9.09.2010
Don't Judge Us All by the Actions of One.
By now, I'm sure nearly all of you have heard about Terry Jones, the Florida pastor of Dove World Outreach Center, who will be burning copies of the Quran this weekend on the anniversary of 9/11.
I am so saddened to say, that this 'church' is in my town. (We actually live in a small town just outside of Gainesville, but we work in Gainesville, shop in Gainesville, grew up in Gainesville, etc.)
Many of my friends have expressed concern over this horrible occurrence giving our town a bad name. So I feel the need to let my readers know that this is NOT representative of our town. This is a very small church, with a congregation of about 50. To quote our local paper, The Gainesville Sun, "Dove World pastor Terry Jones is not the face of Gainesville." There are many other quotes on that site that represent the true feelings of Gainesville residents, and they say it far better than I can. They are appalled by what this man is planning. We are a liberal college town and generally very accepting of differences of any kind. When you walk down the street in Gainesville, especially near campus, you will see people of every color, culture, and walk of life, and we embrace it. We do NOT embrace hate.
Some people have blamed local officials for not stopping this from happening, but the fact is that they tried, but they can't. Terry Jones is not breaking the law. They will be closely watching the event and I feel certain that they will quickly stop any illegal activity. But burning a religion's holy book is not against the law. They have no legal basis to stop him.
Whenever I think about this situation, I am overwhelmed with sadness. I can't imagine why this man would want to do such a hateful, hurtful, and disrespectful thing. This nation was founded on religious freedom, and I don't understand why, in the year 2010, we are still judging others' religious beliefs. Who does this man think he is, to determine that Islam is of the devil, and his way is the only way?
Our town is filling with news trucks, and helicopters. Security will be high.
John and I will be leaving town for the weekend. My kids will be with their dad, and I hope they stay far away from Gainesville.
Please pray for the safety of the Gainesville residents....to whatever being you choose to pray to.
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21 comments:
Well, I've started this comment over 3 times. I keep running off at the fingers. LOL! I will try and shorten it again. First point: If the man is a Pastor, he of all people should know that the Bible says to love your enemies and pray for them. Point 2: The frame of mind that our country is in today (and our gov. isn't helping), people are overly sensitive and our flesh is needing to lash out at something. This being said, "acting like Hitler" and burning books does not help matters. It adds fuel to the fire. I have a lot more opinion on this, but I will leave it alone. I admire you for speaking out for your town. Although, there's probably more people that have thought about doing that, than you realized, but just never carried it out. Burning their book is not going to stop them from attacking us, it's just going to make the "peaceful Muslims" resent us just like other races do because of our ignorant actions. He needs to stop and think. Will this one action carry through into generations of hate for our grandchildren and great-grandchildren and generations to come. I know the cliche is "history repeats itself" but it's ignorant actions on the part of one or a few that stir the pot and indirectly cause it.
See, no matter what I do I cannot help myself, I just keep rambling on. I tried to shorten it, I truly did. Guess what! You still have your ears though, I type like I talk! LOL! My hubby won't wear his hearing aid for this reason. LOL!
God Bless and Keep you!
PJ
I hope you all will be safe this weekend Cyndy. That is just too close to home. Even for me as far away as I am. I hope God will settle this man's heart and mind.
This really is so sad. Saying a prayer for all of you right now...
I have no words for how sad this makes me. When Jesus told us to love our neighbor, there were no conditions put on that... NOT love them only if they looked like you, thought like you, worshipped like you. This pastor seems to have forgotten 'do unto others.'
I think its so sad that the media FOCUSES so much on stuff like this... the bad stuff...
Like, why not go around that SAME town & find people who are Serving God in ways that are amazing? That's frustrating to me...
Stay safe...
I think its so sad that the media FOCUSES so much on stuff like this... the bad stuff...
Like, why not go around that SAME town & find people who are Serving God in ways that are amazing? That's frustrating to me...
Stay safe...
Having a son overseas deployed is making me very nervous with this turn of events in your town. However, God is watching over Michael and the rest of our soldiers and I feel sadness in my heart that anyone's holy books are being disrespected. I pray your town stands strong this weekend.
On the local news this morning, people were blasting the media, saying that if they would stop covering stories like this, it wouldn't have gotten this out of hand.
I hope everyone in your area stays safe. It's sad that there is still hate in the world in this day and age.
How sad that you have to leave for own home for safety reasons. This is so wrong on so many levels and this man will definately be judged for his actions. There really isn't even words for how wrong and disgusting this act is, especially by a supposed Christian. It is certainly not our place to judge but I'm sorry what he is doing is so hypocritcal and dare I say unamerican! And how awful and disrespectful that he is doing it on the anniversary of such a tragic event.
im so glad you wrote this. i hate that this stupid little podunk, ignorant church is getting all this attention.
btw: the church is not far from my house in gainesville. as if i didnt have ENOUGH problems selling it!!!!
Will be thinking of you this weekend Cyndy.
Lindsay
x
I'm with you on this one. We came here to get away from religious persecution and yet here we are again. I just wonder what this man really thinks this will accomplish? I will keep your hometown in my thoughts...be safe!
~K
I will be praying for everyones safety. It is so sad when things like this happen. Why is it so hard for other to accept that someone may think differently from them, especially a so called Pastor. What happen to love & respect eachother. So sad!
It would be a good idea to get out of town and I will keep everyone in my prayers. I don't like what happen on 9/11 but he should not be buring the Quran.
You know... if the media wouldn't latch onto these things and blow them up huge, he wouldn't get the press....
Regardless. He's a putz.
cindy, even before you wrote this i never in a million years would have judged the whole town where he lives by the example he is trying to set. he is a moron and maybe even mentally ill to think he even has the right to do something like this. what will be next? all books about gays? about blacks again? what about books on atheism.. does he want to destroy everything that is different? will he burn school books next? what a f.... idiot.
all muslams are not the enemy just because a handful of radicals do bad things. we cant judge all people of that faith, or for what it matters, ANY faith just because some have done bad things. that in itself pisses me off to no end.
we shouldnt judge- PERIOD. but it never fails that those who do are usually those that yell it out how christian they are and they really believe they are speaking for god or on his behalf. god WOULDNT say anything close to what comes out of their mouths... these people are crazy, just plain ole crazy. i too hope you all stay safe..
on the other side, i wouldnt even go be any part of that event, whether it was with him or against him. i would not add to the attention he is seeking in any way. he wouldnt be worth my energy.
this is why our world will never have peace, because of trouble makers such as him...
ooohhh this pisses me off. i am very glad you posted about it.
also someone up in prior comments said why doesnt a pastor go around looking to celebrate people who are wonderful examples of god's love... and i so agree. if we could all focus on the wonderful, beautiful things around us, we would live in a happier world.
I have no words....I am just speechless by all this, It makes my heart ache! I hope you have a safe weekend and I hope your little town remains safe!
That pastor doesn't represent Gainsville, just like he doesn't represent the United States.
Hope you enjoy your weekend away, but it sounds like the craziness isn't going to happen, so that's a relief.
Kristin _ The Goat
I am speechless. Praying for the whole situation.
I know you don't share these opinions ... it's sad that in a time where our country NEEDS empathy and support, so many people find it necessary to fill it with hate and intolerance. we are not at war with a religion or a religious book, we are at war with extremists ... and sadly, even in our own country, with our own people, this is true.
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