I tend to think of it like American flag burning. I think its a douchey thing to do, but if people are trying to ban it, then I tend to think it needs to be done, to ensure freedom of expression is respected.”

Agreed

That said, given the huge symbolic value the Koran has to Muslims, and the intolerance, and hypersensitivity they have to any perceived slight. It might just be necessary medicine.

I tend to think of it like American flag burning. I think its a douchey thing to do, but if people are trying to ban it, then I tend to think it needs to be done, to ensure freedom of expression is respected.

I’m under no illusions though, freedom of expression is not what Terry Jones is about. If he’s offering to burn a bible too, I might reconsider my low opinion of him. This seems more anti-muslim than pro-freedom.

In a perfect world, the organisers of the “round-table discussion and possible protest” would invite not only Terry Jones the Koran-burning pastor, but also Terry Jones from Monty Python. I’m sure the two of them could have a wonderfully surreal conversation. Be that as it may, I think either Terry Jones ought to be allowed to come and go from Canada freely, and I have a little more sympathy for the whole idea of Koran-burning than most atheists seem to. It’s a dramatic and hostile gesture of repudiation, but sometimes those are warranted.