Burn-A-Koran Day to be held on anniversary of 9/11, tension mounts
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worl...rry-Jones.html
'We are still determined': U.S. pastor vows to carry out Burn-a-Koran day on Sept 11 despite death threats
- Hillary Clinton: Act is 'disrespectful and disgraceful'
- General Petraeus: 'It will spark war against all Christians'
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The leader of a tiny U.S. church said yesterday that he will defy international condemnation and go ahead with plans to burn copies of the Koran on the anniversary of September 11. The Rev Terry Jones has been advised by the senior U.S. leader in Afghanistan, General David Petaeus, that the stunt would put American soldiers lives at greater risk and provide propaganda for the Taliban. But Rev Jones, who claims to have received more than 100 death threats and has begun carrying a pistol for his own protection, today held a press conference to announce that he will not back down in the face of military, political or moral pressure. 'As you can imagine we have come under very much pressure in the direction of cancelling the event,' said the minister, whose church has fewer than 100. 'But as of this time we have no intention of cancelling. 'We have also, which is something the news media has missed, received quite a lot of support. 'We understand General Petraeus's concern and we are still considering it. 'But as of now we are not convinced that backing down is the right thing to do. 'So we will continue with our planned event '
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Rev Jones also met with Imam Muhammad Musri, president of the Islamic Society of Central Florida, who later told reporters he does not hold a grudge against the Gainesville pastor. Rev Jones, 58, said in July he would stage an 'international Burn-a-Koran Day' at the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida. But supporters have been posting copies of the Koran for him to put on a bonfire on Saturday to mark the ninth anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks and he is now in possession of 200 copies of the religious text. Rev Jones refusal to back down comes after an American teacher working in Afghanistan warned Mr Jones that his life is in danger because of the stunt.
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The unnamed lecturer wrote an impassioned email at the weekend describing 'boisterous protesters' condemning the pastor outside his classroom, according to the New York Times. 'Your actions endanger my life,' he wrote. However, Rev Jones claimed he is even prepared to die for his cause and said: 'It's something we need to do. It's a message we need to send. 'We are prepared to give our lives for this.' The lecturer's email arrived as Hillary Clinton joined in mounting criticism of Mr Jones' Dove World Outreach Centre.
The U.S. Secretary of State told a religious meeting in Washington that the stunt was 'disrespectful' and 'disgraceful'. Mrs Clinton said: 'I am heartened by the clear, unequivocal condemnation of this disrespectful, disgraceful act that has come from American religious leaders of all faiths. 'Our commitment to religious tolerance goes back to the very beginning of our nation. 'Many of you know that in 1790, George Washington wrote to a synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island, that this country will give "to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance".'
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But Mr Jones insisted he would go ahead with his plans, despite criticism from the top U.S. general in Afghanistan, the White House and the State Department, as well as a host of religious leaders including the Vatican which denounced the event as 'an outrageous and grave gesture against a book considered sacred by a religious community.' Mr Jones, who is known for posting signs proclaiming that Islam is the devil's religion, said the U.S. Constitution gives him the right to publicly set fire to the book that Muslims consider the word of God.
God bless the US Consitution which, although being worn away by legislation such as the US Patriot Act, still stands strong to protect freedom, civil liberties and democracy. This is a stark contrast to the United Kingdom when the previous Labour government banned Dutch politician Geert Wilders from entering the country after he had been invited to show his anti-Islam film Fitna in Westminister at the invitation of Lord Pearson and Baroness Cox - yet outside parliament we had muslims calling for Wilders to be 'got', in other words; killed.
Although this is a very provocative act, I am with him for three reasons; 1) he is going to get up the noses of the political elite in the western world who preach morals yet who start wars based on lies. 2) he is going to piss off the religious nutcases of the Islamic faith who find time to burn effigys of anyone who dares speak their mind. Finally and most importantly, he is exercising his right to freedom of speech.
I believe it was Jesse Ventura or Ron Paul who stated that protect of freedom of speech was designed to protect unpopular speech, not popular speech - that is very very true. In the words of Geert Wilders "There is not a right in any law that says you should never be insulted.".
Thoughts on the situation?
