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... are there no laws, state or federal, which can prevent this??

Why should there be any law against a private moronic action that doesn't (shouldn't) harm anybody?
I possess a Koran and a Bible (and other "holy" stuff) and do not have any intention to burn them. But if I should have that intention, nobody has the right or the duty to hinder me.
What's really annoying in this case, is not the acting of an egotistic preacher of hate, but the fuss the media creates around it. In fact, this action is completely irrelevant and nobody has any need to know about that crap. Only if a state or government acts in a similar way (lots of them silently do), then, yes, it is of relevance.
That preacher might be the one with the matches, the media deliver the gasoline.

Personally, I think it's a ploy by him to bring Islam back into a bad light by inciting radicals to come forward that already exist, but have been kept out of the limelight by American Idol or Keeping up with the Kardashians.

That guy lived from 1982 to 2008 in Cologne, proselytized there and built a sect with the typical "are you for or against us?"- attitude. He went back to the States after trouble in his community occured and he allegedly did a grip into the community's cash box.
And finally the holy man has gotten, what he was desparetely seaking for: global attention.
Good ploy.

Odd as it sounds, Id bet that there are few, if any, Muslims around the world who had no plans to attack Americans but will now make some because of this guy.

Let him do what he wants.  The crazy ones are those giving him attention.

Clancy,

You were joking or making this point for effect, weren't you?

To suggest because this idiot wants to commit this heinous act so now Muslims everywhere believe all Americans are exactly like him is like saying all Americans think all Muslims are extreme terrorists because of 9/11.

Certainly we fall into this trap when we use generalities.

But, I think I know what your point is...  You were throwing that out there to condemn the general act of the pastor.

ztnm

Tschüss
Sebunshu

Remember, the media is run by Journalism majors.

Yes, he has every Federally protected right to do this.  Retaliation becomes illegal.  Local government might fine him for setting an unpermitted fire, depending on local ordinance, but this is protected.  It's only on race that the government gets very cautious, because of the guilty feelings of our populace.  As far as religion, the LAST thing I would want if I was religious would be our government wanted to endorse mine or any other creed.  Let people practice as they may, I don't trust the government to do anything well, or even well intentioned.

Personally, I think it's a ploy by him to bring Islam back into a bad light by inciting radicals to come forward that already exist, but have been kept out of the limelight by American Idol or Keeping up with the Kardashians.

Odd as it sounds, Id bet that there are few, if any, Muslims around the world who had no plans to attack Americans but will now make some because of this guy.

Let him do what he wants.  The crazy ones are those giving him attention.

I heard he had his request to have a bonfire rejected, but he plans to pay the fine instead.

I'm in

Alas, for incitement, you have to be pushing them to hate, not making them hate you (and others like you).

The freedom of expression is taken very broadly in the US.
Now, in theory, if someone gets killed or injured by others who were incited by this burning, they could sue the pastor, but I wouldn't put good odds on them winning either...


For Ronnie, sure, except burning a Qu'ran isn't actually discriminatory.  Inflammatory, sure.  Discriminatory, not so much.
Now, if the church did not allow a muslim to enter the building, that might be an issue....

[to secure the state against domestic strife and unrest, to preserve the public safety, health, and general welfare, and to promote the interests, rights, and privileges of individuals within the state.]

No Federal laws Simon. From what I understand, the Constitution doesn't allow the Federal Government any say in religious disputes.

The state of Florida does have this though......................
(2)  The general purposes of the Florida Civil Rights Act of 1992 are to secure for all individuals within the state freedom from discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, handicap, or marital status and thereby to protect their interest in personal dignity, to make available to the state their full productive capacities, to secure the state against domestic strife and unrest, to preserve the public safety, health, and general welfare, and to promote the interests, rights, and privileges of individuals within the state.

I was just reading about that nutjob pastor in Florida (??) who is planning to burn a bunch of Korans on Sept 11th. I have a question for the American forum members: are there no laws, state or federal, which can prevent this?? He has freedom of expression of course but this action demonstrably puts the lives of US citizens at risk. Don't you have incitement of hatred laws?

Cheers!

PS. The name of his church is good: Dove world outreach centre or something like that!!

A reminder to those of you who haven't entered you Bench Sumo lineups.  You have 24.5 hours left.
Just make any entry, you can still change it until 2pm JST on Sunday.

The BS banzuke link doesn't work, so I can't tell you who the slackers are...