to confiscate these Afghan Bibles and burn them. Yes… you read that right… BURN THEM.
Now… I’m not sure what I would have done in this situation. I have tremendous respect for our leaders, and would never want to be the one to make decisions that will affect the world… decisions that are going to make people mad no matter which way you go with it.
As a Christian, I absolutely agree that what people the world over (Muslim, Hindu, Agnostic, Post-modern, “Christian”) need a relationship with Jesus more than anything else. However, I’m just not so sure that our government (which is not a theocracy) should be the one spreading that… I guess more specifically, I’m not sure that while at war and while killing people, we should be spreading a message of peace that would appear to be coming from America… the “Christian nation”… the one that has guns, rap music, pornography, greed, and the list could go on.
Now, when I originally read about the Bibles, I did not have a huge opinion on it. Like I said, I don’t know what I would have done if I was in leadership.
However, I’m pretty sure that I would have chose to do something other than BURN Bibles!
In a war that, like it or not, is extremely charged with religious sentiment on both sides, the last thing that needs to happen is to fuel fire on either side.
So… what are your thoughts on this?
I know it’s not really helpful for people to bash the government on the blogoshpere… but, aside from bashing the government, what would have been a good way to handle this situation in your opinion?
Do you think that it was necessary for the military to go as far as burning the Bibles in order to prove a point to the Muslim world that we aren’t trying to convert them?
Feel free to spout off your opinions…
This is absolutely nutty.
How about one of the military heads politely informing the troops that they are under orders and their primary task has been agreed on by Congress.
In a war, which is seen by much of the world through the lens of religion, the burning of any holy books is not wise. While most Muslims have not read the Bible, they do consider it a holy book and the Koran holds it in high esteem and even encourages them to read it. Burning of the Bible will only underline preconceptions that America is the home of infidels. Worse than that, ones who don’t even respect their own holy book.
Wow! what a day to connect to your blog via Heather’s.
It’s Memorial Day and I am reading that my previous employer asked my comrades to do the unthinkable. The first thing I thought of was one of the regulations we learned in bootcamp. If given an order, you must obey it. No exceptions. Except there is one. Under the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice) they say if you find it truly and morally reprehensible that and only then are you allowed to disregard or disobey that given order.
This all being percursed by “you still might be court martialed though.”
Funny, the first thing I think of is rebellion, mutiny, etc. when considering you have to obey and respect your authorities. I don’t know what I would have done as a Marine and an American. Definately probably would consulted the JAG (Judge Advocate General) lawyer.
I also think the burning of Bibles may be an overcompinsation, for what exactly I know not.