September 7, 2010 - Despite the fact that he’s received warnings by the U.S. commander of the Afghan war that his plans could spark violent reactions in the Islamic world and could put troops at greater risk, the pastor of a small Florida church said Tuesday he plans to go forward with his Qur’an-burning plans this week.
The pastor of the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida, Terry Jones, said he’s given “serious” consideration to the concerns expressed by General David Petraeus over his plans to torch a Qur’an to mark the ninth anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks.
He said he would proceed anyway.
Do you think he should proceed? Your COMMENTS are welcome below.
"We are taking the general's words very serious. We are continuing to pray about the action on September 11th," Jones said.
He said, “We have firmly made up our mind" to go ahead with burning the Muslim holy book.
Government doesn't support Jones actions
CNN reported that the commander of the NATO training mission in Afghanistan, U.S. Army Lieutenant General William Caldwell, told journalists in Kabul on September 6 that the small church also could trigger retaliation against U.S. forces serving in Afghanistan.
"Their very actions will, in fact, jeopardize the safety of the young men and women who are serving in uniform over here," Caldwell said, "and also undermine the very mission that we are trying to accomplish."
The U.S. Embassy in Kabul also has criticized the plan as an "offensive initiative," saying in a statement that the U.S. government "in no way condones such acts of disrespect against the religion of Islam and is deeply concerned about deliberate attempts to offend members of religious or ethnic groups."
The U.S. statement says: "Americans from all religious and ethnic backgrounds reject this offensive initiative by this small group in Florida. A great number of American voices are protesting the hurtful statements made by this organization."
The warnings from U.S. officials follow an angry protest in Kabul on September 6 by several hundred Afghans who carried banners with anti-U.S. slogans and chanted "Death to America" as they denounced the planned book burning.
Jones plans to go forward
"I mean, how long, when does America stand for truth?" Jones said.
"Instead of us being blamed for what other people will do or might do, why don't we send a warning to them?
“Why don't we send a warning to radical Islam and say, don't do it. If you attack us, if you attack us, we will attack you," Jones said.
The AFP reported that in a statement, Petraeus expressed concern that the planned torching of the Qur’an would be a propaganda coup for Islamic extremists.
According to Jones, the purpose of the Qur’an-torching on Saturday aims “to remember those who were brutally murdered on September 11th," and to send a warning "to the radical element of Islam."
"We wanted to send a very clear message to them that we are not interested in their Sharia law. And we do not tolerate their threats, their fear, their radicalness. We live in the United States of America," he said.
Source:
AFP
Comments
I will like to know who the PASTOR refers as WE, probably is it to him and his family, if he has one.?
I think he is been disrespectful to everyone and showing his poor education and his high level of STUPIDITY,and IGNORANCE . Who does he think he is, that he can create a Burn the Koran
Day? He should stop using Christianity as a safe guard, he should use his NAME only and not PASTOR ..........
If that is the way he thinks!!!!!!( in such high STUPID and IDIOT level) I fill sorry for everyone that goes to his CHURCH.......I there is a DAY of the most STUPID PASTOR DAY he should be the one winning.
I am really against him doing this. His actions could cost many lives and I hope he is willing to take responsibility for that. I wonder if he prayed for the troops that will be killed because of his desire for the attention he is bringing to himself. Perhaps someone should get him a plane ticket and if he is such a man of God he can do the burning of the Qur’an over in Afghanistan where he can be there to feel the full impact of his actions. Is he brave enough to do that? I will pay a portion of that plane ticket!
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