Legality versus Morality

As I read the article from the New York Times, “ Pastor Cancels Koran Burning After Defense Secretary Calls” by Damien Cave and Anne Barnard, I was struck by the thought that perhaps sometimes freedoms need to be limited, even in America. The article goes on to talk about Pastor Terry Jones’ plan to burn the Koran on the 9th anniversary of 9/11 and all the controversy. Muslims have planned to build a mosque at ground zero of the World Trade Center. Pastor Jones and Imam Rauf had a meeting together and made a deal that there would be no burning, as long as the mosque is moved. Now, though, there is not any evidence of the deal.

In America, it is legal to build a mosque at Ground Zero just as it is legal to burn holy books, even the Koran, because of freedom of religion. However, there is a difference between legality and morality. I personally think that there need to be limits in the freedom of religion, depending on the circumstances. Americans feel that it is unethical to burn Bibles in Imam’s Arabic countries just as it is unethical to burn holy books in America. But at what point is a line drawn between unethical/insensitive and freedom/legal? Building a mosque at Ground Zero where thousands have died because of the very people wanting the mosque built, is insensitive to the extreme side yet also legal. Similarly, burning holy books in America seem insensitive, yet legal. Its rather ironic that President Obama asked Defense Secretary Robert Gates to ask Pastor Jones not to burn Korans, while they could ask Imam not to build the mosque. I find it very hypocritical of Pastor Jones to do this, when many Americans feel building the mosque is equally offensive.