Words to Live By

Two incidents have recently caught the eyes of the nation. Both are related to the upcoming anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Both are completely permissible and legal. Initiators of both events are well within their rights to move forward with their plans.

And personally, I don't think either should take place.

I am, of course, talking about the proposed mosque/Muslim Community Center near Ground Zero and the Quran Burning planned by Terry Jones, a Christian pastor in Florida. Both have met with significant opposition, as well as support.

I find it interesting that both events share the common ground of 9/11. Both organizers have publicly decried the events of 9/11. Both are proposing events that, while legal in the strictest sense of the word, are causing great controversy among Americans. On the surface, it would seem that they would be on the "same side", so to speak.

And honestly, that's really what it comes down to. The fact that one wants to build a religious/community structure and one wants to burn holy books from that same religion is really irrelevant.

Both are legal.

But with such an emotionally charged event looming large in the background of both, organizers should pause before pursuing either project.

And while great historical thinkers and doers have not necessarily been stopped by public opinion or emotion, they have certainly considered it.

And perhaps remembered two things:

Just because you CAN, doesn't mean you SHOULD.

Being LEGAL doesn't make something RIGHT.