America stuck between freedom and Constitution

It is a one man crusade, but the enormity of Pastor Terry Jones threat to burn the Holy Qur’an translates to what is perhaps the most talked about global issue of the week.

Thank God the pastor appears to have seen reason. According to the BBC, the Saturday planned burning of the Holy Qur’an has been put on hold. Although there appears to be confusion as to the explanation behind the halt, there is reason to believe that the pastor is after all aware of the implication of his threats.

Pastor Terry Jones claims the issue was resolved through private negotiation with a New York Imam, amid talk of repercussions for US troops abroad, a report by the BBC states.

But most importantly, Pastor Jones ill-advised intention is clearer now than it has been.

Rather than merely commemorating the September 11 twin tower bombings, the proposed Qur’an burning was in fact meant as a protest against the controversial decision to build a mosque near Ground Zero in New York.

Notwithstanding the unenviable tension the last few days unleashed, which saw signs of catastrophe in the waiting, in the form of protests around the world, this Qur’an burning saga accentuated a puzzling side of the American Constitution.

It is clear that the cancellation of the burning “was not a result of government intervention. Nor was it the product of a legal challenge, the BBC reported. “In fact, there was little the federal government could do but watch - the US constitution rendered it almost powerless to stop the bonfire.”

Here is what a helpless President Obama told the pastor: “If he is listening, I just hope he understands that what he is proposing to do is completely contrary to our values as Americans, that this country has been built on the notions of religious freedom and religious tolerance…”

The words of the US president couldn’t have been any better demonstrated by Americans who line the entrance of the building housing the Islamic center in New York, holding placards that call for religious freedom. One of them reads “support freedom of religion.” A second one thanks New York Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, a Jew, for supporting the construction of the mosque.

On Wednesday, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton described the pastor’s plan as "regrettable, outrageous, distressful, and disgraceful.”

"It doesn't in any way represent America, or Americans, or the American government, or American religious or political leadership," Mrs Clinton said, adding that the planned act "will have potentially great harm for our troops."

The man in charge of what is the most engaging military spot for the US at present, General David Petraeus, earlier on Tuesday denounced the plans, saying it could "endanger troops" and damage the U.S. war effort in Afghanistan. This statement was to be reechoed by Obama’s rather amusing but blunt warning on Thursday that the plan would be "a recruitment bonanza" for al-Qaeda.

All these statements by the top US officials, while highlighting the thorny nature of the impasse (one man holding the security of the nation at ransom), also demonstrates an enviable side of a country determined to safeguard its inherent values of freedom.

It is gratifying to note that on the other side of the debate, there are well meaning Muslims whom the world could count on for much needed wisdom in such difficult moments.

Dr. Muqtedar Khan, Director of Islamic Studies at the University of Delaware and a Fellow of the Institute of Social Policy and Understanding, wrote a highly admirable article as the world braced up for the inevitable. While condemning the pastor’s act, the article sought to address similar condemnable acts by Muslims which match the Terry Jones idea.

There were a number of similar articles published across the world. Other respectable Muslim elders undertook to write protest letters to the US States Department, calling for action against the pastor and his congregation. All these contrast strongly against pictures of expression of anger by less patient Muslims across the world who vowed to pursue the line of fire for fire.

Across the rest of the world, the Prime Ministers of Indian, UK and Malaysia as well as the President of Nigerian, were among leaders who condemned the plans to burn the Qur’an. This shows that the world is indeed united in its pursuit of peace.