Gainesville, Fla. Pastor Offers Insight Into the Mind of A Loon
Pastor Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Fla. was literally unknown mere days ago. Thanks to a well publicized stunt scheduled to take place this Saturday, the ninth anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks, Jones has quite possibly become the most infamous figure in the United States.
Even people that have been living under a rock have heard of this guy, but for those of you who have not exactly been paying attention, the deal in a nutshell is that the pastor previously organized what he dubbed “International Burn A Quran Day” to take place Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010. Word of this event spread like nobody’s business, and Muslims around the world did not take kindly to such a concept.
Now one of the great things about America is the fact that we have a First Amendment that grants us one of the most important rights we have ever had in 234 years as a nation. I am, of course, referring to our freedom of speech. It’s a beautiful thing. Much as I disagree with practically everything they have to say, it’s what guarantees people like Michael Moore, Rosie O’Donnell, and Sean Penn the right to express themselves they way they do.
It also means that guys like Terry Jones have the right to burn copies of any book he wants as an expression of his freedom of speech. Having said that, as big of a believer in the First Amendment that I am, there are also certain things that are better left alone...such as burning a Quran, which, judging from some of the comments Jones has made in recent days and from what we are learning about the Dove World Outreach Center, may be nothing more than a pathetic cry for attention.
For example, The Smoking Gun obtained a copy of the ”Academy Rulebook,” which outlines “a variety of cult-like rules for individuals studying to become ministers.” It instructs students to cease contact with their own families and that birthdays, funerals, and weddings are not exempt from this.
That by itself is creepy, but it gets worse.
Members of this “church” have also been known to send their children to school wearing t-shirts that say “Jesus answered I am the way and the truth of life; no one goes to the Father except through me,” and “I stand in trust with Dove Outreach Center.” On the back of the shirt is the statement “Islam is of the Devil.”
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