why burning the quran is not like burning the american flag

There are many people around the world who are decrying Pastor Terry Jones and his Dove World Outreach Center's decision to host an "International Burn a Quran Day" on September 11, 2010. I recently posted that I would like to hear from those support his actions and have a discussion about it. I received several replies, mostly from those against it - no surprise here - but i did receive a couple which equate it with the burning of the American flag.

While I can understand how they may feel this way, there are a couple differences between the two and the symbolism between their desecration...

First off, "The American Mindset -vs- Radical Islam"...yes, there are those in foreign countries who choose to protest America by burning our flag. There are those in America who choose to do so as well. When we look upon this action, we shake our heads in disgust and, in regards to foreigners, chalk it up to them hating our freedoms and policies. No one goes so far as to murder those who oppose us simply because they did so. With all due respect to those within that society, we are a bit more civilized than them in that respect. Also, in regards to when an American burns his country's flag, we MOST definitely do not immediately despise ALL Americans based upon the actions of a few extremists.

Secondly, yes, symbolically speaking, the American flag is very important to our citizens and especially the men and women who fight, and sometimes pay the ultimate price, for it. I get that...I really do, although comparing our flag, which is just less than 300 years old to a scripture which is a 1000+ years old and is followed by over a billion people worldwide is too simplistic to me. I don't read the bible, nor any other religious text, on a regular basis but I would feel for those who do, if it were used as a pawn by another who claimed to be "trying to make a point". What if it were an American Muslim hosting a bible burning...would you feel the same way?

I truly feel for American Muslims who salute our flag, pay their taxes and read the Quran...the heartbreak they must be feeling towards a fellow American burning the very scriptures they cherish must be immense.