YOU MIGHT not think it takes much effort--or deserves a prize--when someone forgoes burning a Koran.

But Florida Pastor Terry Jones, who made headlines in the run-up to September 11 with his threats to stage a public burning of the Islamic holy book, apparently has it harder than most when it comes to restraining his bigotry. And he's not too proud to accept a prize for doing what most people would consider normal, decent human behavior.

As the Associated Press recently reported:

Car dealer Brad Benson made the pitch to Florida pastor Terry Jones in one of his quirky radio ads: If you don't burn a Koran, I'll give you a new car. He was surprised, though, when a representative for Jones called to collect the 2011 Hyundai Accent, retailing for $14,200. "They said unless I was doing false advertising, they would like to arrange to pick up the car," Benson recalled. At first he thought it was a hoax, so Benson asked Jones to send in a copy of his driver's license. He did... The pastor will have to pick up the car at Brad Benson Mitsubishi Hyundai in South Brunswick--known locally for Benson's radio ads focusing more on current events than cars--so he can fill out paperwork. No date has been set for the handover... Before he made his decision, Benson asked listeners to weigh in on whether he should honor his promise. More than 2,600 people responded by phone and e-mail, and the vast majority, Benson said, urged him to keep his word. One caller suggested painting sayings from various religious books--the Koran, the Talmud, the King James Bible--on the car. "What you didn't say was what the car was going to look like when you gave it to him," the caller said.

Some of us, of course, spend our entire lives without burning a Koran--or any other books. When do we get our free cars?