How do we address this problem, and problems just like it, without becoming just the same as what we claim we hate? We must react to it, yet we must NOT react in ways that reinforce the problem and keep it going. So how do we end this kind of hate filled contest between people? 

People, and particularly people, who represent governments, must say much more than “doing this may endanger our troops.” That statement makes it sound like the only concern is the backlash to 'us' without acknowledging the inciting to hatred directed towards 'them.' This is endangering a whole lot of people everywhere, and not just those directly involved. This kind of perverted thinking is a fundamental danger to all human life. It is the essential stuff that wars are made of so this must be dealt with on a collective HUMAN level of equals.

Someone on the news, as usual, came up with the idea of the 'right to free speech' as a reason for non interference. I also believe in the right to free speech BUT burning the Koran, like setting fire to police cars and destroying other people’s property at riots, is NOT 'free speech.' It is an action taken beyond the right to free speech.  I don't see this action as any more, or less, reprehensible than that of burning the American flag while shouting 'death to America, or death to the West!” In fact, this kind of groupthink and behaviour is pretty much the SAME in my way of seeing it, so maybe we who want peace should be counteracting it ALL in the same way if we want to stop the effects of it on everyone else. 

In Canada, A number of years ago there was an incident regarding an old, old contest.  Once again, the Nazi agenda raised its hideous ‘superior’ head and exercised its right to free speech by slamming the Jewish People. How 'unusual' right?  Well, what was somewhat unusual was the response from a representative of the Jewish community. I cannot remember who it was exactly, but it may have been the president of the Canadian Jewish Congress. (Or another group; sorry for the lack of a specific identity here. I did not know I was going to use it years later.) 

In any case the two way commentary went very close to something like this: 

Neo Nazi: (responding to the objections to the usual rhetoric by the Jewish Community) ”They are just angry because they don't like what we have to say about them. But I am telling you we have the right to free speech in this country and we can say whatever we like!” 

Jewish Representative: “That's right. We DON'T like what you have to say about us and you’re also right that you DO have the right to free speech in this country... and SO DO WE.”

 First thing we need to point out, over and over again, is the difference between 'speech' and acting out. (Which is physical action) 

If you wouldn’t want a Bible Burning then you don't hold a Koran burning. Mutual hatred accompanied by contemptuous acts does not cause peace as an outcome. Peaceful acts cause peaceful outcomes. Mutual respect with personal boundaries intact causes peaceful outcomes. People who incite hatred in others exist in every religious group, every ethnic group and every government in power. This is what we have IN COMMON as human beings everywhere and this is what we need to focus on in order to dis-empower hatred and abuse. To dis-empower this, ALL peace seeking human beings must work together to universally condemn this kind of mindless hatred. There is nothing 'Godly' about this thinking and behaviour, from any legitimate religion’s point of view. It is just the opposite and we must ALL say so. ALL of us. Right out loud.  

This idiotic event is bound to happen and will include some people who support and enable it as this sort of thing ALWAYS attracts the haters of the world and offers them an excuse to act out as part of a mindless mob. No doubt they too will claim to have God on their ‘side.’ The only difference we can make is in HOW we react to it.  

Trying to appeal to reason will not work. It is not about 'reason' it is emotional, and irrational. It is not about God or religion either. That is just the disguise. None of the religions would condone this.  

I would suggest that we all fight it with really up close observation, right there on the spot, and a collective commentary in the style of the 'contest' as repeated above between the neo Nazi and the Jewish spokesperson. Representatives of all the faiths, especially other Christians since this jerk claims he represents Christian belief, and others from no faith at all, must join together and speak out publicly against ALL 'burnings' of everything; Bibles, Korans, flags, places of worship, cars, buildings  etc. and jointly condemn this sort of thing as hate mongering from ALL points of view. NO 'contest.' 

Go to the event together and talk about the idiocy of it and speak into microphones when you do it; calmly, with no show of anxiety or self righteous indignation. Instead, view it as the mindless stupidity that it IS and exercise YOUR right to free speech by condemning this with words. Then perhaps you could join hands, and form a protective circle of all faith perspectives, while the jackasses burn books like the naughty spiritual children that they are. 

Bear in mind that this is really a symbolic act, designed to get an angry reaction and that the Book is made of paper, and not flesh. It is really about the Spirit of Life and death, War and Peace. The Spirit of true Islam and true Christianity is not gone because some of the Holy Books are burned. Give a collective reaction to it that the hate mongers do not want or expect.

 A suggestion of a means of dealing with this might be like this below 

Softly chant together, but as one voice: 

Universal Spirit of All People (One Spirit of Being with Many Names)

 Please bring to this place today the death of the spirit of Division, War and Hatred and replace it with Collective Understanding.

On this particular day we pray together for the rescue of the spirit of those who would tear humanity apart while falsely claiming that they do so at the direction of the Holy ONE. 

Or simpler may be just to chant: “Death to Division, Death to War, Death to Hatred.  

We must all understand that what we do to one of us, we do to all of us, for in reality, we are all very much connected. Use these mindless events to proclaim that, while the cameras are rolling.