The Thirst for Freedom

I just read an article by Roland Martin at CNN.com. He is ripping on Sarah Palin because she was pointing out the error of thinking that the federal government is the answer to obesity in America.

Roland Martin does not get it.

Here is a bit from the article:

“It’s clear that we can’t go 24 hours without Sarah Palin saying something so stupid that it defies logic, but leave it to the Kim Kardashian of politics to find something wrong with first lady Michelle Obama’s effort to curb obesity in America’s kids.

“In a radio interview on Wednesday with conservative talker Laura Ingraham, Palin took dead aim at the first lady’s ‘Let’s Move’ initiative, which is all about getting children active and involved in exercise and healthy eating.

In the wacky world of Wasilla’s finest, Palin tries to cast the effort to fight obesity as part of Michelle Obama’s ‘different worldview.’”  [Read More]

Here is my response that I posted at CNN.com:

Roland Martin doesn’t get it.

Does he actually believe that the federal government can stop obesity?

This is the same false reasoning that statist proponents always use – they actually believe that by showing a problem exists that it follows logically that the federal government needs to “fix” the problem.

It is now and has always been a myth that a huge centralized government is the answer to problems. Individual and local initiative is the answer.

The federal government cannot succeed in solving this kind of problem.
The risk of way to much intrusion in our lives is to great if the federal government tries.

When will statists like Roland Martin wake up?

When will Americans wake up and stop taking the kind of nonsense in this article seriously?

Shiva Statue

From FoxNews.com:

“Newsweek’s depiction of President Obama on its latest cover has irked some Indian Americans who, fresh off Obama’s visit to the world’s largest democracy, are not happy with the image of the U.S. president as the Hindu deity, Lord Shiva.

“The Newsweek cover shows Obama with several arms carrying policy issues while balancing on one leg. The headline reads: ‘God of All Things’ with a subtitle, ‘Why the Modern Presidency May be too Much for One Person to Handle.’”  [Read More]

A Florida pastor says he has called off the Quran burning scheduled for September 11, 2010. No… Wait… That’s not for sure, maybe they’ll do it anyways! (http://us.cnn.com/2010/US/09/09/florida.quran.burning/index.html)

So… Should Christians burn the Quran?

Point 1: There is nothing immoral about burning the Quran.
Point 2: There is nothing illegal about burning the Quran.

Is it offensive to burn the Quran? Should all of the various Christian, Muslim, and political leaders be speaking out against this burning?

There is no such God given right to “not be offended.”

I remember getting an email once calling on all Christians to contact some television network because what they were showing was “offensive to Christians.”

I don’t care if television is offensive to Christians. I don’t really care if it is offensive to anybody.

I do care if the material is inappropriate for a general public audience or for the age group that may be watching. I may choose not to watch it if it is hostile to God or to Christians.

But whether or not it is “offensive” to burn the Quran isn’t really that important. I am not concerned if people burn the Bible either. As long as they paid for them, they can do with them whatever they want.

So should we be held hostage by the supposed millions who may act childishly and riot, etc. if this pastor burns Qurans?

A lot is being said to condemn this pastor, but where are the voices condemning such absurd behavior as the predicted response?

I for one don’t intend to condemn this pastor because others will act wrongly as a result of his actions.

He is not doing anything immoral, he is not doing anything illegal, and it doesn’t really matter if it is offensive.

There are two other important questions though:

1) What good will come of this Quran burning? Will anything useful be achieved?
2) Is this pastor choosing the right battle to fight here, by burning these Qurans?

Try as I might, I cannot think of anything useful that will be achieved. It is already established that he has the right to do it. Everyone will choose to either agree or condemn him, but what is the point? “The Quran is bad?” “Islam is bad?”

I don’t believe in Islam. I don’t believe all religions are equal. I don’t believe all religions are true. I’m not afraid to say that I hope all Muslims leave that system and find saving faith in Jesus Christ instead. But I don’t need to rub that in the face of Muslims. Many Muslims believe that I have chosen a false religion by believing that Jesus is God and that Mohamed is not a prophet of the One True God. I am not threatened or offended by their opinion.

I could still be neighbors with a Muslim. I could even be friends. I could talk to a Muslim respectfully about the differences between our religions. I wouldn’t talk about that all the time though. Perhaps some good food and talking about family, weather, fun, hope, etc. would be an important part of our conversation!

If a Muslim asked me “what about this guy who is burning Qurans?” I would say “ignore him, it is not relevant.”

I wish to reach out to Muslims, not unnecessarily alienate them. I am not willing to claim that “all religions are good” in order to meet this goal, but I am willing to avoid stupid provocation or useless conflict.

In the end, if this pastor were someone that I knew personally, I would say “don’t waste your time burning Qurans. Nobody will benefit. God won’t benefit. No Muslims will give their lives to Jesus as a result. All you will get is a whole lot of grief and no benefit.”

I would like to see a public figure respond to this pastor and this Quran burning by saying “whatever, can we talk about something that matters?”

It’s only an issue because of all the hype.