Spreading Terrorism One Burnt Quran at a Time: How American Christian Fanatics Fan Flames Abroad
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Beware...the "Doctor" is in......
His prescription: in injection of bigotry and hate
This is a defining moment in our national discourse...what will we show?
Before I read the news article (cited at bottom) concerning "Dr." Terry Jones, I decided to go to the source. The Dove World Outreach Center has an official website at doveworld.org.
After reaching this destination I clicked on the prompt link to another doveworld.org page entitled "Ten Reasons to Burn a Koran".
I was intrigued.
On this page the author goes on to justify, at least in his or her own mind, how a book sacred to over a billion people worldwide, and many, many Americans, should be burned..
Reason number 2 states that "The Koran does not have an eternal origin. It is not recorded in heaven...."
I rolled my eyes....
"It's writings are human in origin..."
Now the inevitable face-palm....
Somewhere, I suppose, this Doctor was able to look into "heaven" and read documents of some type. Perhaps he has an extra special search engine via the web.
So this is one reason that the Quran needs to be burned?
Reason number 3 states that "The Koran's teachings includes Arabian idolatry, paganism, rites and rituals. These are demonic, an ongoing satanic stronghold under which Moslems and the world suffer."
I will leave the other 8 reasons that a huge disrespect should be paid towards over a billion people to you the reader, for my purpose is not to discuss the ridiculous, biased, and intolerant expressions of this "church".
Yet, I wish to show how this "p.h.d." mind, or those Mr. Jones sponsors, work to erase the political, social, and economic development/evolution of the Near East, Europe, and Asia, and instead install the standard "false prophet" imagery read in the Book of Revelations.
"By faith and not by sight" comes to an all new meaning here....by faith one must follow the misguided Jones...which means that one has to ignore all the evidence to the contrary....
Now, for the main point at hand...
The article that attracted my original interest was related to a statement released by General Patreus, wherein he specifically identifies Mr. Jones and his "Outreach" center as a threat to the safety of Americans.
People like Mr. Jones (for he is no Doctor in my book) and organizations like Dove World Outreach demonstrate how people around the world can look upon Americans as ignorant, radical, racist, bigoted, and hypocritical.
It is this type of behavior practiced blatantly that makes people around the world, as well as Americans wary of what type of attitudes are brewing under the social crust of tolerance and "political correctness."
While many Christians, including those at the Dove Outreach Center, cry out against the Muslim Community Center expansion project in Manhattan, the story of Mr. Jones' organization and what kind of "outreach" this place does remains seemingly unimportant.... What kinds of ideas are concocted and indoctrinated into young minds through this "outreach" center?
With "outreach" centers like this, it doesn't surprise me that there is so much rumor milling and suspicion concerning the Manhattan center project. Projection of self onto the "other" is a very useful tactic of manipulation.
As Osama bin Laden is used in the U.S. and other majority "Christian" states to stir up anti-Muslim flames that fuel illegal wars and the wholesale death of innocent civillians in Iraq and Afghanistan, Mr. Jones becomes the poster boy for American-Christian imperialism abroad, and makes the seemingly peaceful "Outreach Center" a training ground for Christian radicals bent on destroying Muslims.
Is all this too complex for the "Doctor" or his "outreach" group? Or is he and his group being the "change they want to see?"
This is an ongoing issue that I have with Christian imperialists, meaning those who choose to push their religion on others as opposed to exercising mutual respect. They read the Bible, particularly Revelations, and they brood for religious conflict and war. Instead of getting a real education, and a p.h.d. in a substantial topic people like Jones look to raise their names and financial status in the same way that radical imams in Iran do....through the peddling of fear, false stereotypes, and peer pressure.
While I am a firm advocate of the freedom of speech, I cannot stand for the freedom to blind and handicap people. While they may believe that they are "educating" people, this "ministry" is crippling the ability of people to think with independent and open minds about others they don't understand. This organization makes people not want to understand....
"By faith and not by sight" as the old gospel song goes....
This is an easy mantra to believe and follow when it is the blind leading the blinded....
I look forward, as sadistic as that is, to how this new wrinkle to the "rehonoring of America" plays out.
Will Americans speak out against this obvious symbol of ignorance, intolerance, bigotry, and hatred?
Can we call terrorism where we see it? I can, and I see it being spread at a training camp in Florida.
Can we realize that body counts, in terms of physically killed and wounded, do not define or confine terrorist acts? For, the wounding or death of the "self" and cognitive ability are equal contributors to personal and social hardship and destruction.
Sources
- Ten Reasons to Burn a Koran | Dove World Outreach Center
- Gen. Petraeus: Florida Quran Burning Will Endanger US Troops
(Sept. 6) -- As a small Florida church prepares to host what it\'s calling International Burn a Koran Day, the head of U.S. forces in Afghanistan warns that the protest will set off a wave of violence against American troops. - Islam is of the Devil | Dove World Outreach Center
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Quite so China Man. I agree with you.
It should be illegal for people and organizations like this one to make a living...
They should be compared to a fledgling Al Qaeda...
It's the people and organizations like this that cause me to doubt the intellect of so many of my fellow Americans..... How can people be so weak-minded and empty-headed to follow down such paths of rhetoricizing and overall behavior?
At least there are thinking-minds out there....I just wonder how many of us it is going to take to keep the wave of ignorants at bay....
I think we should gather with pirated copies of this guy's book, and burn it on September 11th....
While I agree that the Dove Outreach Center, Mr. Jones, and his followers are dong harm, not good, I'm pretty surprised at the "It should be illegal" rhetoric in the comments.
This nutjob's freedom of speech and of 'religion' (the quotes are because he's not acting like a Christian as far as I can tell) are just as protected as yours and mine.
Anyway, during WWII, American people felt (or were encouraged to feel) a duty to the men and women in harm's way. "Loose lips sink ships," and all that. What the Dove Outreach thing will do is create anti-American propaganda for the terrorists to use to radicalize the Muslim opposite numbers of the folks that Jones is (mis)leading: the ignorant, the credulous, and the cowardly. "Look what Americans do to the teachings of Mohammed," they'll say. "They won't be satisfied until the stars-and-stripes flies over a Christian Church in Meccca! They must be stopped!" And it'll be even more effective as propaganda, because it will be partially true: Jones and his little flock of followers do want to destroy Islam, even if the rest of us just want to get on with our lives in peace.
I read it twice and all I got was you hate Christians and love Islam! Maybe you found an extreme Christian, but the Muslim faith has no room to be protected unless your turning a blind eye to what they are doing world wide??? in the name of THEIR RELIGION!!!
It's amazing what people read into comments.
American Romance...if you can find where I wore I "love Islam" please point it out...
Secondly, where did I say I hated Christians? I do hate charlatans and frauds.....and I see this plastered all over Mr. Jones and his little sect of wackos...
What I most definitely did was point out how groups like this are separate from Christians....hence the specific term "Christian Imperialists". There are many, many Christian sects that don't make their living from trying to undermine the faith of others....
"Religion".....this is not religion....it is a sham-man playing with the superstitions of others....
Jeff, hate speech doesn't fall under the classification of free speech, at least not in my book.
Ultimately, if we are looking to 1) fight terrorism, 2) build trusting relationships with others, and 3) interested in keeping nutjobs from creating the religious wars that they want to see, acts like the burning of the Quran, Torah, or Bible should not be condoned.
People run around saying all the time "freedom is not free"......which refers precisely to "Dove Outreach"....
Wolves in dove's clothing more like...
Muslims,Christians,Hindus,Budhists.etc.etc.etc.
It's the Fanatic Fundamentalists you gotta watch out for...and their EvErY Where!...Spooky Huh?
Mike Long,
Luckily, we've all got the freedom of speech. I'm glad you took the time to criticize this hate speech. If everybody just assumes that everyone has x-ray vision for bull shit, then we might have a "spiritual cleansing" much like the Final Solution of Nazi Germany.
People are afraid of what they don't understand. All religious text should be required reading in Public Schools, if you ask me. We ought to at least understand what Islam means. From what I've read, it's a slightly more peaceful (and open-minded) version of the Bible—minus the Jesus story (which, I admit, since I’m a Christian, speaks to me more than the Koran). That's not so bad. It reminded me of a long chapter of the Old Testament (although, chronologically, it’s more like a Post-new Testament).
I hope America gets a grip, or else the Republicans are going to alienate the Muslims, Latinos, and Gays all at once. They’re committing harry-Kerry and don't even realize it.
It's comical to watch people espouse equality, justice, and freedom, yet contradict themselves so harshly when it comes to someone other than them.
Thanks for sharing this,
Dan
Great hub,
This christian group that wants to burn the Koran and spews these hate speeches are no different from other radical sects of religion. They get most of the attention but typically represent the ignorant few.
While they do have the same rights as everyone in this country, I do hope that 100% of people can see through their BS and hate mongering...unfortunately, that is not always the case.
Muslim this and christain that blah...blah...blah....I am so sick and tired of all this jihad talking and christain crap!People are so proud to stand up and profess that "THIS IS THE TRUTH!" when you can not even prove a single thing in any of the religions!I am so sick and tired of this war and all these right winged christian nutcases running around like a bunch of damn fools! I am so sick and tired of all these half baked muslims running around acting like asses!!! I wish I could take all of these people and stick them on another planet and leave them to deal with each other!Every time you turn on the news now it is a religous nutcase overhere doing something incrediblely stupid whether it is a right winged christian clown or a death to america muslim dick ahead.I am really tired of both of them.
These Christian fanatics are just like the jihadic Islamists. They all want a world wide religious and cultural war. Unfortunately our soldiers are on the front line and will bear the brunt of this at first. But it will also increase enrollment in these Islamic extremist groups which will put us all in danger. Every outrageous action such as this proposed Koran burning gives the 9/11 terrorists the victory they wanted which is world wide religious polarization. Your Hub was right on.
Regardless of whether religion exists, people like Mr. Jones will exist....
I find the similarity of his name to Jim Jones eerily interesting...
I really wonder what kind of indoctrination and "education" have been going on within the Dove World Outreach Center..... I wonder what parts of the world they have been reaching in to....or trying to gain admittance...
I wonder if Mr. Jones has read "The Camp of the Saints."
Your article only serves to reinforce the points I made in my article on the same subject. You seem to exemplify the mind set that is willing to accept anything except Christianity. You won't concede that there are bigots in every religious group, and fail to affirm people in those groups who denounce the bigots in their midst. Hate is hate regardless to whom it is directed. Or by whom for that matter. If it gives you any comfort, Jones's church has about 50 members and won't be around this time next year. It will collapse under the weight of its own hatred.
Ed,
You may come to whatever conclusion you wish, but it seems that you didn't read this article completely, or any of the posts that followed it.
I said very clearly that I do not view this "sect" as Christian at all....
I called them specifically Christian imperialists, for they, unlike other sects, have chosen to attack and undermine the faith of other groups for personal gain...
If a Muslim group here in the U.S. was planning on burning Bibles, I would speak out....If a Jewish group was going to do the same thing, or if they were going to burn Qurans, I would write the same thing...
But, on the anniversary of 9/11, it is a "Christian" group that has decided to act stupidly...
Why would I have to "concede" anything else?
You're right. He does have the right to burn them, but he's a F-ing idiot for doing it. This guy is a radical Christian moron doing his part to give aid and comfort to the enemy by justifying every piece of anti-American propaganda the radical Islamic morons are saying. It's a big, vicious cycle of religious stupidity with both sides doing their damnedest to bring the rest of us down with them as they spend every last ounce of themselves trying to make sure the doom called for in their holy books actually takes place. A bunch of selfish, unenlightened, medieval a-holes.
Oh, and a big heavy sigh @ American Romance doing everything he can to totally miss the point of what you had to say. That's teh scary part. THOSE are the people who are going to destroy this country if we can't stop them, not radical Islam. The devotedly blind and arrogantly obstreperous. Grrrrr.
Glad you wrote this hub. Too bad the people who need to read it won't get it.
I agree with you that whether religion existed or not there would be nutjobs like Jones-absolutely.
What I see happening in the churches (I'm a Christian) is a kind of Christian Patriotism-something like the Christian Imperialism you mentioned. This is dangerous, and I believe we'll see just how dangerous over the next several years.
I agree with you Hx.... I am glad that Jones called off the burning...but it was interesting to see how much support he received from across this nation.
This does not bode well.
You should read my hub on the Fall of Christianity. I agree with this article. Very good points, but some of the comments are out of line. Freedom is a tough concept for some people to grasp. We all have a right to burn anything we own, including our house. The only requirements are to drop insurance on said property and to notify the fire department. Also, make sure you have a burn permit. In my article I address this problem. Is it a good idea to burn Qurans? Of course not. This is a provocation of the enemy, and demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of Christian values.
While I understand your civil liberty standpoint, I believe that there is a difference when it comes to public expression.
If you want to go to your backyard and burn a bible or quran be my guest..... But for public spectacle is an entirely different matter.
Why is it, that as of lately, espeically with liberals, it is okay to teach that Christianity is the major reason for every negative milestone in history while Islam is portrayed as the purveyor of peace?...we better be opening up our eyes America, and take a good hard look at what is really going on here, before it is too late....
Just my thought...
Thanks for your thought Merrit, but I think you are incorrect.
There is that "liberal" epithet again... Wouldn't "conservatives" be looking to preserve the freedom of religion established in our Constitution?
Rather, why is it that Christianity has worked so hard to demonize others and paint themselves as "correct" or "positive?"
Why are Muslims being persecuted in this nation?
Why are Constitutional protections being thwarted at the hands of Christians?
Why are Christians free to worship while Muslims have to live in fear of persecution?
Why can they not open houses of worship
without Christians defacing their properties or using the media to lie and scapegoat?
America needs to open its eyes....to the crimes that outwardly Christian minds are committing....
Whatever deity Bush and Cheney submit themselves to is a threat to this entire world....
For those who think that Islam is the enemy, you have much to learn, and I encourage you to discover truth for yourselves before you disparage others....
Mike, for me, I think that the term "Christianity is the most misused and misunderstood word in moderen history. I am not defending the knuckleheads who have done horrible things in the name of Christ....there has and always will be knuckleheads. Being a Christian is not a religion, but a personal relationship with Christ....and THAT is what MOST Americans are. Men and women, who have made a choice to follow Christs teachings....and that has NOTHING to do with demonizing anyone. The media and a few loudmouth "Christians' has painted this picture quite well over the years....but the day to day folks who follow Christ, work, and raise their families, who give generously to the "least of these"...are tired of being mischaractorized. We also realize that we ARE submitting ourselves to danger and sitting back quitetly or trying to be "politically correct" is no longer an option IF we want to keep our Children safe from a few who want nothing more than to bring us, as a Nation....down.
btw, we are NOT stopping anyone from worshipping whoever they want, wherever they want...WE, are NOT burning anything or defacing anything... a few knuckleheads are, nothing more, nothing less....name ONE crime that TRUE Christians are committing.
Merrit,
I am not only looking to the media characterizations of Christianity to make my statements... My great grandfather and grandfather were both ordained ministers...and I have 18 plus years of experience with their message to back my claim..
I have fraternized with various sects of Christianity since, and I have taken careful note of the same demagoguery reserved for Muslims...
"Politically correct" is a term that people are trying to use here to hide bigotry... I look to the arguments posed by those against the expansion of the Cordoba House center in Manhattan...I hear the calls for these Muslims in question to cease their building because "it isn't the decent thing to do"....or "what would the 9/11 families want?" and so forth... Anti-Muslim, anti-freedom of religion rhetoric hiding itself in the concepts of "caring people".....
I agree with you that there are knuckleheads running around. Yet, to then use the word "liberal" as an epithet for something wrong, as you did, or as something "un-American", which you imply is ludicrous.
Equal rights and respect was an idea founded in our "liberal" constitution....and these ideas apply to all of us, regardless of religious ideations...
This is not a conservative or liberal thing....this is not "politically correct"......this is holding true to what we are supposed to be doing...
I seen many sick minds in the name of free speech.
Communists fabricated social justice, but we see the results.
Only God is just.
Teach love not the hate.
Return to God.
Social justice was something that predates Communism.
As for your perspective... I think there is far more going on than what you decide to generalize in a single sentence..
"....through the peddling of fear, false stereotypes, and peer pressure."
This is rampant right now, as is expected if we're to fully utilize one of the greatest aspects we have as humans - choice. Great teachings abound today. My hope is that more and more people start healing and really feeling from their hearts which is a better way to be.
I see your work carries on Mike. Good article, good work. You might enjoy John Stuart Mill's 'On Liberty'.
Cathy, thanks for stopping by. I hope all is well with you.
We have a lot of serious issues to confront....and I am hopeful that cooler heads can prevail....
Mike - Great hub.
Extremists in both religion and politics are the problem. Without extremists, we would find acceptance, growth, compromise, prosperity and progress.
Cheers
The problem is the MEDIA, who's always seeking the most extreme views in order to get "eyesballs". The most extreme it is, the more eyeballs they get.
There's a global survey not too long ago (few months) that indicated that Jihadists gets like 90% of all Islamic coverage, yet they only comprise of a few percent of total islamic population.
Same with the idiots above. The best way to defeat idiocy is to IGNORE them and BURY them, not to publicize them on national and international media.
Burning any religious text in public like that is disrespectful, and it would be a much better world if we could all just live and let live. I don't consider it any of my business how other people worship, and respect their rights to do as they choose as long as it is within the bounds of the law. It is time that people stopped trying to force their beliefs and lifestyles onto others, and just got on with their own lives
I think that perhaps the extra-special search engine may be the only logical explanation for Terry Jones's list of reasons to burn the Koran. I think you may have figured it out!
I, of course, agree with everything you have written. All of this is unfortunate and frustrating. It is difficult to conquer hatred fueled by ignorance.
Great hub and voted up!
Hi MikeLong,
This was a great hub. It was informative and educational. I loved it.
As for Mr. Jones he lived in Germany and the church was right outside of Gainesville, Florida.
All those who criticize the Quran should have had to fly into Europe during the Iran Hostage crisis. I always took a nice Quran because back n those days they tok hostages and wouldn't dare pick off a fellow Islamist. Although I must admit the stewardess did eye ball me several times.
Everyone is either going to adapt or die in this situation.
I realy enjoyed your hub.
JT
Watch as I burn a Koran on YouTube soon...
For what purpose?
china man 20 months ago
Wouldn't it be nice if these nutters could be certified and locked away somewhere. I thought hate speeches, religious intolerance and racial abuse were against the law ? Maybe if we go park a 'burn the bible' truck by theirs ?
Or maybe we could just put them in the front line they have created and bring back all the troops.