Dear Dove World Outreach Center,

I have been trying my best during down times to maintain some form of
contact with the current events around the world, as well as back
home.

I have been following the news in regards to your protest against
Islam set to take place on September 11th, 2010.

For background on myself, I will tell you that I am currently serving
Active Duty with the United States Army and am presently deployed in
Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.

Myself as well as my fellow brothers in arms are exposed daily to
hostile actions by extremist Taliban fighters. The trials we have
endured thus far I would not wish on my worst enemy.

I have personally witnessed dear friends of mine fall in combat
against these militants.

Their war against American and Coalition Forces occupation is fueled
by ongoing support of the local populace. Our battles are fought with
assault rifles and explosives, but more often fought with words.

We struggle daily to win the support of local villagers to inform us
of IEDs placed along the routes we travel, to be given time sensitive
information regarding enemy positions.

These people are very simple. Their struggle is daily as well. Not
only exposed to the violence surrounding them, but the dangers of an impoverished land. They have limited clean water supply, limited
food, and most do not possess any form of currency.

Their lives are centered around their religion, Islam, and their families.

I can fully understand the anger and frustration, as can most Americans, that one must feel against the extremists that brought
violence to our homeland.

I can fully understand one wishing to voice their opinions freely as a
natural right, protected by our great country's constitution.

But I cannot sit idly by and agree with Dove World Outreach Center
moving forward with the proposed burning of Islam's Holy Quran.

Whether you realize or not, the attention drawn to your protest
reaches well across the world and is discussed even amongst villagers
in the smallest parts of Afghanistan.

It enrages these people and only places yet another obstacle for
myself and my brothers to overcome in this difficult battle to expel
Taliban presence within Afghanistan.

Your point, I believe, is already understood and recognized simply by
your showing of intent to make this demonstration.

I implore you to halt the protest and not follow through. I write you
not as a high ranking military commander, not as a person seeking
political gain or other ulterior motives.

I write you as a proud soldier of the United States of America who
fears that your protest will only further place another weapon into
the hands of what would otherwise have been an ally to Coalition
Forces. I fear that this protest, if brought to fruition, will place
myself as well as my brothers in arms further into harms way...and
further from the families and friends that we miss dearly back in
America.

I am proud of my country. I am proud to fight and die for the freedoms that my forefathers made the ultimate sacrifice for. I would not have enlisted to be where I am if I didn't.

I urge you with the deepest of conviction to take this request to heart.

I just want to come home to my family the right way. I do not want my
mother and father to receive me home in a flag draped coffin. I do
not wish this for any of my brothers.

Very Respectfully,

SPC Ian Morrow
Kandahar Province, Afghanistan

* * *

Beautifully written and heartfelt.

I, too, pray this church will back away from their dangerous protest. I believe the majority of this country feels the same way; there's a lot to be said for collective prayer.

All of you brave men and women so far from home are in my nightly prayers. I am thankful for your dedication and blessed by your protection. You are so loved here at home and know that an entire nation prays for your safe return.

Please consider this a hug from an older citizen and pass it forward.

Sue White
Cleveland

* * *

Dear SPC Ian Morrow
Kandahar Province, Afghanistan

First of all let me thank you and all your brothers on behalf of myself, family members, and friends in my community of Hixson. What you are doing for us is of great service and the sacrifices you all have to endure are very well appreciated and noticed.

I would like to tell you that I do not understand the Muslim faith at all, and that which is unknown to me scares me. Specially after the 9-11 incident where a group of young men from Saudi Arabia decided to carry an atrocity in our land in the name of a religion. I want you to know, Ian, that I choose to educate myself and utilize all tools available to me to try to understand why people would do such horrible acts in the name of Religion.

Dear Ian this is what I found out; all religions have committed atrocities in the name of religion. This thing goes back in history to the Crusades, battles, killings, beheading, Inquisitions, etc. etc... It is very evident to me why our forefathers picked the separation of church and state and allowed religious freedom of all kinds in this land. It was to stop the madness the world for generations has endured in the name of religion. Fast forward to current events; I do realize now that not all Muslims are bad or evil, that they want to exist and be left alone. That there are various sects of Muslims similar to Christianity Pentecostal, Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, etc.. etc.. But, Ian, what I finally have realized is that these young men that did this were brain washed by their leaders. These young men were told that what they were doing was great and allowed by their religion. They have high jacked the Muslim religion to serve their evil goals. This is called extremism at its highest. They utilize tools to provoke and breed hatred so their objectives can be met. They use the religious power to further brainwash innocent men and women and convert them into weapons. The sad part of it is that the Muslims have a problem right now ... they have extremists trying to take over their religion and utilize it to unite all Muslims in order to create a great Holy War.

Thankfully the fact is that not all Muslims are listening to the call, Egypt, Arab Emirates, Kuwait, etc..etc.. all Muslim countries that decide not to follow extremism but instead side with reason. These countries want to live in peace and to be allowed to live in peace they do not want extremist in their land. Hence the extremist need to focus on the easy targets, the poor, the uneducated, so they can brain wash them into telling them that the West and the United States is the Great Satan. Then this same group of people that are considered invaders show up offering a better way. Offering security, jobs, peaceful existence, food ... that's you and all your brothers. You are right; you have to win their minds so that one day these Muslims will learn and respect what it is to live in freedom and tolerance.

Ian, I am against the burning of the Koran, like I am against somebody burning our Flag in protest, or our Holy Bible. It's their right to do so, but it's disrespectful in my opinion. Those that do this things are considered by me to be extremists. Yes, the same extremists that breed hatred in the name of religion in the Muslim World. After all Jesus taught us to be tolerant and loving, so what is this Congregation doing?

Thank you again and may God the true God of all humanity and father of Jesus keep you, our troops, and all good Afghans safe from harm.

Very Respectfully

Juan Cacicedo
Hixson

* * *

SPC Ian Morrow,
Thank you for serving our country, you and the countless others who are serving in our military both at home and overseas deserve our respect. I pray that the Dove World Outreach Center realize the danger of following through with burning the Koran by putting men and women like you in even greater danger. I hear or see almost every day "support our troops", however, from some Americans the actions I see are far from that.

This week a family from the Chattanooga area is burying a loved one, Sgt. Patrick Durham, who served and was killed in Afghanistan. Services will be held today and tomorrow. I didn't know him or his family, but he was brave enough to join the military in a post 9-11 world. He knew the dangers but was willing to make so many sacrifices to protect and serve his country. To me that makes you, him and all members of our military heros. Thank you SPC Morrow and Sgt. Durham.

Steve Burton

* * *

The top military person for American in Afghanistan is concerned that a proposed book burning in Florida will cause some of his soldiers to be killed. Does his concern tell us the real story about Islam? The media tells us that the Islamic people are kindhearted, peace-loving, compassionate and gentle. However, the video shows regular, average Islamic villagers burning the American flag and screaming "death to America" at the top of their lungs, all because of a proposed burning of their holy book.

The general spends every day among these people, and he probably knows them very well. If he is concerned that the kindhearted, peace-loving, compassionate and gentle people will kill his soldiers over this proposed book burning, then maybe we should reconsider our evaluation of their gentle ways.

During World War II, the Germans and Japanese had to push a lot of buttons to get America engaged. Today, the general seems to be afraid that the Islamics are pushing buttons, and the question is, "How many more they will they have to push to get America engaged?" Germany and Japan paid a very high price for their button pushing. America also paid a high price for German and Japanese button pushing. The general may be concerned that the Islamics may push all the necessary buttons to "awaken the sleeping American giant." And if they do, there will be a much higher price to pay; for them, as well as America. Let's hope history doesn't repeat itself.

David Brooks
Ooltewah

* * *

The sad thing is, this really has nothing to do with burning the Koran...it has everything to do with some podunk minister in Florida
trying to get as much attention as possible.

Not unlike those nut job followers of Fred Phelps and the Westboro Church
(I won't even put Baptist in the title, because it is an insult to
Baptists), this is all about ego and media attention.

The worst part is, just like Islamic extremist have hijacked the Muslim
faith...idiots like Terry Jones are hijacking Christianity.

Sometimes I think things like this should be treated like a jumper on a
bridge...the media should ignore it entirely. Unfortunately, this is the
kind of story the media loves. I would be willing to be that there will
be more reporters than supporters this weekend.

David Smotherman, Jr.
North Chattanooga

* * *

I firmly believe this so call preacher will be punished for what he is doing. I am a Christian, but I respect everyone's belief. My mother taught me there was many road maps to heaven. Meaning you don't have to be of one faith to get there. God will take care of all.

Dorothy Weikel

* * *

Reactionary behaviors foster the same response, unless people can keep a clear head and heart….not always easy in the world we live in today. These behaviors are expressed when we have lost our individual and collective goodness and sense of purpose, as an immediate response or as a determined plan of action. With all of the issues and hot spots around the globe, how can we use our faith to work for us and the good of the planet, instead of fostering more hatred which is usually based on ignorance and fear.

The Gainsville, Florida pastor, Terry Jones, seems to love the limelight. He feels justified and determined to fight fire with fire. That is, Mr. Jones is preparing to celebrate “Burning the Koran Day” in the name of his Christianity and patriotism. Does anyone sense the hypocrisy in this besides me?

We are in need of a sensitivity to one another with regards to the still heart-wrenching events of September 11, 2001. No one, except religious extremists, will ever justify nor understand that kind of murder and wrath. But let’s remember more that we are the United States of America, one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all. Let’s remember that wrath is deadly and all too consuming and should not be a way of life.

America is a composite of good people from around the world…we have and should take pride in that fact. Our past is prologue. Our mistakes are to be learned from. Our pride should be in our goodness, intelligence, ingenuity, sensitivity, strength and willingness to work hard. All of these positive assets within us as individuals and as a nation are our greatest assets.

We agree to disagree and reach outcomes based on reality and determination to achieve positive outcomes for all together. The purpose of humanity is to aspire to higher purpose which will outlive and outweigh us all. We look to commonality instead of difference, dialogue instead of dissidence, sensitivity instead of righteous determinism, patience instead of the immediacy of harmful reactionism. This all takes thought, prayer and self-control, again, not easy. The alternative is frightening but not destined.

Too often, in dissidence, lies an insidious cowardice in meeting what one perceives as ‘the enemy’….we don’t want to meet face to face. Instead, we burn flags, we burn photographs of leaders, we destroy art representative of one’s culture, we burn important religious manuscripts, historical documents representative of history and faith…direct insults meant to incite hatred and violence. These unconscionable actions are infused with so much anger and immediacy, yet with so little insight. Do these things make the world a better place or foster understanding? Perhaps a second ecumenical council is needed at this time.

Mr. Jones does not and will never represent the great spiritual leaders of our world. He is but one small example of religion gone wrong….extremism at its worst, with no regards to patriotism, which could possibly jeopardize our troops, because the response it will illicit, is more religious fanaticism and hatred.

Melinda C. Whiteman

* * *

It would be so nice to here this kind of nonsense about the Vietnam or Korean war problems.

Tommy Burrows