US govt slams Quran burning plans

An Indonesian Muslim holds a placard during a protest outside the US embassy in Jakarta. PHOTO: EPA

WASHINGTON: The Obama administration Wednesday said the decision by a Florida pastor to burn the Holy Quran on September 11 is ‘un-American’ and warned that such actions could endanger US’ interests in Afghanistan and elsewhere.
Hoping that the Dove World Outreach Centre pastor would not commit the act which he had announced, State Department spokesman PJ Crowley said the US is aware of the adverse implication this would have on Americans overseas civilians, diplomats and the military.
“We think that these are provocative acts, they are disrespectful, they’re intolerant, they’re divisive, and we’re conscious that a number of voices have come out and rejected what this pastor and this community have proposed. We would like to see more Americans stand up and
say that this is inconsistent with our American values. In fact, these actions themselves are un-American,” Crowley said.
“The pastor says that he’s contemplating these actions to combat radicalism. In fact, these actions, if they take place, we hope they don’t, will actually feed radicalism,” he said.
At the same time, Crowley said, people around the world need to also understand that America is not represented by one pastor or his 50 followers. “We are a nation of 300 million people. The vast majority of Americans are standing up this week and saying that these contemplative actions are inappropriate, they’re abhorrent, and this should not happen,” he said.
Arguing that burning the Holy Quran is inconsistent with the values of religious tolerance and religious freedom that are innate to Americans, he said there are far better ways to commemorate 9/11.