MSD

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/Midwest/0...ok.burning.ap/
I think my thread title sums up my opinion of this. Our society should be beyond this kind of crap. This kind of crap will reinforce the narrow-minded world views of some, but turn public opinion against these people. Then again, I would say that driving people away from archaic beliefs and toward logic and rational though is a good thing.

sadatx

Whatever, if they want to get all biblical (at least their version of biblical) and burn things symbolically or not then have at it. As long as they don't physically try and stop me from reading what I choose to read.

I guess I'm just apathetic about it because I don't live in Cedar Rapids. Maybe if it was happening in a church in my neighborhood I'd get pissed. Aw apathy, sweet sweet apathy.

erion

You know what always makes me laugh when I hear about this kind of thing -- unless the stuff being burned is stolen, the companies that manufactured them really don't give rat's ass that you're burning their products. They've been paid long ago.

Oh, and they should feel free to burn CD's and full-color books and magazines. maybe the toxic chemicals and fumes that get released will burn out what's left of their tiny little brains.

ARTelevision

They have the "right" to burn stuff as a form of protected speech - but they don't have the "right" to violate fire ordinances.

I like the stalemate, myself.

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wonderwench

Funny enough, the Burning Man Festival makes a huge event out of such a ceremony, but for a different set of values.

I see nothing wrong with either one, as long as those responsible clean up the mess afterwards and comply with local ordinances.

Bobaphat

I support their right to destroy these items for a number of reasons. 1) in order for them to burn or detroy these items, somebody had to have bought them first, and therefore, they are supporting the very things that they are protesting against (which I think is pretty funny, personally) 2) They are not infringing on my right to read or purchase or listen to what I want. (when they start pulling books from the public library shelves and burning them, then we have a problem). These people are just expressing their opinions, whether I agree with them or not, is immaterial. I am proud that they are allowed to express them.

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water_boy1999

Irony at its finest. I love it.

I could care less what they do with what they deem inappropriate. Until of course their archaic beliefs start to ruin my environment.

I agree Mr. SelfDestruct, beliefs as such are out of place in today's culture. It shows an ineptitude for logical and rational thinking.

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Doh!!!!


-Homer Simpson

kutulu

As long as those nutjobs are burning boyband pop cd's I fully support it.

degrawj

i thought i knew the Bible pretty well, but i guess i don't. could somebody please direct me to a Bible passage where they burn stuff (other than people) because it is against God's word?

cartmen34

Welcome to Iowa. Population: simpletons

Just keep moving folks. Nothing to see here.

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"The problem with quick and dirty, as some people have said, is that the dirty remains long after the quick has been forgotten" - Steve McConnell

SinisterMotives

I remember seeing an episode of The Waltons when I was a kid where a German family was being persecuted by the townfolk during World War II. They rounded up a bunch of German books to burn, one of which turned out to be the Bible.

On a personal note, a former roommate whom I caught stealing from me to buy crack had this friend who was a total crackhead. This guy would get on these bizarre religious kicks when he was high. One day he decided he needed to burn all of my books on metaphysics and Wicca. Fortunately I had absorbed most of the major points of those books, but I still find myself wishing I had them to refer back to years later.

While such people may have a legal right to behave like barbarians, I agree with MrSelfDestruct that we should have evolved beyond this decades ago. Curiously, some of the same people who are defending these idiots' right to burn books admitted just the other day that what's legal and what's right are two separate things. You can get away with practically anything by citing some law or loophole or Constitutional amendment, but that doesn't make it any less atrocious. I suppose those who believe they're morally superior to everyone else because of their ideology will always have one standard for themselves and another for those whose don't agree with them.

jaco

Evolved past it? We are nothing but a blackout away from social meltdown at any moment. Amusing that a man named Breedlove wishes to destroy everything that doesnt agree with his outlook.

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clavus

I will consider it the pinnicle of my success when uptight, religious lunatics start burning my work in public.

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bobbobbobbob

I don't like the idea of burning books. Never have. Then I read Farenheit 451. That reinforced it.

urbski

Doesn't set a good example for the kids. Probably will make them more curious and rebel against their parents.
Preach love not hate

tropple

Allowing simpletons to burn books, and now days, any media, to make religious or political staements is tatamount to condoning Nazism.

It's fucking evil, pure and simple. Their desire to do this shows how sick they are. A truely religious person doesn't need make grand gestures such as that, but rather leads by example, i.e., demonstrates their piousness and proper spirit by example, not by terrorism.

Hearing of things like that makes me want pass through them in the night visiting quiet death amongst their ranks.

Oh. Damn. Did I say that out loud? Sorry. I guess it's time for a shot o' haldol.

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Trisk

I only feel bad for the children of these religious fanatics. They are given no choice as to what they are allowed to read, listen to and watch because their over-zealous parents find and burn anything they don't agree with. They really have no choice but to grow up with the same ideas as their parents, simply because they're hardly ever exposed to anything outside of it.

SinisterMotives

Sad but true. Our society equates technological sophistication with civilization, but we're in fact closer to the dark ages now than we've been in the last two hundred years. People who stand on their "rights" don't realize that those rights will mean fuck all if the technological house of cards that makes them possible collapses.

sailor

Good call. I probably would too.

While I dont agree with them, I dont think Im in any position to tell them not to do it. The moment they try to prevent me from reading, viewing, or hearing any of that material though is the moment they cross the line.

Besides, it would probably be PR disaster for them, let them dig their own grave.

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meembo

Just let me know where I can pick up those garbage cans, so I can redistribute the shit

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iamnormal

I'm reminded of a saying by the great philosopher Mrs. Gump
"Stupid is as stupid does"

Jeff

Wow, this is pretty ridiculous. I know you don't like Iowa as you've complained about it enough. You, sir, should probably move your ass to another state...

...Or at least stop making such stupid generalizations.

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For those who believe in God, most of the big questions are answered. But for those of us who can't readily accept the God formula, the big answers don't remain stone-written. We adjust to new conditions and discoveries. We are pliable. Love need not be a command or faith a dictum. I am my own God. We are here to unlearn the teachings of the church, state, and our educational system. We are here to drink beer. We are here to kill war. We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that Death will tremble to take us.
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MSD

I can sympathize with these kids, as my mother assumes that it's still her duty to throw out or confiscate anything she deems inappropriate. Such things include a butterfly knife, a folding knife that I used to open boxes at work, a copy of Stuff magazine (inappropriate because it had women in lingerie posing on the cover) and a pellet gun that she demanded I hand over but subsequently forgot about. I'm 20 years old, I should have the right to think for myself and own anythign I can use responsibly and own legally.

Macheath

Nowdays,we can say that, well, the publisher got their money so it's not so bad. And because you can digitize them, books can be reproduced an infinite number of times. That's not what the symbolism is though.

The symbolism is pretty damn medieval; and back in those days before the printing press, this would have been a pretty big thing.

Imagine going to a medieval monostary and telling the monks you were going to set a match to their whole life's work. You might as well kill them all and desecrate their corpses.

The modern equivalent would be what the Taliban did to those giant stone Buddhas in Afghanistan.

Modern printing technology and abundance might have changed the effect of this guy's desired actions but it doesn't change his intentions or thier symbolism.

Breedlove is the kind of guy who would have gleefully razed the Library of Alexandria.

:::OshnSoul:::

I've been becoming more aware of many old religious rituals and how they are not applied today- at least for most people- there are still those who follow the books word for word abiding by their every rule and command. Take Islamic religion, as an example. We know that the government runs on the religion, where the women are to be submissive and put on lower ranks than men, where people cannot do many things or else they will be killed or their limbs cut off if they do not abide by the religious law.
As I have observed, Bush is attempting the same thing. Now, do we really think that it's working and that it's the healthiest and best way for us? Is killing the solution for killing? Is hatred the solution to hatred?
If only leaders can stand back and observe their ways from an outside POV, will they see that it is not and never has worked- so do we think that it will ever work? Esepcially when we attemp to tie religious beliefs in with governmental and economical issues, we are only driving the possibility of solving them.
As time has gone by, so many issues are picked apart in little pieces by those with strong beliefs that take offense to the issue and steer it off course, causing upheaval, riots, contreversy, and even war. To me it's sickening- if America, for instance, just realized that we are not living up to it's founding declarations, that we are hypocrisizing our very roots of what our Country is, that we are only digging a hole for ourselves. Seperation has broken our rights little by little and we aren't feeling as free anymore- bound by petty laws and regulations, where are we really headed? I want to see gays be happy, I want other nations to see that America doesn't have to immediately jump in war as a solution, that we can all be and express who we are, celebrating and respecting our differences- that is the only way we will ever further ourselves in a humane evolution. All of our beliefs don't necessarily have to change, but we can at least make the effort to expand our beliefs and understand that the world will not change unless we do. That, individually is where we need to start, and that it is not behaviours we need to focus on, but our beliefs and feelings that cause the behaviours. Blaming will only stir up more hatred and seperation, while acceptance and unity will make a new life for everyone.
Step back and decide how you want life to be for you- and for your children and your children's children. If we don't do anything about it, who will? We can't just sit back and wait for someone else to make the call, we need to speak up, take action, and show that there is another way that will help the country, ourselves as individuals, and even the world as a whole. Wouldn't it be nice to turn on the news and not see a story of violence, protests, war, lawsuits, or contreversy? We can change the news- if only we choose to. So much of the stories we hear are of petty reasons, and some even outrageous defensive actions.
I remember reading about how Slim Fast just booted Whoopie Goldburg from being their spokesperson because of a remark she made about Bush at a recent rally. Slim Fast is based in Florida, home of many republicans, including Bush's brother and St. Governor, Jeb. Hmmm......bias, maybe?
What really happened to freedom of speech?
I bet if I were to recite verbally "God is too big to fit inside one religion" that someone would immediately read into it as an offense, but if I leave it as to be a bumper sticker on my car, it goes unspoken. The only comments I have received on it are in agreeance to what it says. That's not what I am looking for anyways- it's my freedom of expression and it's to declare my truth for everyone to notice- and maybe people will contemplate it, but at least accept it as someone else's right to express. If they take offense, oh well. That's their perogative. But if I walk up and speak that in a religious congregation, i would get kicked out. Funny how that works. Just because I believe in something they don't, I need to not be there.
Remember after 9-11 when an arch bishop prayed with a priest, a rabbi, and a christian pastor? That brought immediate attention and many leaders of the religions took it as blasphemy and denounced it, as they are not to include people of other religions in their own. How screwed up is that?
I may seem like I am going off in a tangent, but it all relates and it all comes down to the same thing: seperation. It's not helping us, it's hurting us. Getting offended and rejected others simply because it does not correspond with our beliefs is really messed up. Why keep letting it go on? We ALL can do something about this.
Hey, people have their own rights- but, c'mon! Burning a book may declare what they believe in, but it only gives more notice to the seperation, offensiveness, and hatred that will run us all over if we keep doing it. I can understand where they are coming from, they are unhappy with the country, with the government, or other groups and issues and are afraid of where we're headed in this society and world. It's to get attention and to declare that there needs to be another way- something needs to be done.

Mondak

I can't think of a good reason to burn a book. Even books with terrible content promoting racism and genecide need to be kept. They teach us lessons about how low we can go and hopefully provide warning to future generations if they come accross them.

Religous folks have a lot of problems and this is one of the ways they can cope. Call upon divine right and direction and the masses will follow.

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All truth passes through three stages:
First it is ridiculed
Second, it is violently opposed and
Third, it is accepted as self-evident.

ARTHUR SCHOPENHAUER (1788-1860)

bermuDa

they still have to buy it to burn it. They're only throwing more fuel on the fire of consumerism.

can anyone else see the group of teenagers going around digging britney spears CDs and thongs out of their neighbor's garbage cans?

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teethman

how do you think people entertained themselves when there was no TV or computers? they used to burn things and watch for hours upon hours. diferent objects would be thrown in the fire just for fun. im guessing here.

merkerguitars

The thing that would probably offend me the most is some of the types of books they would burn....too bad people can't be a little more open minded.

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bernadette

religious fanatics...

the responsible thing to do with unwanted items today is to <b>recycle</b> them.
recycling is clean & it's easy.

a book is destroyed & the same tree that produced the original pulp for that book can never be used again for any other paper product.

obvious: burning books up is bad for the ozone & a waste of precious tree product.


and this the united states afterall. freedom of speech & all that.
you don't like it, move to some zealot country.

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thesupermikey

]

Well put. One can stand back and say that it is ok for them to do this as long as it is not my books that are being burnt. That is the same attitude that many Germans had has Jews were being persecuted in the 1930s. While this is a protected form of speech, that does not make it right even if your rights are not being violated. I for one am glad that the city is standing in the way of the book burning. By standing aside and letting it happens it makes the city look like it agrees with the actions of this church.

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whocarz

Who is more of a Nazi? The book burner, or the one that wants to kill the book burner?

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Rubyee

HEY! I RESENT THAT!

You know, I actually find it quite amusing. They are going about this so non-chalantly. The guy that was trying to orchestrate it wasn't mean when he was told no, and he wasn't starting a riot in the streets. I'll admit that it is a dumb, outdated idea, but so are Sadie Hawkins dances, and they are still around.

And cartmen, not all people in Iowa are simpletons. I get really sick of hearing that.

tecoyah

To each, their own.....The mentality may simply not be condusive to reading.

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Willy

This is very wrongheaded. Burning your own books, that you paid for, is nothing more sinister than a protest. When the Nazi's burned books it was a completely different situation. In that case the book burning was an effort by the government to eradicate books that conflicted with their ideas to keep others from being able to read them. This church protest won't stop anyone from reading any book, it's just a way of showing that they find the content of these books offensive. If they were pulling them off of library shelves or trying to stop bookstores from selling them it would be different.

If the city were to stop it (for any reason other than fire ordinances), I would find that much more sinister than the book burning itself.

Manic_Skafe

They would do much more for their followers and reach so many more people if they took the books and gave lessons on how the books are flawed and how it's ideas are in contravention with the ideas of the faith.

It's just a shame that in circumstances like this, paraders of any type of faith, normally resort to archaic and pointless methods such as book burning. I can gurantee that if they were to burn those books not one person would be enlightned from doing so.

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mattevil

You've got to remember that these are just simple farmers. These are people of the land. The common clay of the new West.
You know... morons.
-Waco Kid(Gene Wilder) in Blazing Saddles

World's King

*puts his copy of Bill Cliton's book away*


Fuck.

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riptide4070

Someone should see if those people might try reading "The Davinci Code" by Dan Brown. Maybe it will get them to think for once instead of wasting their time burning books.

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"the greatest trick the devil ever pulled, was making the world believe he didn't exist" -Kevin Spacey 'The Usual Suspects'

GakFace

Heh. I still have all of my martial arts weapons in my room, as well as numerous box cutters lying about in my room. My nice one sitting beside my mouse... They have no problems. Yet when I got my first issue of FHM sent to me... they were entirely disgusted with it, and then disgusted with me. I'm a guy who was 20 years old (Since have had my 21st b-day)... how can people be so dense as to think I don't like to look at women? Not to mention the fact that it is NOT a nudie mag. They're willing to take me to the Beaches of N. Carolina with them, yet a woman in lingerie is too much... even though a lot of bikini's you see on the beach show more skin.. Fuck, My oldest sister THREW AWAY one of my FHM copies because of the woman in a sexy pose on the cover. That just sickens me. I feel for ya, MSD.

Hrmm.. It just occured to me that I had a years subscription to FHM and I haven't seen a single mag this whole summer. I work 2nd shift, so I'm never home when the mail comes.... Wonder if the trash has been receiving my mail...

Exactly. Burn all they want, it doesn't do much. The "damage" was already done when the item was bought.

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