Defiant message or ammunition?

With a Christian pastor getting everyone fired up (pun intended) about burning copies of the Qur'an on the anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 9/11, are there really a couple of sides to this inflammatory issue?

So the pastor says that this is in retaliation for the planned mosque and community center in lower Manhattan.  Yes, the planners of the Islamic community center in New York should be labeled as insensitive yet they are within their property rights that are part of our Constitution.  When is enough, just plain enough?  How far does someone have to be pushed before they just say "STOP"?  It's plain to see that this gentleman has had enough.  And he is willing to take whatever heat is out there from anyone domestic or foreign.  And he has others that are similarly fed up with what they perceive as inroads to their way of living.  Yes, freedom is at the core and is this the best way to show it?  Is this what we show our children and grandchildren?  We all have a breaking point just like we all have a price.  Which begs an interesting question - how much money would it take for the pastor to cancel his book burning?

I do have a couple of questions for him and others that may be trying to attract attention to their defiance and anger.  Do you not see that you are committing the same crime as those in totalitarian regimes when you burn a book?  Do you not see that you are suppressing freedom of speech?  (Note: Shame on the local politicians for trying to limit the right to assemble for the pastor's event.)  And most of all, do you not see that you are fueling the fires of fear and loathing among our enemies overseas (and some domestically too)?  Why are you choosing an obviously emboldening event for our enemies instead of demanding that we as a country be brought up to speed with the progress (or lack of it) in finding Osama Bin Laden?  Why are you not questioning the billions of dollars and lives lost in distracting efforts when we apparently have forgotten that we appear to have given up looking for one responsible for the greatest crime on US soil?

Note to the "Christian" pastor:  As much as we are all frustrated with our economy with it's lack of jobs and the growth of Islamic influences around the world feeling like a constant threat, why propose an event that gives the imams and Islamic leaders more ammunition for recruitment both domestically and overseas?  You may as well just give them a ticket on an airplane in Boston with a free pass through security.   And you completely undermine the brave and courageous efforts of our military now in Afghanistan.  You put them even more in harms way because you have no idea of the global implications of what you are doing. 

Again, as a country are we really putting our best foot forward when someone stands up for his beliefs and whitewashes the rest of us with his righteous paintbrush?  Oh, and don't forget all of Americans currently traveling overseas too.  It sure is nice of you to put a bulls-eye on their backs too.

So, please, before you go through with your knee-jerk reactionary event this weekend, think again about the big picture and how in the end, your 15 minutes of fame will put real American lives at risk.  There has to be a smarter way to get your point across.