By That Reasoning, Burn the Bible

[talon]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/09/08/earlyshow/main6845032.shtml?tag=stack

"We want them to know if they're in America, they need to obey our law and constitution and not slowly push their agenda upon us."

This is what Rev. Terry Jones is saying about burning the Quran (Koran, whatever spelling is currently in vogue).

This reason applies equally to the enormous block of Christians attempting to push their agenda on the rest of us. Should we then be burning Bibles?

Burning books - especially nowadays when it's so very easy to print up more copies - is pretty pointless, in my opinion. The Quran is available online, burning copies of it isn't going to remove it from the world. Burning books, any books, isn't even really a token gesture anymore; it's a pathetic act of pathetic people who can't think of more effective ways to get their point across.

If Mr. Jones (I can't in all good conscience give him the "Reverend" honorific) is so worried about a hostile take-over of the US Constitution and government, may I suggest a host of other methods that will be both far more effective and affirmative?

1. Encourage voter registration.
2. Allow his church to offer classes in American Civics.
3. Preach those Biblical lessons that teach the "when in Rome" theme.
4. He could encourage his congregation to sport an armband (the ribbons have become too numerous and virtually every color has been taken, ditto with wristbands, although wristbands still have some "grow room") or lapel pins with a "when in Rome" message (may I recommend a broom to symbolize sweeping things clean?).
5. He could start a youth group that focuses on civil rights and American civics and history.
6. T-shirt slogans and bumper stickers are still effective - people read those, especially if they're catchy.
7. He's a preacher, so hosting a prayer vigil - not one of mere hours, but an ongoing weeks long one where people ritually and formally relive one another to take up the vigil and keep it staffed 24/7 until whatever change he wants takes place (it could be a long time....).
8. Does his church sport a marquee? What an ideal place to post messages - people do read them, photograph them and post them online, spreading the message farther.
9. He could get a Twitter account and tweet patriotic messages.
10. A facebook account would also spread his message far and wide, especially tied to his Twitter account.
11. Sending out press releases about these activities and why, with photos, and invitations to the classes, meetings, vigils, etc. and links to the Twitter and facebook accounts would spread the information even further - more so if he has a coherent purpose rather than a diffuse one.
12. Seek a celebrity endorser (God, sadly, doesn't count, he doesn't make personal appearances on camera...) to support the message.
13. Put up posters in public places (bus signs are also good, as well as billboards).
14. Record the protests, vigils, rallies, classes, etc. and put them up on YouTube.
15. He can draft a petition to send to his legislators, collecting signatures at the vigil, the classes, the capitol steps protest, rallies, and so on. Copies can be sent to the press and the President of the USA.
16. Participate in a parade with a float dedicated to both the theme of the parade and the goal of your organization (in this case, patriotism).
17. Organize a March - with candles, poster signs, T-shirts, brochures, etc.
18. Organize a picnic or a dinner or an ice cream social revolving around the theme of patriotism and "when in Rome". Food always attracts people and makes them more amenable to one's cause. This is a perfect opportunity to preach beyond the congregation.
19. Picket the government outside the local government building or at the state Capitol to push the message.
and the one I think would be the most effective: 20. Recruit moderate Muslims to support the cause by helping them organize and then attending their own pickets, rallies, vigils, picnics, and invite them to attend yours.

Not one of these methods is violent, nor do any of them send the wrong message, as book burnings always do.

I have several other ideas if these aren't sufficient, like making a "Justice Bell" and traveling with it to spread the message.

Of course, the number one most important thing to do is to refine the message to a simple, single soundbite - anything more gets lost.