# 8 UN workers killed, as Afghans protest US pastor's Quran-burning - Hope Pastor Jones is happy now **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 1, 2011, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-un-workers-killed-as-afghans-protest-us-pastors-quran-burning-hope-pastor-jones-is-happy-now/576809 "2011-04-01T16:08:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-un-workers-killed-as-afghans-protest-us-pastors-quran-burning-hope-pastor-jones-is-happy-now/576809/1 "2011-04-01T16:08:44Z")
God, what a waste of human life. [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42376051/ns/world\_news-south\_and\_central\_asia/](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42376051/ns/world_news-south_and_central_asia/) > [@](#): > > KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghan officials say eight people were killed at a United Nations office in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif when a protest turned violent in response to a reported Quran-burning in the United States. At least two of those killed were beheaded, Reuters reported. > > Demonstrators stormed the office Friday, opening fire on guards and setting fires inside the compound after news reports that a Florida pastor burned a copy of the Muslim holy book on Sunday, March 20. > > The burning reportedly happened at the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Fla., according to USA Today. The incident was said to have occurred at a mock trial overseen by controversial pastor Terry Jones, who last year halted plans to burn a Quran on the anniversary of Sept. 11. That proposal sparked protests and condemnation around the Muslim world. > > Jones said about 30 people attended the mock trial, held as part of the “International Judge the Quran Day.” He denied breaking earlier promises not to burn a Quran. > > Munir Ahmad Farhad, a spokesman in Balkh province, said the protest in Mazar-i-Sharif began peacefully when several hundred demonstrators gathered outside the U.N. mission’s compound to denounce the Quran’s destruction. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-un-workers-killed-as-afghans-protest-us-pastors-quran-burning-hope-pastor-jones-is-happy-now/576809/2 "2011-04-01T16:14:32Z")
It was conclusively established last year that Jones is a publicity-whoring asshole. Of course it’s also true that if you go nuts and kill a bunch of people just because someone else supposedly burned a book, you’re an asshole with no sense of perspective AND a murderer. Plenty of condemnation to go around here. ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-un-workers-killed-as-afghans-protest-us-pastors-quran-burning-hope-pastor-jones-is-happy-now/576809/3 "2011-04-01T17:46:32Z")
And another Norwegian name gets quietly penned into the book of the fallen. For this. For fuck’s sake. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-un-workers-killed-as-afghans-protest-us-pastors-quran-burning-hope-pastor-jones-is-happy-now/576809/4 "2011-04-01T17:50:30Z")
Ohhh, tempted to try to hijack this thread, but I see that Marley23 is already here to nip it in the bud. But seriously, over a book? ---
**Author:** ![Shmendrik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shmendrik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shmendrik)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-un-workers-killed-as-afghans-protest-us-pastors-quran-burning-hope-pastor-jones-is-happy-now/576809/5 "2011-04-01T18:01:18Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > Ohhh, tempted to try to hijack this thread, but I see that Marley23 is already here to nip it in the bud. > But seriously, over a book? The only thing worse than someone who pokes a sharp stick at a mad dog is someone who acts like a mad dog. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-un-workers-killed-as-afghans-protest-us-pastors-quran-burning-hope-pastor-jones-is-happy-now/576809/6 "2011-04-01T18:02:16Z")
I have a weensy suspicion that if a radical atheist burned a Bible, and fundementalist Christians in the American South rioted in protest and killed eight people, that the condemnation on this Board who be tilted pretty heavily toward the latter. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-un-workers-killed-as-afghans-protest-us-pastors-quran-burning-hope-pastor-jones-is-happy-now/576809/7 "2011-04-01T18:14:18Z")
[Pastor Jones isn’t taking it too hard.](http://www.gainesville.com/article/20110401/ARTICLES/110409974) ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-un-workers-killed-as-afghans-protest-us-pastors-quran-burning-hope-pastor-jones-is-happy-now/576809/8 "2011-04-01T18:15:48Z")
> [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#): > > I have a weensy suspicion that if a radical atheist burned a Bible, and fundementalist Christians in the American South rioted in protest and killed eight people, that the condemnation on this Board who be tilted pretty heavily toward the latter. Because those contexts are so very similar. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-un-workers-killed-as-afghans-protest-us-pastors-quran-burning-hope-pastor-jones-is-happy-now/576809/9 "2011-04-01T18:17:43Z")
Keerap, now they’re saying up to 20 killed. I wonder if those murdered had any idea what had precipitated the violence, what they were being blamed for. ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-un-workers-killed-as-afghans-protest-us-pastors-quran-burning-hope-pastor-jones-is-happy-now/576809/10 "2011-04-01T18:19:26Z")
And two were allegedly decapitated. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-un-workers-killed-as-afghans-protest-us-pastors-quran-burning-hope-pastor-jones-is-happy-now/576809/11 "2011-04-01T18:20:06Z")
> [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#): > > I have a weensy suspicion that if a radical atheist burned a Bible, and fundementalist Christians in the American South rioted in protest and killed eight people, that the condemnation on this Board who be tilted pretty heavily toward the latter. Yup, no condemnation in here for the rioters. None whatsoever. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-un-workers-killed-as-afghans-protest-us-pastors-quran-burning-hope-pastor-jones-is-happy-now/576809/12 "2011-04-01T18:22:07Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Because those contexts are so very similar. It shouldn’t surprise you that the context is different—it’s an _analogy_. And an apt one, at that. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-un-workers-killed-as-afghans-protest-us-pastors-quran-burning-hope-pastor-jones-is-happy-now/576809/13 "2011-04-01T18:24:10Z")
How is Jones responsible for the criminal actions of third parties on the other side of the world? Burning a Quran is tacky, but it is also protected activity under the First Amendment. The notion that free expression in this country should be stifled because of radical groups elsewhere is absurd. The fault here lies entirely on the criminals that murdered innocent people. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-un-workers-killed-as-afghans-protest-us-pastors-quran-burning-hope-pastor-jones-is-happy-now/576809/14 "2011-04-01T18:29:22Z")
People are responsible for their own actions. That pastor didn’t kill anybody. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-un-workers-killed-as-afghans-protest-us-pastors-quran-burning-hope-pastor-jones-is-happy-now/576809/15 "2011-04-01T18:35:15Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > How is Jones responsible for the criminal actions of third parties on the other side of the world? > > Burning a Quran is tacky, but it is also protected activity under the First Amendment. The notion that free expression in this country should be stifled because of radical groups elsewhere is absurd. The fault here lies entirely on the criminals that murdered innocent people. Pastor Jones is a giant dick, but I agree fully with what you said. These folks are murderers and deserve condemnation of the highest order. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-un-workers-killed-as-afghans-protest-us-pastors-quran-burning-hope-pastor-jones-is-happy-now/576809/16 "2011-04-01T18:40:28Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > It was conclusively established last year that Jones is a publicity-whoring asshole. Of course it’s also true that if you go nuts and kill a bunch of people just because someone else supposedly burned a book, you’re an asshole with no sense of perspective AND a murderer. Plenty of condemnation to go around here. All very true. > [@Oakminster](#): > > How is Jones responsible for the criminal actions of third parties on the other side of the world? > > Burning a Quran is tacky, but it is also protected activity under the First Amendment. The notion that free expression in this country should be stifled because of radical groups elsewhere is absurd. He was deliberately provocative. Maybe he didn’t “want” people to be killed in response to his actions, but he knew perfectly well they might be, and yet he went ahead with his protected free expression _to no other end_. I defend Jones’ First Amendment rights. If he were, say, imprisoned for his hateful and inflammatory expression, I would protest for his release. I suggest rather that Jones should have had the decency and prudence to restrain himself. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-un-workers-killed-as-afghans-protest-us-pastors-quran-burning-hope-pastor-jones-is-happy-now/576809/17 "2011-04-01T18:42:54Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > The notion that free expression in this country should be stifled because of radical groups elsewhere is absurd. Who has said that free speech should be stifled? ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-un-workers-killed-as-afghans-protest-us-pastors-quran-burning-hope-pastor-jones-is-happy-now/576809/18 "2011-04-01T18:53:20Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > I suggest rather that Jones should have had the decency and prudence to restrain himself. Why? He’s not breaking any laws. He’s expressing a political and/or religious opinion, as he has every right to do. There is no reason he should restrain himself to pacify some radicals on the other side of the planet. On the other hand, the criminals should have restrained themselves from committing mass murder and mob violence over some perceived insult to their religion. Jones did not violate anyone’s rights. The criminals violated their victims rights…by killing them. They could have protested in any lawful way…burn Jones in effigy…hell…burn a picture of John Wayne if they want. Send a nasty letter to the editor of the local newspaper. Draw cartoons of Jones burning in Hell. Something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Omegaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e480ec/32.png) [@Omegaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omegaman)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-un-workers-killed-as-afghans-protest-us-pastors-quran-burning-hope-pastor-jones-is-happy-now/576809/19 "2011-04-01T18:57:07Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > People are responsible for their own actions. That pastor didn’t kill anybody. He may not have done it by his own hand, but he’s still a Fucking Asshole. You would think he would take history into account before doing something so juvenile and petty. Fine example of a Christian. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-un-workers-killed-as-afghans-protest-us-pastors-quran-burning-hope-pastor-jones-is-happy-now/576809/20 "2011-04-01T19:01:56Z")
> [@Omegaman](#): > > Fine example of a Christian. Yes, and an equally fine example of third world muslims. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-un-workers-killed-as-afghans-protest-us-pastors-quran-burning-hope-pastor-jones-is-happy-now/576809.md?page=2)