An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Beyond The Headline
Koran-Burning Pastor’s Gun Discharges Outside of Detroit TV Station
Police were called Thursday night after Koran-burning pastor Terry Jones accidentally discharged his firearm in the parking lot of a television station, where he had just conducted an interview, MyFoxDetroit.com reported.
“Pastor Terry Jones just discharged his firearm in our parking lot,” myFOXdetroit.com announced on its Facebook page.
“He claims it was fired by accident. The shot went into the floorboard of his car. No one was hurt. Police on scene.”
By reading the headline, you’d think that’s all the article is about, an idiot who “accidentally” discharged his weapon while sitting in his vehicle. The problem is…the bigger story isn’t hinted at in the headline.
Here is the REAL story:
The Florida pastor plans to hold a demonstration in Detroit on Friday outside the biggest mosque in the United States to protest Islamic law.
He faces a jury trial Friday morning to decide if the rally can go ahead.
A jury trial? For a demonstration? Seriously? Do other groups have to have a jury trial when they want to exercise their 1st Amendment rights?
Earlier Thursday, a judge ordered Jones to pay what is known as a “peace bond,” for his planned Good Friday protest of the Islamic Center of America.
Prosecutors sought up to $100,000 in fees from Jones for extra police in fear of a riot.
But why should they fear a riot? I mean, the guy is a whack job, evidently looking for attention, but really? A riot? I wonder why anyone would think such a thing would happen?
After a half hour of instructions from 19th District Judge Mark Somers explaining the complaint against them, Jones and his assistant, Wayne Sapp, said they understood the charges and then declined legal counsel.
Both men were called into court to answer questions from the prosecutor, who accused them of planning to disturb the peace, and take part in ethnic intimidation by holding a demonstration.
I’m a little confused. Were these men arrested, BEFORE they had done anything? If not, why read charges? I didn’t think anyone could be arrested for something they MIGHT do. Is it Jones’ intent to start a riot? Even so, he hasn’t yet, has he? I wonder if the New Black Panthers had a jury trial, or have to pay a large amount of money to hold their event in 60 cities across the country? Or, does this only occur when someone is planning a protest in front of a mosque?
Jones, head of Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Fla., drew world attention last month when his congregation staged a “trial” of Islam’s holy book that culminated in setting a copy of the Koran ablaze. News of the event incited riots in Afghanistan and an attack on a United Nations facility there that killed seven people.
If we’re going to be honest, and we always should, he didn’t actually ‘incite’ the riots in Afghanistan. I never even heard about the burning until AFTER the violence started. The blame for such actions should be placed squarely on the shoulders who did the act. Only THEY are responsible for their actions. If those actions are evil, which they are, then shouldn’t the condemnation be of the perpetrators? And who were these mad animals who should be shot down like dogs? Those who attend mosques.
He also sparked outrage when he announced plans by his church to burn copies of the Koran last year to the mark the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the U.S. He later abandoned the plans.
Do I think it’s ok to burn someone else’s ‘holy book’? I don’t see the point personally. Would I riot, destroy, or murder people if someone burned a copy of the Bible (they do, you know)? No. I wouldn’t. It’s not the thing itself that governs my life. It’s the Words printed within that guides my actions. If there are those who are so insecure about their book, perhaps they should take a good hard look at what is in that book, and reconsider their faith in the object.
