(USA Today) Florida pastor Terry Jones on Thursday called off his plans to burn copies of the Koran on Saturday, September 11th, in commemoration of the terrorist attacks nine years ago. Hours later after calling off the burning ban, he said he may reconsider. Thursday afternoon, Jones received a call from Defense Secretary Robert Gates urging him to not go through with plans to burn the Koran. Also, Jones had a promise of a face to face meeting with the Muslim leader behind a planned Islamic cultural center and mosque near Ground Zero in New York City. Later that day, he accused another Muslim leader of lying to him with a promise to relocate the mosque. Jones' plan to burn Korans led to him being pressured by many, including President Obama to cancel plans to burn the Koran. On Thursday, Jones met with Imam Muhammad Musri, president of the Orlando-based Islamic Society of Central Florida, and then the two held a joint news conference in which Jones said, "We have agreed to cancel our event on Saturday." Jones claimed he will spend the anniversary of 9/11 flying to New York to meet with Imam Feisal Abdual Rauf, the man behind the planned mosque and cultural center.
Jones stated he cancelled the event after striking a deal to relocate the mosque, but backers of the mosque said there is no such deal. "I am glad that Pastor Jones has decided not to burn any Qurans," Rauf said Thursday. Musri later told the Associated Press that no deal had been reached. Jones said after the news conference that Musri "clearly lied to us." "Given what we are now hearing, we are forced to rethink our decision," Jones said. "So as of right now, we are not cancelling the event, but we are suspending it." Jones didn't say whether the burning could still be held Saturday. However, Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, which has been criticized for protesting at the funerals of U.S. servicemembers, said Thursday evening that it will burn the Koran and a U.S. flag Saturday, although nothing specific as of right now.
Pastor Terry Jones pastors a small church which is named Dove World Outreach Center. He was calling for "International Burn a Koran Day" which provoked a warning this week from General David Petraeus that U.S. troops in the field could be endangered. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told the Council on Foreign Relations it was "regrettable that a pastor. . . can make this outrageous and distrustful, disgraceful plan and get the world's attention. But that's the world we live in right now." Suppose a group of atheists or Muslims decided to burn the Holy Bible. I wonder if they would receive calls from government officials such as the President and the Defense Secretary like Jones has over his plans to burn the Koran? I doubt it. However, the U.S. government doesn't want to do anything to "offend the Muslim world." However, our same government wouldn't have any problem in offending Christians.
The Dove World Outreach Center sits on 20 acres in a residential area seven miles northwest of downtown Gainesville, a city of 125,000 that is home to the University of Florida. Jones has been with the church since it's founding 25 years ago and has received more than 100 death threats; some extremely graphic. Some of Jones' supporters are ordering Korans from Amazon.com. I don't know where he will obtain other copies of the Koran.
There's no disputing to the fact that Jones has the right to freedom of religious expression under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. I'm going to use the same argument that's been used to the proposal of building a mosque and Islamic cultural center near Ground Zero. Jones has the right to have a "Koran burning day." The question I have is, what's his purpose behind it? Is it for a publicity stunt? Is it to say that Muslims are more extremist than what most Americans are led to believe? Another question that was on my mind the other day was is Dove World Outreach Center using their funds to purchase Korans? If that be the case, then that's a waste of the church's money. The church's responsibility is to propagate the gospel to the whole world; not wasting God's money to purchase Korans for a burning ceremony. That's poor stewardship of God's resources. I'm opposed to Islam and I believe the Koran isn't inspired by God. However, we're not going to save the world by burning the Koran. Religious groups have a right to use false, uninspired bibles. Religious groups have the right to be wrong. The job of the local church is to propagate the gospel to the world. The Bible doesn't say the church is supposed to be on a mission to burn all non-inspired religious documents. Mankind has free will when it comes to the gospel. He can accept it and trust Jesus and Lord and Savior, or he can reject it. Man will pay the price by spending eternity in the Lake of Fire, but man has that choice. Burning the Koran isn't going to convert the world.
I have no issue with Jone's right to have a "Koran burning day." I don't believe it's expedient for him to do so. However, I'm opposed to government officials telling a pastor that he shouldn't be burning the Koran. I guarantee if there was a "Bible burning ceremony", our elected elite wouldn't be calling whomever's involved in the bonfire not to burn the Bible. However, our government wants to coddle to the Muslim world. If the Obama administration doesn't want to stir an uproar in the Muslim world, then why don't they immediately remove all U.S. troops from Iraq, Afghanistan, and the rest of the Middle East? I'm certain the Muslim world is offended the U.S. is still involved with both wars in the Middle East. I've heard supposed rumors (true or untrue) that 9/11 occurred because Osama bin Laden and other religious leaders want American troops out of Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. Whether that's true or not, I can't confirm. However, I am certain the Muslim world desires the U.S. to leave the Middle East and stay out of their business. The truth of the mater is our government and the oil industry have a stake in the Middle East. That's why the U.S. is involved in the Middle East. As much as I don't think it would be wise for Terry Jones to be holding a "Koran burning cermeony", he has that right under the First Amendment.
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