About an hour down the highway from me, folks are threatening to have a Qur'an burning this weekend.

A small church in Gainesville, Fla., is declaring that on Sept. 11 members will burn the most holy book of the Muslim faith, and folks around the world are all stirred up.

From the Pope to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the proposed Qur'an-burning is being soundly condemned. This act, it is being said, will likely bring harm to the U.S. and its allied mission in Iraq and Afghanistan and may cause Muslim violence towards our troops and in our country.

I can certainly see how radical Muslims may use this as an excuse to bring harm to U.S. citizens -- but only if they are looking for an excuse.

My husband pointed out that it is legal for the burning to take place. My answer is that it’s also legal for Barbara Bush to wear a mini-skirt, but it wouldn’t be pretty.

The American Constitution grants each of us the right to burn our bras, our flag and even our Bibles. These small town and small-minded Americans are simply exercising that rights.

I believe the exercise of that right does not lie in wisdom. The pastor says the burning will go on unless he hears from God that he shouldn't proceed.

Well pastor, God has already spoken on this issue. God has called all Christians to win others to Him. We are called to be "fishers of men." Not haters. Not Burners. Not disrespectors.

Every good fisherman knows that the surest way to catch a fish is by baiting the hook with something nice and tasty. I have never once seen a fisherman take a bucket of fire to a fishing hole.

If we are going to hate others, let's just stop cloaking it in religion. Religion didn't cause the murder of innocent Americans on Sept. 11, and if Qur'ans are burned this weekend, it will not be directed by the God I serve.

In the end, I say, the Qur'an is, like the Bible, a book made of paper and produced on a machine. The words of God are to be "hidden in our hearts." No man can take that away.
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D. Barbara McWhite grew up in York County, S.C., and lives in Orange Park, Fla., with her husband and cat.
 

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