Jesus would wear a .40 caliber pistol, too

Terry Jones, a dumbass evangelical with about 50 followers, has incited riots a world away by hosting a Quran burning party on September 11. While Jones is exercising his free speech, he's not exercising an ounce of dignity.

Says General Petraeus from Afghanistan: "images of the burning of a Quran would undoubtedly be used by extremists in Afghanistan--and around the world--to inflame public opinion and incite violence."

Responds Terry Jones through the Associated Press: "maybe instead of addressing us, we should address radical Islam and send a very clear warning that they are not to retaliate in any form."

This is a bit like a bull fighter daring a bull to attack and then punishing him for doing so. Extremism doesn't abide by logic, so pissing off extremists, while Mr. Jones' right, doesn't make it logical or safe.

It's important to note that many in predominately Muslim middle eastern countries love to burn them some stuff, whether it's the American flag, effigies of Jones/Bush/troops, etc, and that there certainly is a double standard when it comes to burning things. That said, the Quran is a holy text, and the word Allah itself is revered as holy. It's kind of like burning a cross, which is also a person's right, but also disrespectful and stupid.

America has responded to Jones in kind. The man has received 100+ death threats since he made the announcement. The priest now carries a .40 caliber pistol on his hip, after all, that's what Jesus would do.

Inside the nation's borders, we have the rare ability to distinguish one man's acts from the acts of an entire nation. That's part of being in a free country. However, the angry mob that coalesced around the US Embassy in Jakarta and promised violence if Jones goes through with it, probably doesn't differentiate as well.