Ramadan is the Islamic month of fasting. It's a time of reflection, prayer, and purification for Muslims - not unlike the Lenten season for Catholics, but more badass. We Catholics just have to refrain from meat on Fridays and give up chocolate for 40 days. The end of Ramadan is marked by the Eid ul-Fitr festival in which food is donated to the poor, people put on their best clothes, pray, and visit with families. Throw in some chocolate eggs and jelly beans and it looks just like Easter. And just like Easter, Eid ul-Fitr is celebrated on a lunar calendar which means that the date of the celebration changes each year. By chance, this year Eid ul-Fitr falls on September 11th.
Out of respect, many Islamic centers have decided to tone down Eid ul-Fitr celebrations this year. Unfortunately, one "pastor" in Florida has decide to answer respect with sacrilege. Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, FL is planning to "celebrate" September 11th by burning the Koran. I know - this is just one guy who leads a "church" (man, am I using a lot of quotes to imply derision today) of 40 sheep. But his actions will resonate across the globe. And not in a good way.
I want to applaud General George Petraeus, the World Evangelical Alliance and leaders of other faiths for urging Jones to cancel the burning. Even Glenn Beck thinks it's a bad idea! Unfortunately Jones isn't listening to reason. Jones has a constitutional right to burn the Koran on September 11th. I pray to God he doesn't. If he does, I plan to offer my own, quiet counter protest. I will offer up a prayer for those who lost their lives on September 11th. I will then, in honor of Eid ul-Fitr, bring an offering of food to my local Islamic center, along with a letter saying that not all Americans are filled with hatred towards Muslims.
Care to join me?
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