Comparing The Koran-Burning With The Ground Zero Mosque--Starting With The Leaders

The first point of comparison, interesting enough, is the leaders in these 2 controversies.

Jonah Goldberg has an email from a friend from Florida that puts the Koran-Burner, In Context:

Jonah,Can I be your Gainesville, Florida guy?

There is a good bit of context missing in all of these discussions about the Koran burning stunt down here. First, this “church” has about 30 members total...and has recently taken his message to youtube, where his page views come in well below “gnarly skateboard falls” and “OMG Best Soccer Goal Ever!”

[P]eople have taken the shock value of this stunt and blown it way out of proportion. The fact that this is an international incident is a testament to how the internet can make anyone famous or infamous.

Let's compare the pastor with Imam Rauf:

Rauf’s own mosque, according to the Park51 website, could only hold up to 65 people during prayer services. The diminutive size of his congregation, which is affiliated with an American-originated “new-age” Sufi group, the Nur Ashki Jerrahi Sufi Order, belies the image of Rauf as a major American and global Muslim leader, granted him in mainstream media.

And this is without addressing the issue of the New York imam’s nonexistent mosque

Two leaders with small followings have managed to create an image of power and importance through public stunts designed to give them an audience and influence.

In terms of the actual stunts themselves, John Hinderaker writes that the constitutional right to burn Korans--though objectionable for other reasons--is a non-starter because It Pays To Be Crazed:

What gives rise to this dilemma, of course, is the fanaticism of radical Muslims, who have, indeed, responded violently to real or perceived slights to their religion. There is no parallel phenomenon with other religions. The Taliban blew up ancient statues of Buddha without worrying for a moment that Buddhists would react violently. Saudi Arabia destroys Bibles as a matter of policy, but it never occurs to the Saudis to fear mobs of rampaging Christians--or even Congressional disfavor in this mostly-Christian nation.

Venturing into the issue of constitutional rights vis-a-vis the proposed Koran-burning in Florida, Hinderaker concludes:

Finally, an interesting question: how is this controversy similar to, and different from, that over the Ground Zero Mosque? Both involve actions that private citizens have a right to take, but arguably shouldn't. It is a worthwhile comparison, but that is a post for another day.

The comparison is not exact, since on the one hand you have an insult to Islam--a point on which Islamists are adamant--while on the other you primarily have an insult to sensitivities to the worst terrorist attack of the 20th century--and it is somehow perceived as a commendable Western value to overlook 'slights' in the interests of constitutional rights.

Yet in both cases, those who claim to have only first amendment rights at heart automatically back the Ground Zero mosque just as they automatically condemn the burning of the Koran.

Funny thing, the West.

Technorati Tag: Ground Zero Mosque and Koran Burning.