An invitation to a fatwa...
Artist, atheist and gay activist Charles Merrill enjoys a moment of peace in Venice.
Charles Merrill, the extravagant artist and gay rights activist, burned a $60,000 copy of the Koran to protest Islam's stance on gay rights.
Via ROP and PR Newswire:
Charles Merrill, the artist who recently edited the Holy Bible with a black marker and pair of scissors, has lately burned a rare Islamic Holy Book, The Koran, valued at $60,000.00, in an undisclosed Chicago location. "The purpose of editing and burning Abrahamic Holy Books is to eliminate homophobic hate," Merrill stated. "Both ancient books are terrorist manuals."I'm guessing this was not one of Mr. Merrill's smartest moves... Historically, the reaction from burning a Bible is not exactly the same reaction one receives when one burns a Koran.
He continues, "I inherited the rare Islamic book from my late wife, Evangeline Johnson Merrill. As the daughter of the founder of the international pharmaceutical giant, Johnson and Johnson, Inc., doors of kings and queens opened to her around the world. Evangeline was given the rare manuscript by the late King of Jordan when she was on a mission for the United Nations in the 1950's."
"Airplanes are flown into buildings because of words, and hate crimes against gays," Merrill said.
Related... Man arrested for flushing Koran--- in New York!
Let's see.....atheist....gay activist...."late wife." Now THAT sounds like a marriage made in Heaven (oops). Merrill is quite correct to avoid the koran. Afterall, the islamo-fascists want him and every other gay dead. And atheists. And everyone non-muslim who won't submit. Allegedly burning a particularly "expensive" volume of a particularly vile document is, however, a typically liberal "statement." It has no value. Will the jihadists fear him? Will I care what some wealthy "artist" in the EU thinks about politics? Will I care about the religious views of an atheist? NO..no..and no. If gays, as a group, rise up and condemn the jihadists, condemn hamas, hesbollah, fatah, al qaida, wahaabism, and the pure evil they represent, and join in the actual world-wide fight against islamo-fascism, then I will applaud. Merrill's denounciation of the koran, while equating it with the Bible, is empty and self-aggrandizing.
ReplyDeletethe artist who recently edited the Holy Bible with a black marker and pair of scissors...
ReplyDelete...which surely led to Christian riots around the world and a bounty being placed on his head by Pat Robertson, right?
I give him credit. That took some intestinal fortitude. If just about everyone would go out, buy a koran and burn it, the world might be better off.
ReplyDeleteNot that I'm ragging the koran but even islamists have to get tired of having to try and kill everyone.
He destroyed the bible in public but burnt the Koran in private. Nuff said.
ReplyDeleteI would say he's fatwa worthy now...
ReplyDeleteabsurd thought -
God of the Universe says
never BURN holy books...
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"not one of Mr. Merrill's smartest moves"
ReplyDeleteIf Mr. Merrill wanted to make a statement, why couldn't he have done so with an $25 koran purchased at Barnes & Noble?
From the price ($60,000) and description, it is certain that the koran he burned was a work of art, like the calligraphed and illuminated bibles that you can find in art museums. You can find some examples here and here and here.
I have no affection for Islam, for reasons that regular readers of this blog are very familiar with, but to destroy an historical artifact and work of art is the act of an arrogant vandal.
"to destroy an historical artifact and work of art is the act of an arrogant vandal"...
ReplyDeleteYou mean followers of the pedophile prophet are capable of producing art?!?!
Who knew?...LOL!
Damned shame Merrill didn't do that little black book burning at the mosque of the golden dome and burn down that monument to murder also...
If gays, as a group, rise up and condemn the jihadists, condemn hamas, hesbollah, fatah, al qaida, wahaabism, and the pure evil they represent, and join in the actual world-wide fight against islamo-fascism, then I will applaud.
ReplyDeleteApparently liberals ain't the only ones who engage in "group identity politics". I've alway thought that conservatism stood more for individuals rather than the "groupthink" mentality of the Left. Perhaps I was wrong. Nevertheless, I've never heard of this Merrill guy before and have no problem condemning such pure evil. Guess what? My being gay hasn't a bloody thing to do with it either.
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ReplyDeletepst314 @ 4:22 PM
i believe that's exactly what Militant Islamists (ie: AQ) do.. destroy religious artifacts (ie: the Buddha Statues)..
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ReplyDeleteAnonymous @ 8:03 AM
i tend to agree in regards to a "fight fire with fire" theory.. as i can't even imagine how many Bible's & other religious books & artifacts many Muslim Leaders have burned.. but only symbolically, not literally.. ie: if he had bought a cheap copy & burned it (which is probably what he did), that's one thing.. even burning a Koran supposedly worth $60,000 may or may not be a big deal on it's own.. however, coupled with the fact that it was a "rare manuscript", as well as a "gift from the late King of Jordan".. well imho, that is an underlying statement which amounts to much more than symbolism (more or less on par with what AQ / Taliban did to the statues).. aah, we shall see (and just in case he needs one, i'm certain the ACLU is working on his defense as i type, most likely voluntarily to boot)..
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ReplyDeleteas for this poor guy.. i'm sure the ACLU is just as eager to throw the book at him along with their despicable CAIR cohorts.. oh the irony, go Zudhi!! :)
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Isn't amazing just how intolerant those who demand tolerance out of others are? This joker, Rosie O'Doughnut, Andrew Sullivan are all hate filled, intolerant arseholios. They are also all LLL's. They and the Islamofascists have alot in common come to think about it...
ReplyDeleteMemo to "Mr. Merrill":
The Golden Rule-google it!
Oops, that might "offend" Mr. Merrill because The Golden Rule can be construed to be an artifact of various major non Islamic religions.
bg, you'll get no argument from me, but instead heatfelt agreement. Muslims have been doing it practically that since Mohammed excreted his first sura, and they have not yet abandoned such barbarism
ReplyDeleteWhich reminds me: I was just reading about incidents of muslim-on-infidel violence on Bruce Bawer's blog, which got me thinking (as I have many times before): If Islam were a peaceful and tolerant religion, and the problem were one of extremist Christians or Jews violently attacking Muslims, then you can rest assured that the rest of the Christian and Jewish community would spontaneously organize to protect Muslims and to suppress the thugs. But do Muslims rally to protect Christians and Jews, and to suppress those who advocate violence against "infidels"? Nope. They'd rather whine about islamo-phobia.
Well you know folks there are a couple of problems here assuming you believe what Merrill has to say and bear noted it also...
ReplyDelete"I inherited the rare Islamic book from my late wife, Evangeline Johnson Merrill"
I wonder if his wife would've cared that he was making a statement with a copy of the pedophile prophets hate manual ?
So if the book was Merrill's property regardless of its alledge artistic value, its also his to deface and debase if he so choses...
So what's the problem?
If those here who have a problem with this moron burning a book maybe then you all should've made the dude an offer for it...
webstar does nail an important aspect though regarding the public defacing of a bible but a private cremation of a koran...
In typical libtard fashion Merrill exhibited the sniveling cowardice I've come to expect from the lot of them...
Now I would've been applauding the clown if he'd publically burned that bible and that koran side by side in Riyadh at high noon during prayers...LOL!
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ReplyDeletejuandos @ 6:36 PM
while i totally get & understand where you're coming from, and while i unfortunately agree it may be the bottom line, i must admit i do not know for certain.. i still believe it was wrong of him to destroy such an artifact.. especially in today's climate.. let him burn 100, 1,000, a million, etc Korans to make his point, not a big deal imho.. but a rare manuscript + it being a gift from a Jordanian King most assuredly complicates the matter.. whether or not he has the 'right to' is way too simplistic in this case (as it would be in any similar case)..
what if he inherited an early edition of the New Testament written in Greek via a gift from Grecian Royalty, or maybe a gift of a dead sea scoll or two from an Israeli Scholar, or perhaps a rare manuscript / letter written by Gandhi.. and he burned one of them in protest of Greek, Jewish, or Indian beliefs for whatever reason suited him.. would that be okay, i don't believe so..
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Hey bg your comment: "what if he inherited an early edition of the New Testament written in Greek via a gift from Grecian Royalty, or maybe a gift of a dead sea scoll or two from an Israeli Scholar, or perhaps a rare manuscript / letter written by Gandhi.. and he burned one of them in protest of Greek, Jewish, or Indian beliefs for whatever reason suited him"
ReplyDeleteWell madam sad as it is, if this clown had access to any of those things or the things he defaced and or burned and these samethings are literally his personal property they are his do what he will with...
Do I agree with this clown's actions or their intended statements? NO! Hell no, in no damn way!
I personally have a serious maybe excessively serious reverance for books since its been the only practical way for many centuries now for people to put into practical form their observations, their feelings, and all the other information we've been taking for granted...
BTW that reminds me, I'm reading Mark Steyn's America Alone right now and though I'm not quite as pessimestic as Steyn is about our (as in United States) collective future yet its still an excellent read...
One more nugget I forgot to add courtesy of those fine folks at Little Green Footballs: Outrage of the Week: Arrested for Desecrating a Koran
ReplyDelete"It's now officially a mindcrime in the United States to violate Islamic law. At Pace University, a man has been arrested and will face "hate crime" charges for throwing a Koran into a toilet, after the university caved in to demands from Muslim students: Hate-crime arrests in Quran desecrations at Pace University."...
Muslim activists had called on Pace University to crack down on hate crimes after the incidents. As a result, the university said it would offer sensitivity training to its students
Ahhh yes, dhimmi_tude at our publically funded universities...
I can see cracking down on Shmulevich for vandalism regarding books in toilets, but hate crimes!?!?!
When is this sort of cowardice going to be unexceptable?
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ReplyDeletethanks juandos..
and an obvious unasked question.. why is the flusher under arrest and the book burner not??
one is being crucified, whilst the other is more or less living it up unscathed & praised..
btw..
["I inherited the rare Islamic book from my late wife, Evangeline Johnson Merrill. As the daughter of the founder of the international pharmaceutical giant, Johnson and Johnson, Inc., doors of kings and queens opened to her around the world. Evangeline was given the rare manuscript by the late King of Jordan when she was on a mission for the United Nations in the 1950's."]
[Merrill is a self-made millionaire, artist, fervent atheist and cousin of the co-founder of Merrill Lynch.]
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ReplyDeletepst314 @ 6:22 PM.. re:
[If Islam were a peaceful and tolerant religion, and the problem were one of extremist Christians or Jews violently attacking Muslims, then you can rest assured that the rest of the Christian and Jewish community would spontaneously organize to protect Muslims and to suppress the thugs.]
yes, and VOCIFEROUSLY CONDEMN them as well (believe you meant that too.. ;)
pst314 @ 6:22 PM.. re:
[But do Muslims rally to protect Christians and Jews, and to suppress those who advocate violence against "infidels"? Nope. They'd rather whine about islamo-phobia.]
there are several, but here's one outstanding American Muslim who is ralying full steam ahead for Americans/Muslims vs Militant Islamists / CAIR etc..
AIFD : Dr. M. Zudhi Jasser
example:
Accommodation as an Islamist Political Instrument
excerpt:
[The Establishment Clause of our Constitution and the pluralism upon which our nation is based carries with it principles which should always be remembered. Our freedom to practice our personal faith should never be denied. And the courts have repeatedly endorsed this as a right guaranteed by our First Amendment rights to free speech and religious practice.
However, once that right begins to impose a cost, whether financial or experiential, upon another citizen, that right ends. For with that cost, it becomes an imposition - a coercive force. A political force — in this case, Islamism.]
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I'm no big fan of gay rights activists, but there are groups working to secure gay rights in Muslim countries. I wonder what they could have done with $60K.
ReplyDeletepst314 brings up an excellent point: "But do Muslims rally to protect Christians and Jews, and to suppress those who advocate violence against "infidels"? Nope. They'd rather whine about islamo-phobia."...
ReplyDeleteHeck! Sometimes it seems that muslims don't want attempt to suppress muslim on muslim violance let alone worrying about victims of said muslim violence from other religions...
Hey bg, thanks for the link to Family Security and particularly for that Zuhdi Jasser commentary... It shows that at least a few are trying...
We know we can't depend on the UN to intercede properly as Thomas Melia of Freedom House noted before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations...
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ReplyDeleteyou're welcome & and thank you for the link on the UNdone, i'm sure Hillary has plans to dominate it's future course (afterall, she has mystical communcations with Eleanor herself).. gah!!
seriously though, i have yet to read a 'good report' on the UN for the past decade or so.. *sigh*
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ReplyDeleteduh!! :D
bg @ 1:28 PM
was in response to..
juandos @ 11:10 AM
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ReplyDeleteokay, i might be one of a very few who cannot stand O'Reilly.. he's the reason i cancelled my cable news a few years back.. but i did listen to his radio factor from time to time.. until a couple of weeks ago when he more or less echoed Harry Reid's "the war in Iraq is lost".. then i swore off listening to the radio factor.. but today, i inadvertently turned on my radio w/o checking the time, and there's O'Reilly defending the HATE CRIME CHARGE against the FLUSHER saying "i look out for you, i also look out for the most vulnerable amonsgt us".. shutting my radio off now, just thought i'd let you know..
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ReplyDeletedamn!! i didn't turn O'Reilly off fast enough.. now he's accusing the FLUSHER of deliberately committing an act TERRORISM.. gah!!
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The Quran(Koran) Concerning other monotheist faiths:
ReplyDeleteNot all of them are alike; a party of the people of the Scripture stand for the right, they recite the Verses of God during the hours of the night, prostrating themselves in prayer. They believe in God and the Last Day; they enjoin good and forbid wrong; and they hasten in good works; and they are among the righteous. And whatever good they do, nothing will be rejected of them; for God knows well those who are God fearing. 3:113-115
And there are, certainly, among the people of the Scripture, those who believe in God and in that which has been revealed to you, and in that which has been revealed to them, humbling themselves before God. They do not sell the Verses of God for a little price, for them is a reward with their Lord. Surely, God is Swift in account. 3:199
Verily! Those who believe and those who are Jews and Christians, and Sabians, whoever believes in God and the Last Day and do righteous good deeds shall have their reward with their Lord, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve . 2:62
Say: "O people of the Scripture : Come to a word that is just between us and you, that we worship none but God, and that we associate no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides God. 3:64
And they say: "None shall enter Paradise unless he be a Jew or a Christian." Those are their (vain) desires. Say: "Produce your proof if ye are truthful."Nay,-whoever submits His whole self to God and is a doer of good,- He will get his reward with his Lord; on such shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. The Jews say: "The Christians have naught (to stand) upon; and the Christians say: "The Jews have naught (To stand) upon." Yet they study the (same) Book. Like unto their word is what those say who know not; but God will judge between them in their quarrel on the Day of Judgment. 2.111-113
If any do deeds of righteousness,- be they male or female - and have faith, they will enter Heaven, and not the least injustice will be done to them 4.124
The Quran(Koran) Concerning who we fight or don't:
As for such who do not fight you on account of faith, or drive you forth from your homelands, God does not forbid you to show them kindness and to deal with them with equity, for God loves those who act equitably. God only forbids you to turn in friendship towards such as fight against you because of faith and drive you forth from your homelands or aid in driving you forth. As for those from among you who turn towards them for alliance, it is they who are wrongdoers. 60:8-9
Permission (to fight) is given to those against whom war is being wrongfully waged, and verily, God has indeed the power to aid them. Those who have been driven from their homelands in defiance of right for no other reason than their saying, ‘Our Lord is God.’ 22:39-40
The Quran(Koran) Concerning freedom:
2:256 There is no compulsion in religion, for the right way is clearly from the wrong way. Whoever therefore rejects the forces of evil and believes in God, he has taken hold of a support most unfailing, which shall never give way, for God is All Hearing and Knowing.
16:82 But if they turn away from you, your only duty is a clear delivery of the Message .
6:107 Yet if God had so willed, they would not have ascribed Divinity to aught besides Him; hence, We have not made you their keeper, nor are you a guardian over them.
4:79-80 Say:'Whatever good betides you is from God and whatever evil betides you is from your own self and that We have sent you to mankind only as a messenger and all sufficing is God as witness. Whoso obeys the Messenger, he indeed obeys God. And for those who turn away, We have not sent you as a keeper."
11:28 He (Noah) said "O my people! think over it! If I act upon a clear direction from my Lord who has bestowed on me from Himself the Merciful talent of seeing the right way, a way which you cannot see for yourself, does it follow that we can force you to take the right path when you definitely decline to take it?°
17:53-54 And tell my servants that they should speak in a most kindly manner. Verily, Satan is always ready to stir up discord between men; for verily; Satan is mans foe .... Hence, We have not sent you with power to determine their Faith.
21:107-109 (O Prophet?) 'We have not sent you except to be a mercy to all mankind:" Declare, "Verily, what is revealed to me is this, your God is the only One God, so is it not up to you to bow down to Him?' But if they turn away then say, "I have delivered the Truth in a manner clear to one and all, and I know not whether the promised hour is near or far."
22:67 To every people have We appointed ceremonial rites which they observe; therefore, let them not wrangle over this matter with you, but bid them to turn to your Lord. You indeed are rightly guided. But if they still dispute you in this matter, `God best knows what you do."
24.54. Say: "Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger. but if ye turn away, he is only responsible for the duty placed on him and ye for that placed on you. If ye obey him, ye shall be on right guidance. The Messenger's duty is only to preach the clear (Message).
88:21 22; And so, exhort them your task is only to exhort; you cannot compel them to believe.
48:28 He it is Who has sent forth His Messenger with the Guidance and the Religion of Truth, to the end that tie make it prevail over every religion, and none can bear witness to the Truth as God does.
36:16 17 (Three Messengers to their people) Said, "Our Sustainer knows that we have indeed been sent unto you, but we are not bound to more than clearly deliver the Message entrusted to us.'
39:41 Assuredly, We have sent down the Book to you in right form for the good of man. Whoso guided himself by it does so to his own advantage, and whoso turns away from it does so at his own loss. You certainly are not their keeper.
42:6 48 And whoso takes for patrons others besides God, over them does God keep a watch. Mark, you are not a keeper over them. But if they turn aside from you (do not get disheartened), for We have not sent you to be a keeper over them; your task is but to preach ....
64:12 Obey God then and obey the Messenger, but if you turn away (no blame shall attach to our Messenger), for the duty of Our Messenger is just to deliver the message.
67:25 26 And they ask, "When shall the promise be fulfilled if you speak the Truth?" Say, "The knowledge of it is verily with God alone, and verily I am but a plain warner."
The Quran(Koran) concerning justice:
"And among His signs are the creation of the heaven and earth, and the variation in your language and your colors; verily in that are signs for those who know" (30:22).
"Satan seeks only to cast among you enmity and hate"(5:91).
O you who believe! Stand out for justice, as witnesses to God, and even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be rich or poor. An-Nisaa’ 4:134
"O you who believe! Be the maintainers of justice and bearers of witness for God's sake though it be against your own self, parents and relatives" (4:135).
"O you mankind! We have created you from a single pair of male and female and made you into nations and tribes so that you know each other. Verily the most honored in the sight of God is the one who is most righteous" (49:13).
O you who believe! Stand out firmly for God, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to piety and fear God, for God is well acquainted with all that you do. 5:8
And thus We made of you a justly balanced community that you might bear witness to humankind and the Apostle might bear witness over you. 2:143
The believers are nothing else other than brothers, Thus make peace between your brethren and observe your duty to God that you may haply receive His mercy (49: 1 0).
O you who believe! If a rebellious evil person comes to you with a news, verify it, lest you harm people in ignorance, and afterwards you become regretful to what you have done. 49.6
O you who believe! Avoid much suspicions, indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it . And fear God. Verily, God is the One Who accepts repentance, Most Merciful. 49.12
O you who believe, observe your duty to God with right observance, and die not except in a state of submission (to Him). And hold fast, all of you together, to the rope of God, and do not separate, and remember God's favor unto you: how you were enemies and He put love between your hearts so that you became as brothers by His grace: and how you were upon the brink of a fire and He saved you from it. Thus God makes clear His revelations unto you so that you may be guided" (3:102-103).
Islam is peace!