One Pastor's Act of Hate and Extremism Could Affect the United States for Years to Come

An extremist, Pastor Terry Jones of Dove World Outreach Center, Gainesville, Florida, needs to rethink the name of his church. As a memorial to the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, he plans to videotape himself burning Korans, the Muslim religious text similar to the Bible in Christianity. After Pastor Jones' announcement, protesters have already reacted in Kabul, Afghanistan. They set fire to a cardboard representation of Jones.

United States officials believe this could lead to more harm toward American soldiers and more terrorist attacks, ultimately effort down the drain. Afghan protesters believe President Obama and others condone this act.

The Effect of the Possible Koran-burning

Last year, Pastor Terry Jones' church designed t-shirts with the slogans "Islam is of the Devil," but this year for the anniversary of Sept. 11, Jones' extremist and Islam-fearing church plans to burn copies of the Muslim's Koran. Jones is deliberately spitting in the faces of Muslim terrorists, baiting them to further act with more violence. An 18-year-old by the name of Abdul Shakoor believes it is the entire United States condoning this rash act of hate. Not knowing that the United States as a whole does not pardon this act, Muslims in the Middle East miscomprehend and instead believe that all Americans hate Islam and find the religion to be oppressive, destructive, and full of hate.

According to USA Today, Al-Qaeda terrorists have turned to robbing Iraqi banks in order to replenish their diminishing funds, due to sponsors of Al-Qaeda losing money and not having the ability to sneak more funds across the Iraqi border to the terrorists. This comes after a report containing currency figures, evidence of Iran paying the Taliban to kill US Soldiers. One Taliban soldier reported that he was paid an amount close to $77,000 in less than a year. With Taliban soldiers needing money and Iran offering to pay them to kill US soldiers, we will likely see more American deaths in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Acting out of hate, misunderstanding, and fear, Pastor Terry Jones believes he will instill fear in Muslims and terrorists, in a similar way that Osama Bin Laden has tried to instill fear in Americans, like with Sept. 11, 2001. Instead, the United States joined with NATO forces to start breaking down and causing the eventual demise of Al-Qaeda and Taliban forces. Jones is behaving in a way no better than Bin Laden, and, as reports have shown, Muslims in Afghanistan have responded.

Teenagers believe the United States as a whole has promoted this act. In the war-torn country, teenagers likely have a rough time at making money. Therefore, after seeing how Americans feel about Muslims, a payment for killing American soldiers will sound like a great deal.

If Pastor Jones goes through with his vowed act, he will set forth a false belief that the United States condones the humiliation of Muslims; the destruction of religious property; and the belief that all Americans hate the Islamic culture, religion and people. Muslims across the world will likely turn on the United States and join forces with Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, advocating acts of terrorism. Muslims within the United States may start performing more acts of terrorism domestically. We may lose our Muslim allies, and politicians may lose their support in government elections. This could cause a revolt within United States. Whether or not the church follows through with its book burning, the church advertising world outreach within its name has drastically changed how Muslims view the United States, its beliefs, and its culture.

Ethan Sacks Afghanistan protests over Florida pastor Terry Jones' plans to burn Korans on Sept. 11 anniversary, New York Daily News

Jim Michaels, Al-Qaeda in Iraq relying more on bank heists, USA Today

Meena Hartenstein, Iran pays Taliban fighters in Afghanistan $1000 per head to kill U.S. soldiers: report, New York Daily News