Inalienable Right.... to burn things?

So the story goes that this preacher at a tiny little church caused a major uproar by declaring that his church was going to burn Korans (or Qurans), the sacred text of followers of Islam, out of protest for the so-called "Ground Zero Mosque". On 9/11 no less. But, when the spit hit the spam, he backed off and said the book burning was canceled.

However, many people went forward with the burning. Posting videos on YouTube and essentially daring the terrorists to do something about it. Sad.

But you see all the time on the news videos of people in Iraq and other places burning the American flag. In Islamic states, such as Saudi Arabia, Bibles, the sacred texts of the followers of Christianity, are often confiscated and destroyed. So we're just getting back at them, right?

And, after all, if you bought something, you own it and you have the right to do what you want with it, as long as you are observing the local laws concerning open flames and littering. Right? That right is protected by the first amendment, isn't it?

Here in the 21st century, in the age of the Internet where our community is not only global, but also constantly open and visible, what is right and what is wrong? Where is the line between doing something stupid and doing something offensive?


The really sad part is that many who are so engaged in the "Ground Zero Mosque" debate, the one's who are burning the books, claim the title of Christian and claim again and again that the US is a Christian nation founded by Christians, and blah blah blah, Christian, blah blah blah. But then they totally ignore the number one (well number two) teaching of the Christ they claim to follow:

Love your neighbor as yourself.

Now that that we live in a global society, who is your neighbor? At what point do your exercising your rights violate your responsibility to your neighbors? Does your use of your inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness cause pain and anger in your community?

Ok, ranted out. Thanks.