A Meme Is Born: 'Dude, You Have No Koran'

(Click on the title above and it will take you to the article)

I am sure that you all know about the "Quran Burning" comments that the Pastor in Florida was making. Well this caught my attention on the NY Times and the edited audio clip is quite funny. I went back to look at it again and thought that some of you might like reading the article and watching the clip.

As frustrating as the Pastor's comments are, they are basically providing a lens onto the ignorance that many Americans have, regardless, I am glad that no Quran burning has happened. However, when they go asking why there are terrorists attacks, maybe this incident could be a reminder?! Not that a response to this with a terrorist attack is justified, in my opinion no terrorist attack is justified and especially not under the name of religion. Religion never advocated for the killing of humanity, and in particular, committing suicide is forbidden, as you are taking your own life, when it is something that is supposed to be left to God. Secondly, is the killing of innocent people, suicide bombers just like taking texts out of context and interpreting it their own way to justify their actions. I am extremely ashamed that terrorists attacks are being purported through religion.

However, I think too many people in the Middle-East, think/expect that given how much the U.S. is involved in the Middle East, that Americans would know what is going on; at least knowing a simple thing such as not every Arab is a Muslim or every Muslim is an Arab. To me, this is still frustrating, and not until you go there, do you realize that they actually do not know THAT. Can you blame them? there isn't an answer, the average American's life is shaped around work, kids and own leisure time, what they do see/read on the news, (probably CNN/Fox news) is biased. That is not to say that all Americans are like that.

And contrary to what I thought, it is not only in the Middle East that Americans aren't viewed with such a positive light. This sentiment is felt everywhere, talking with Latin Americans about 9/11, I was hearing similar reactions to those felt back home. Yes 9/11 is a tragedy, the loss of human life, anywhere in the globe is, but what about the thousand of Palestinians and Iraqis dying everyday. It certainly isn't all over the news, this is something we get used to hearing about day after day. South Americans also feel the same way, with how much interference the U.S. has had and continues to have in their countries. A recent opinion or perspective I have heard was about what was going on in Haiti. That the U.S. has sent Military there to "apparently" provide humanitarian aid, and was not allowing other organizations or supply ships to land in Haiti. For many it was a chance for the U.S. to put another military foot hold in yet another country.

Whether this true or not, I am not sure, and we have to acknowledge the help that they have provided to Haiti. However, these are sentiments and perspectives that many Americans are not aware of.