Florida pastor suspends Qur'an burning, for now

Many breathed a sigh of relief when Terry Jones announced Thursday he was suspending plans to burn Qur'ans, thanks to a purported deal to relocate a proposed Islamic Centre near Ground Zero. But confusion ensues as the leader of the Islamic Centre says no such deal was struck.

CTV National News: Paul Workman on the reaction

CTV's Washington Bureau Chief reports from New York, where he says there is much confusion surrounding the building of the Islamic centre near Ground Zero. He adds that if plans to burn the Qur'an go through, it could endanger many people.

CTV News Channel: Kamran Bokhari, STRATFOR

The director of Middle East and South Asia analysis for STRATFOR says anti-Americanism was already high among Muslims, but now Pastor Terry Jones has brought it to another level. He says if the Qur'an is burned, it could illicit a very high emotional response.

CTV News Channel: Tarek Fatah, MCC Founder

A political activist in Toronto says that the possibility of a mosque near ground zero in New York being moved may have been an influence in cancelling the burning of the Qu'ran by a pastor in Florida.

Extended: Florida pastor calls off Qur'an burning

Rev. Terry Jones speaks to reporters about his decision to call off the burning of the Qur'an. He says God would want him to call it off, and adds many do not want a mosque built at the Ground Zero location.

CTV News Channel: Obama discusses Qur'an issue

U.S. President Barack Obama has urged the pastor of a tiny Florida church to rethink his plans to burn the Qur'an to mark this weekend's anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

CTV News Channel: NBC's Tracie Potts in D.C.

A correspondent in Washington shares details about why Obama is exhorting a Florida minister to call off his plan to engage in a Qur'an-burning protest this weekend.

CTV Calgary: Reg Hampton on the reactions

A small church in Florida is stirring up a world of controversy with its plans to burn copies of the Qur'an on the anniversary of 9/11. Calgary Islamic Leader Syed Soharwardy says the planned actions are pure and simple hatred.

CTV News Channel: Terry Jones, U.S. pastor

The pastor of the Dove World Outreach Center, a small church with 50 parishioners located in Gainesville, Fla., announces he will go ahead with his plan to burn copies of the Qur'an on Sept. 11., even though this action has been widely condemned by both Christians and Muslims.

CTV News Channel: Richard Kurland, policy analyst

An immigration lawyer and analyst says that while the federal government's announcement on human trafficking is nice recognition, the number of victims in Canada is minimal.

Canada AM: Experts discuss the backlash

A member of NATO's International Security Assistance Force and the executive director of the Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations react to a U.S. pastor who is planning on burning the Qur'an on Sept. 11th.

Watch: See all Videos in the Player

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Pastor Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center speaks to the media, Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Phil Sandlin)

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CTV.ca News Staff

Date: Thu. Sep. 9 2010 10:13 PM ET

After a baffling series of events, the pastor of a Florida church has, for now, suspended plans to burn 200 copies of the Islamic holy book on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Rev. Terry Jones, head of the 50-member Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Fla., made the announcement on Thursday following growing pressure over the Qur'an burning.

Generals, world leaders and U.S. President Barack Obama had all urged the pastor to rethink his plans for the protest.

Despite the mounting pressure, Jones had previously refused to back off from his position, saying that he had received much encouragement from the public. Supporters had sent him copies of the Qur'an to burn, he said.

But on Thursday afternoon, Jones stood outside his church alongside the president of the Islamic Society of Central Florida, Imam Muhammad Musri. Jones announced that Musri told him the site of the New York mosque would be moved if the Qur'an burning did not take place.

The pastor had never before spoken about the New York mosque as a reason for holding the Qur'an protest. But he said that after praying about the decision, he decided that relocating the mosque would be a sign from God not to burn the Qur'ans.

However, after the news conference in Florida, Musri told The Associated Press that no deal had been reached to move the planned New York mosque. He and Jones had only agreed to visit New York to meet with the imam overseeing plans to build a mosque on Saturday, Musri said.

New York's Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf also denied there were any plans to relocate the Islamic centre away from the site of the Sept. 11 attacks in Manhattan.

"I am glad that Pastor Jones has decided not to burn any Qur'ans. However, I have not spoken to Pastor Jones," the statement reads.

"I am surprised by their announcement. We are not going to toy with our religion or any other. Nor are we going to barter. We are here to extend our hands to build peace and harmony."

Those comments prompted Jones to say, later in the day, that Musri had "clearly, clearly lied to us" about plans for the mosque to be relocated, raising questions about whether the Qur'an burning would proceed.

"Given what we are now hearing, we are forced to rethink our decision," Jones said. "So as of right now, we are not canceling the event, but we are suspending it."

Musri defended himself by saying that Jones had "stretched" his words regarding the New York mosque.

To make matters more confusing, celebrity real estate developer Donald Trump made a public offer to buy a major investor in the site of the planned New York mosque.

Trump said that he would be doing so as a U.S. citizen who is concerned that "a very serious, inflammatory, and highly divisive situation" may get worse.

He offered cash plus 25 per cent if the Islamic developers ensure the centre is built at least five blocks from Ground Zero.

But, the developer of the Manhattan location has already received offers worth triple the value of the property, meaning Trump's offer is much less lucrative than others already on the table.

With files from The Associated Press

Comments are now closed for this story

Scott ON
said

To those talking about how our world leaders are condemning this yet sit idly by while the extremists do the same!! Do you not realize that what they are trying to do is stop us from becoming no better than those we criticize? His plans to burn these were the equivalent of childish retaliation. Our leaders are urging us to take the moral high ground, we all know where they stand on stoning, beheading etc. Give it a rest people

Jerry in Calgary
said

This religious lunatic managed to get what he wanted all along. He got his 15 minutes of fame and then some. Now he has even been invited to the discussion table regarding the proposed building of the Cordoba Center in New York. Just what people needed...a lunatic at the table. All we need now to make the table complete is a repenting terrorist. Any person (especially a person claiming himself to be a religious leader like this pastor for example) who uses the guise of religion to further his cause through means of violence (which is what the burning of a sacred religious book is) is not fit to follow or lead. Nevermind being invited at the table for discussions as important as these are in New York. In some way, I think he should be thanking the media for having elevated his cause greater then what it realy is......an absurd idea that darn near caused world conflict and death among innocent people. This religious lunatic claiming to represent himself as a pastor is lucky to be breathing right now, nevermind getting an invitation to New York. Gads....what is this world coming to.

Ingrid
said

Well it's too bad he's not keeping his word and not going through with it. That doesn't mean he can't change his mind again.I don't think it's a publicity stunt but perhaps he's alread done enough to show what a hateful, trantrum throwing bunch those fanatical muslims are and how fearful leaders in this world are of them.. This is a wake up call.

Binky
said

Remember "Balloon Boy"?

Prof. Pye Chartt
said

Twisted but "clever" strategy? Announce that the Muslim community, in fear of being further subjected to public religious castigation with copycat Qur'an burnings, has bargained with you; then, portray Muslims as deceitful and untrustworthy renegers to an important deal? Hmm. We'll see. Quite the unfolding story.

Larry White
said

I am perplexed by the way western society is distancing itself from the Florida faction inciting hatred by threatening to burn the Quran, but that western society is unwilling to allow the Islamic community to do the same thing in distancing itself from its non-representative factions who incite fear and terror. I think western society is living a double standard and ought to wake up!!!!There seems to be middle ground here that should be easy to find, IMHO.

David in Dartmouth
said

A reasoned decision indeed...! Now if we can ask these islamists not to summarily execute those found with Bibles in Islamic counties....just maybe cooler heads may prevail. At least this may ease tensions, prevent the needless blood shed of innocent lives including those of our troops, and most importantly deny these extremists the bonanza they truly would have reaped had this gone forward. WELL DONE!.

Freedom may tick you off.
said

@Disappointed in Montreal (a Muslim) wrote: "You are against religions all together, that's also your right, but once you start insulting my religion and my beliefs, then you're infringing on my rights." Sorry MTL you DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT NOT TO BE OFFENDED OR INSULTED.....FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS A TWO WAY STREET. If someone wants to spit on the Quran or bible that is his RIGHT to freedom of expression and YOU DO NOT HAVE A RIGHT NOT TO BE OFFENDED....nadda, no way, never. Remember that next time you are offended and upset when a crazy does something. Lots of your people are killing Christians in the Sudan but you don't see us marching around Canada do you? No.

Mike (South Ottawa)
said

Hard to tell the players without a scorecard in all this!! It sure looks like Terry Jones played the media like a fiddle and achieved what he intended to do and made a point to the Muslim world that if they want respect then they had better dish it out as respect is a two way street. I think most Canadians expect respect from Muslims and not indifference or a lack of assimilation. Hopefully going forward we will have more mutual respect....hopefully.

Richard in T.O.
said

I see all the religion-haters are out in full force today. First, the claim that ("almost") all wars are started by religion is even more inaccurate and patently false than the claim that the earth is 6,000 years old and that humans frolicked with dinosaurs. Virtually no wars are "started" by religion; this statement is inaccurate, historically uninformed and just plain wrong. Second, the claim that religion is designed to take the money of the ignorant is easily disproven by the many religious leaders who have taken vows of poverty for their beliefs. Reasonable people can disagree on the existence of God or various points of theology, but the effects of religion on humanity have been, and will continue to be, overwhelmingly positive. I must say that comments stating that we should "BAN Religion!" and demonizing those who believe (e.g., by calling us flat-brained) are truly chilling; I hope these types of people never get into positions of power, or else we will see an atheist version of many parts of Medieval Europe or modern-day Saudi Arabia, where there is an "official" belief system and those who don't tow the line are severly punished.

Bk in Cornwall
said

For once I agree with Prof. Pye Chartt

Colin
said

I think everyone on here and everyone around the world has given this Crazy way more thought and attention than he deserves. I'm done listening and looking at things about this guy.

Louis
said

He thinks they will move the mosque. How much do you want to bet they will reneg?

JO
said

Seems that he has done what the supposed most powerful person in the world can't or more importantly, would not do for the people of the US.

Sergy
said

We're constantly told not to judge Islam by the actions of a few nuts, but we judge Christianity by the actions of a few nuts. And isn't it strange that the media never covers Bible burnings, which happen all the time? Once again, Christianity seems to be the only religion people are allowed to kick around. I'm an athiest, but even I balk at the double standard.

NoWay
said

North America is not a 'Christian' Nation as some have written. The natives were not Christians - missionaries sold them on it with trinkets and booze.
All religions and holy books are the work of men, and men's desire to control others with fear, to promote their own greed, and to repress the weak by the threat of no happy place to go when dead. Humanists kill millions every day (I assume you are speaking of abortions)? What about Protestants? They are Christian but they support abortion...the point is, organized religion is for the ignorant, fearful, and stupid. You have beliefs..great! Keep them to yourself and live and let live - you don't need to fear of God, or some higher being to exist for you to treat people with respect. If you believe in God, he gave you a brain, try using it for a change.

palwashah
said

as a proud Canadian muslim i would like to ask all my muslim brothers and sisters to please ignore the issue. To me it looks like this pastor is trying to gain publicity. all muslims should stay calm and show the world what real Islam is all about wich is love , passion and mercy.

Old Ted
said

Religion is fine until people get involved.

Nick Stoneburgh
said

It is not about your religion V/S mine--It is about the Islamic faith following their book by rote--
The first part was written when Mo was happy and chasing his girls-The second half when he lost and went back to destroy all whom fought him--
Now the "believers" want the second half to come of age--They use lies, confusion and our laws to overcome us until we are ripe for the picking (be-heading" and so many soft boned folks think they will become their friends.
Just like in the movie Independance Day when the Alien says to the president when asked what the aliens wanted--"We want you to DIE"-Your world will become ours and ANY of you left living will be our servants.

Norm in Ontario
said

For once I agree with Prof. Pye Chartt

rick
said

.....and imagine the look of surprise on the preachers face when he gets to the pearly gates and is informed he won't be getting in, because he behaved badly by being a hate monger and breaking the commandment about bearing false witness against thy neighboor. I'm neither Christian , Muslim or Jew, but by reading and not burning other peoples religious and philisophical ideas, I seem to learn what they are about. And I suspect the fellow in question here has never fully read with comprehension any holy book whether it be the Koran, Torah or especially the Bible. But still I think it is time for everyone to show this foolish soul compassion and forgiveness.

PBW
said

Alfie quotes the Criminal Code of Canada, referring to an act that will no longer take place - in FLORIDA???? Different county, different rules. Learn your geography. As for the Pastor concerned, maybe he just realised that ". . . discretion is the better part of valor".

LMS
said

This was only a publicity stunt...He's not crazy to cause controversy like that.

faye serofin
said

I have prayed that Terry Jones would come to his senses and act like the Christian he proposes to be. Thank God the prayers of all who did as I did, were answered.

Sandra
said

Well he got attention! Maybe his plan was never to burn them .. just wanted his 15 mins of fame!

Seth
said

I think the Pastor wanted his 15 minutes on fame.

Kevin Waldner
said

This guy's such a tool! He was never gonna go through with it anyway...As he wanted was his 15 seconds of fame. Also shows his true convictions.

Denise
said

Amazing that Obama and the FBI are so afraid of nutbar Islamic extremists that they need to intimidate a pastor into changing his mind re. burning the Qu'ran. While I don't agree with burning books (of any religion), this fearful catering to fanatics within a religion makes the U.S. look like a bunch of cowards. Ditto on the handling of the mosque to be built near ground zero. Interesting how Obama isn't trying to appease the majority of U.S. citizens and even moderate Islamists who disagree with the building of the mosque. Instead he is pulling the usual cowering and appeasing act toward a minority of misguided, insensitive and possibly extremist Islamists - again. Pathetic.

Steve
said

It is really sad that the head of a country has to appeal to a citizen to stop something that could detrimentally affect so many peoples lives in order to protect them. If people would just STOP and THINK about the results of their actions BEFORE they commit to something, this sort of thing would not have happened because he would have realized this. His selfish self righteous bull crap raised the hackles of half the world. He should learn and be more open minded about the world. Not everyone believes nor wants to believe in the same narrow minded religious crap he does.

B. Kelley, Ontario
said

Rev. Terry Jones has inadvertently done us all a big favour. The fear of violent retribution by Muslims as expressed by politicians, military brass and the general public demonstrates just how successful the war OF terror has been and how impotent the war ON terror has turned out. They have obviously won a great battle because they have instilled such fear in us that a plan to burn a few books brought out presidents and prime ministers to plead for a change of plans. If my theory is not true then ask yourself, would Obama, Harper, Clinton et al have poured out their hearts publicly if some group planned to burn a pile of Bibles or Torahs. No, never!

Scott (in Wild Rose Alliance Country)
said

Christians sits idly back while the world burns the Christian Bible but the world freaks when the Koran is threatened...something is amiss perhaps?

firstMickey
said

Calling off the book burning is the first sane decision I have heard this fellow make.

Rick
said

I find it fascinating how one little man can cause so much of an international uproar over a symbolic gesture. I remember the riots and deaths when cartoons of the prophet Mohammed were printed in the news. The reaction of some remind me of little children throwing tantrums when they don't get their way.

Alfie
said

Criminal Code of Canada:s. 319 (1) Public incitement of hatred - Every one who, by communicating statements in any public place, incites hatred against any identifiable group where such incitement is likely to lead to a breach of the peace is guilty of (a) an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years; or (b) an offence punishable on summary conviction.s. 319(2) Wilful promotion of hatred - Every one who, by communicating statements, other than in private conversation, wilfuly promotes hatred against any identifiable group is guilty of (a) an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years; or (b) an offence punishable on summary conviction.I believe in freedom of speech too. But some acts are not constitutionally protected, such as, I would argue, what Jones is planning to do. And really, what is it going to accomplish?

Rodger in Calgary
said

"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."

Leslie
said

If the media didn't give this guy the attention he was craving, then it would likely have probably gone unnoticed. Famous people should not have spoken about it at all as that only fed the media fire, so to speak. Now that it has been brought to the attention of every Muslim extremist(thanks to the ridiculous amount of coverage from the media) why wouldn't they retaliate? Not only do they look for ANY excuse for violence no matter how small, but think of the media attention they'll get if they do.

Lynn
said

@Jim in the West - From this ana many other posts I think you see yourself as a potector of the West, trying to pass along family and personal wisdom about the necessity of fighting a war for the defence of the West, and the nature of what that war should look like? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!? Murdering..slaughtering the innocent is OK by you and your family, but burning a book is not?!? You have no business living in the enlightened West. Please leave.

Extreme Pastor
said

"We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because the stuff we have done overseas is now brought right back to our own front yards. America's chickens are coming home to roost," he told his congregation. This is what the other PASTOR Jeremiah Wright said. Now this Pastor wants to burn the quran. Sadly, Obama is caught in between these two extremely disturbing points of view.

Keith in Brampton
said

Does this nutbar have a right to freedom of expression? Sure he does. But we ALL know there is a significant portion of the Muslim world that will be incited to violence by this act; we've already seen it over the Mohammad cartoons a few years ago. Given this, the burning can ONLY be seen as inciting violence by Muslims against Christians. The man must be deliberately seeking a holy war. In which case, if he goes through with it, he should then be charged as an accesory before the fact for EVERY act of retaliation perpetrated against Christians worldwide. Which means, given US sentencing laws, if convicted his carcass will be rotting in a cell somewhere well into the next milennium.

Sanjay
said

I believe that if not this year, then eventually someone would have responded to the ongoing excesses of the world Muslim community by attacking their symbols and artifacts in the same way they have desecrated things and harmed people for many many years.

Those of you who keep saying "all religions are bad" and so on, are merely lowering Christianity to the level of radical Islam. Not only is this incorrect, its intellectually lazy on your part. It only speaks to your own spritual vacuum that you would equate a book burning with a stoning or beheading or torture as happens routinely in the Muslim countries.

Book burning is his US constitutional right, and no one, not even worldwide Muslim outrage (they get outraged over any freedoms) should deny him his right to decide what to do.

Perhaps he can delay it for a year, and give everyone something to debate about until the 10th anniversary of 9/11...

Robert
said

It must be embarrassing today to be a member of an organised religion.I am grateful to be an Atheist.

Darcy
said

I'm tired of walking on eggshells around Islam.Until the doctrine condoning holy war and honor killing are changed or recinded, we should treat the book as hate literature that can't hide behind the freedom of religion. Religion that condones any violence should be (and will be) deemed false, and the protection given to it by free thinkers will be no more.The president of the united states is not much of a leader if he lets his religious views govern his practices.

Henry Wysmulek
said

I’m confused, muslims around the world regularly trash and burn the Bible and other religions Holy books and there is no outrage anywhere, while at the same time one koran is touched and the world erupts in an uproar?Sounds more like Hussein and the muslim white house is trying to impose sharia law on Americans while trashing the U.S. Constitution and law!What happened to the separation of church and state in the U.S.?People on a daily basis throw unwanted books in the garbage and nothing happens. By telling this guy he cannot touch a Koran is imposing sharia law on all of us.Just say no to sharia law!

Andrew
said

Any act of violence by Islam towards this man or any Christian is proof positive that there belief structure is corrupt. Buying into the double standard that this minister isn't allowed to burn this book because the act "requires" violent retaliation is ridiculous and states to the radical fundamentalists that they have succeeded in their terrorism.

A Muslim
said

Any act that promote violence is a sinful deed. At least any religion will teach that.

BC boy
said

The general trend today is for Western appeasers to give in to temper tantrums and that is where the real danger is, not in burning a little bit of paper and ink.I am absolutely disgusted with Prime Minister Harper and Peter MacKay (and I am a conservative) for not putting their opinions on this matter into the context of freedom of speech. They both should have admitted that their opinions are not written in stone and people can disagree with them if they want to.The media is equally disgusting because it is demonizing this pastor using the same methods it used to demonize David Koresh.

Albertaboy111
said

And Jesus said "Love each other as I have loved you"

Jim
said

Yeah, cause, you know, burning Qurans will really send a message all right. The message being that this man is the exactly the same kind of intolerant hate-monger he claims to want to send a message to.

I guess when you're an idiot it doesn't matter what message try to send; the message will always be you're still an idiot.

Also, I wonder if extremist Muslim groups will respond by organizing a Bible burning session? He can't complain without sounding like a hypocrite; it was his idea after all.

That would be the ultimate irony...

Shirrel
said

What is Terry Jones afraid of? Book burnings in history have only proven than the one doing it was in fear of something. If the Bible is truth it will stand alone without the need to burn any other text that refutes it.

JIM - CGY
said

Stop giving this person publicity would you.
Really all 50 copies can be replaced for a fraction of the cost of Airwaves you are sending out.
Refer to him and his followers as they are A Small Church of 50, who really don't reflect the views of real People in the World.

Do you wonder why they created a church, because they didn't fit. Do you know why the came up with this PUBLICITY STUNT, because it bring the Good Rev more income when other lost soles decide to follow for there reasons.

We the people of the World will not be swayed by the 50 members of Dove Church, lest we follow IDIOTS.

Daniel, England
said

This is ridiculous, I see an angry, violent mob of muslims every week on the news burning the british or american flag and the world doesnt ever unite to condem it, why? Because westerners belive in the freedom to express yourself how you see fit, or at least I thought we do.
Muslims are massive hypocrites and if they were not so in-sensitive, violent, hating and stubborn (eg:suicide bombings, burning effigies,9/11, mosque being built next to ground zero- WTF?) westerners wouldnt want to burn their holy book, and I wouldnt even be writing this comment.
I thought America was a free country? If so let the man do what he wants, muslims burn our symbols everyday.
Obama and other western leaders think that by being sensitive, condeming the burning and appeasing the religion this makes them look strong, it only makes us look weak if we dont stick up for the values we boast about so much. I agree with most comments on this thread, religion should be finished. Think about it for second.... a man, invisible, all powerful, that lives in the sky. If I just come out and said that I belived those things in a world void of religion I would be called Insane and put in the nut house. Why cant we look at religion like that? Its mad.

Commonsens
said

The ex convict and pastor TERRY JONES should be jailed under numerous criminal charges: From Hate crimes, inciting riot, up to endangering lives.If he was antisemitic, will things be different? Double standards: hypocrisy of the system. Hate is Hate, violence is violence, racism is racism; no matter the target, motives or the source.Also, I do not worry too much: He will NOT do it as I smell it is ONLY a stunt to gain popularity (insert $ here) and media coverage:"A scam artist always remains a scam artist"; even and especially if he obtain a token doctorate and cover under a pastor license that anyone can purchase.The only thing that worries me is the double standards people, medias and the system shows.

Sherry
said

Tell you what - there'd be a lot more people not backing this guy IF we Christians of this Christian-founded North American Continent were to finally stop hearing things such as "Don't say Merry Christmas" - it will upset others, "Don't wear the cross openly - it will upset others" - "Putting up Christmas Trees will upset others" etc etc etc. I've heard many comments from many people saying they are tired being told to "not upset others" with our Christian ways - if they can openly dress and show their religion - so can we. Isn't that what freedom is about? That includes the right for all non-believers of any faith to state that they do not believe. Then people who want to burn anything can rightfully be stopped. Yes, it's not our way but with all that the extremists and their followers are allowed to do, with all that journalists show from around the world (such as burning of our flags etc), things are bound to change - and that includes many Canadians not being so mild and meek any more. Of course that is my opinion - which I am allowed.

AR
said

I believe this man should be held accountable if any soldiers dies because of his actions, he might as well be the one holding the gun and therefore he should be the one doing the prison time as well.

Habib
said

Religious book-burning is like making "yo mama joke", it's juvenile, inflammatory, and short-sighted.

URU
said

There is NO SUCH THINGS AS GOD(S)! The bible is written by man and has become a money making machine which brian washes people who have no self esteem. Every faith in every holy bible is written by man and is used to shelter their wrong doings and sins. Money is printed on paper so is the bible, get it people!

bob33
said

What he is planning is disrespectful and I do not support it however he is not planning or advocating violence and I do support his right to protest and voice an opinion I disagree with. He must have that right because without it we are not free. It is those who threaten violence who must be opposed.

Joe Canadian
said

Wow - rarely is this much ignorance shown in one place. Assume for the moment that we (the West) are the good guys here. Burning books was something that the Nazis did - nice example we are following. Second, does the phrase lead by example mean anything to you people advocating burning the book? Third, this will be a recruiting bonanza for every whack job out there with an axe to grind.Brilliant move pastor doofus.

V
said

I think with Sept 11 approaching, the very thought of a mosque being built at the site where thousands died in the name of religion, some people have still never released the anger which will be coming out for many years to come. Why do we have to suppress our anger while others are allowed to flaunt it freely. Rev. Jones should be starting the biggest petition against a mosque being built on 911 soil instead of burning a book.

URU
said

The Pastor is an America and he has the right to burn the books if he wanted to as long as he is NOT phsically hurting anyone. Islamic groups should be more tolerant on people's liberty and rights. They burn flags, books and even force their woman's to be covered up without anyone making an uproar about it.Let the Pastor do what he thinks is right as long as he is NOT physically hurting anyone. To cave in is to give up your liberty!

Lhammer
said

Prof. Pye Chartt - Very well said. I agree 100%

Lorne
said

Religion and politics. Two topics one should never discuss. They can create a major rift between family and friends.A lot of people are fed up with what is and has been happening in countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan and Irag.Why should so called Christians not be able to protest, yet we let Muslims burn flags, etc., in protest, for whatever cause they can dream up.The Muslim cause usually means violence and death in the name of religion.

Disapointed in Montreal
said

As a moderate Muslim living in Canada I find it mind-blowing that people think that burning any type of holy book is "Freedom of Speech". I would never do that to the Bible or the Torah. And to even think of doing so would be insulting all the followers of these religions. You want to believe in these writings, it's your right. You are against religions all together, that's also your right, but once you start insulting my religion and my beliefs, then you're infringing on my rights.And in case you had any doubts, we don't prone violence and we condemn any kind of act of terrorism.Also, it's funny how because it's the Koran, people are ok with the idea, but if it were the Torah, then it would be considered Anti-Semitic! Just a thought

charlie
said

As we continue down this path to wonderland, and leaving aside the wisdom or lack thereof of the reverend in burning Qur'ans, one question has not received more than passing notice. Why has the media given this reverend so much attention - with his congregation of 50 or less? What other minor player could have had so much exposure and attention to his "cause"- short of committing some violent and bloody action? How many would have even heard of this intended burning were it not for the media frenzy over it? Why has the media seized on this intended Qur'an burning by a small group, in a small centre in Florida, and inflated what would have likely gone un-noticed into a major and international incident-in-waiting? Would the burning of 200 Bibles or Torah scrolls in some Muslim country received this measure of attention, or merely a passing mention? As we consider questions of security and the impact potential on our troops and citizens around the world, what responsibility does the media have in all this - piously condemning the reverend's intended actions while giving the issue so much air and print time that the President of the US and other world leaders feel it necessary to weigh in? The media actions, in my opinion, is tantamount to tossing gasoline on a fire that was never more than a match flame in the first place. I am always amazed, and annoyed, for example, at how the media warns viewers that film of an incident is graphic and disturbing and then runs it, usually at the dinner hour - rather hypocritical, what? Sometimes, fringe elements are best just ignored - and they wither and die through lack of attention.

Milly
said

Was President Obama as outraged by the death of Canadian Journalist Zahra Kazemi as he is the burning of the Qu'ran book?

karen
said

Our world leaders are cowards. No wonder we are a target for terrorists when our own leaders are afraid. Why are we letting muslims control our countries. They are threatening to kill Americans because of the burning of a book, now is not the time for the west to show weakness. Burn Baby Burn!

PVT
said

To all those who are bashing religion over this. Religion isn't the problem - it's the abuse of it that is the problem. You shouldn't judge a belief system by it's abuse. Besides, more people are killed and have been killed in the name of humanism than religion. Every year we kill millions of children before they are even born - is religion to blame for that? No - humanism, secularism and a complete devaluation of human life by means of faulty belief systems is at fault.

Dennis L. Krahn
said

Linda: very good comment. To all of you who villify 'religion' religion was fine until mankind deviated from the rules. There are species in the animal world that adhere to better values than we do and we're supposed to be the intelligent entity.

good morning
said

I think Obama has reason to speak his mind about the actions of the pastor, because Obama is a Christian speaking to another Christian, where as the building of the Mosque on ground zero is a "right" if it meets legal requirements that would be discussed within the Muslim faith. Building a Mosque is different than setting something that is important to someone else on fire.

MarkinTO
said

I think what the minister is trying to demonstrate is the double standard of religious tolerance going on here. i.e., we are forced to tolerate their religion's sensitivity while turning a blind eye to their daily public incineration's of our flags, bibles and torah's. I always find it ironic that in the name of restoring dignity to their "religion of peace" Islamists first weapon of choice is always the threat of murder. I say let him burn his books if he so chooses, that is his right and if muslims around the world riot and murder than it reveals their religion for what it really is.

Brian D.
said

President Obama should deplore that honour killings of 18 and 17 year old Amina and Sarah Said of Texas by their father. Or pehaps the honour killings of 16 year old Aqsa Parvez of Toronto. ... Where is President Obama's outrage on that???

David `1
said

I was hoping that President Obama would implore the Muslim world to "call off" extremists and implore a banning on stoning deaths of women and homosexuals, honor killings and terrorism. How can you equate the burning of a book to the murders of Dutch film director Theo Van Gogh, Daniel Pearl, Aqsa Parvez, Zainab Shafia, Geeti Shafia, Sahar Shafia, Rona Amir Mohammad, Soraya M, all the victims of September 11th 2001, in the name of Islam just to name a few.???Yet it's open season on Christians when it comes to being treated disrespectfully and we have yet to see the same violent reaction or threats to those that mock it. Islam a "peaceful" religion? What's to fear with the burning if it's as "peaceful" as it claims to be???

Paul
said

Oh I asure you there is a living God. He is the same miracle working God you find detailed in the Bible. And, as history and the Bible both show us, he has nothing to do with ANY organized religion. It was the organized religions of the day that crucified Jesus. He called the high priest and his bunch "sons of their father the devil". It is the same today. There is an elect lady, there is a spirit filled church, and when she is taken home, nobody will notice. And they DO NOT burn books.

Donaldbain
said

I would be watching out for a suicide bomber if I were the good Reverend. Seriously, this "My god is better than your god" nonsense has to stop. Can we not designate part of our earth a "No Religion" zone?

jkent
said

i wonder how many death threats i'd get if i publicly burned CHRISTIAN bibles in that town? you can't have your cake and eat it too.

Mik
said

Wow another religious battle. Religion is the bane of humanity - all it provides is unproven answers for the weak-minded by the power hungry crooked. They all cause more death, hatred and ignorance that any good they ever hoped to do. Religion will cause the end of humanity as we know it (and some are more than happy to have it happen). Will be pretty funny when the end comes and they realize it was all a sham.

mark
said

As if radical islamic extremists need an excuse to commit further acts of terror. The reality is that regardless of whether this 'pastor' burns a few holy books or not, these extremists will still commit suicide bombings, enforce brutal shariah law upon the weak and vulnerable, and carry out other acts of terror. This pastor might be insensitive, arrogant, ignorant, and what have you but can we stop pretending that this act will somehow 'make things worse'? It's already worse, and these people will still try to kill us anyways. And never forget that their goal is to make us afraid to challenge them, so that we ourselves will subvert our own freedoms. It seems many in the west have already fallen prey to this plan.

conductor274
said

This just goes to prove how worthless, irrational and absurd religion can be. The fanatics reign in the Muslim world as well as the Christian world. They claim to be loving and respectful but just cross them, any of them, and they will kill you. Glory be to the highest. The highest A-holes in the churches.

Jim in the West
said

I agree with the principle of taking the fight to the extremists, and in fact to all that support them. Soldiers fight the battles, but it is the people that must fight the wars. Only when the West remembers this fact will we have any chance of winning against the extremists. In war, soldiers and civilians both are viable targets until one side or the other surrenders. That said, I can not condone the burning of any book. I look to the example of my grandparents, both of whom fought WWII, and who approved of the firebombing of Dresden. They would never have approved of the delibrate burning of Mein Kampf.

KJ in Kingston Ontario
said

It is really quite amazing how some preacher with a congregation you could load on a city bus can get the attention of Presidents and Prime Ministers from around the globe by planning to do something completely symbolic.... Shouldn't everyone stop to think it is after all a book. Anyone can buy one. Anyone can burn one.... That's called freedom... It is the basis of our civilization. It call also be stupid and provocative -- but conversely it would be hard to imagine such an global outcry if some Imam planned to burn 200 bibles or the Catholic Catechism -- or if creationists threatened to burn copies of The Origin of Species. Certain things have to be taken in stride and ignored.

Don't call me reverend!
said

@RK in MB wrote: "If there is a god, surely he will step in to prevent a massacre performed in His name, won't He?" ... WHY? Man has a free will and if he chooses to do evil why should God jump in? If God jumped in them you would be crying about a lack of free will. Good thing God's ways are not man's ways.

Linda
said

What is truly sad is that neither the "preacher" or the extremists have any idea what is actually in the Qur'an. Both have bastardized a beautiful book, filled with far more wisdom than both sides combined, for their own vile purposes. Burning books will always be wrong, but burning them in ingnorance should be a sin.

thetruth1028
said

If you think Obama can stop this you would be wrong....The pastor is likely protected by the Constitution. So there is nothing he can do other than denounce it and try to convince the pastor. And not that it matters, but Obama is a Christian. He just doesn't flaunt it or use it to govern like Bush did.... and that is a Good thing, Religion has NO place in Government especailly considering how much Conflict it creates.

Paul
said

He is burning books. Does he have a permit for the open fire? If not, shut him down. Have the fire chief and chief of police and a district atorney and a handfull of uniformed coprs present to make sure all the laws are properly followed, and the minute the match is struck, cite them for the fire and arrest them and process them. Too easy.

SDC in NS
said

I agree that this "pastor" is being ignorant BUT - why is there more protest about this Qur'an burning than there was when people (holding and reading from the Qur'an to support their actions) hacked off the heads of innocent people and filmed it for the world to see? Where is the balance to our outrage?

Kim Bruce
said

When I first heard of Terry Jones libricide of the Qur'an the first thought that came to mind was the Nazi burnings of Jewish texts in the 30's.However, it should be noted that in Saudi Arabia, if a person steps off the plane, holding a bible, that book is immediately confiscated and sent with the thousands of other Judeo/Christian bibles, confiscated in raids on Christian homes and underground churches, to Allah's incinerator.Tundra Tabloids also brings up another good point. Remember last year when soldiers took a shipment of bibles to Afghanistan? What happened to those bibles?

Austin
said

I work with many muslims and this is a wake up call to the US and Canada. These people have no respect for our contry or our laws, none whatsoever. During breaks and lunch we constantly hear the word jihad or holy war against Canada and the United States. As for the burning of the muslim book i say we should stand up against these people and send them a message. Personally i don't care if these books are burned.....its a freedom of speech and this pastor has the right to do that. But wake up people the islamists are planning another major attack on Canada and the US....but we just do not know when and where

Prof. Pye Chartt
said

I'm not worried about upsetting some Muslim extremists; after all, they're the sworn enemy we're currently engaged in a costly and multifaceted battle against. As for upstanding Muslims, they should be (and need to be) understanding of the fact that this is an entitled and protected form of free expression. Burning a religious book physically harms no one. It's merely symbolic protest. Western culture upholds such civilized protest. (People have fought and died for this and other fundamental rights.) The bible, talmud, torah, American flag, and Western political leaders, in effigy, have all been burned, many times. Nobody went on a retributive killing spree or assembled suicide bombs to even the score. This may be offensive, ignorant, and/or insulting, but, it's civilized...and civilized behavior is what separates us from certain others in the world. Frankly, I'm embarrassed by both the attention this religious clod is receiving and the over-the-top, fear-based political reaction to his staged event. Quit loudly apologizing, repeatedly, for the behavior of one little crackpot southern reverend. Civilized Muslims, surely, don't actually believe that he speaks for Western society. (That view, in and of itself, is ignorant and insulting. Worrying about the perceptions of ill-informed Muslims abroad is a silly exercise, as they live largely in darkness, and we can't easily change that.) Quit acting like we should be scared of offending some hateful terroristic thugs. Their ideological determination is already ingrained and robotic. As civilized Westerners, we are the righteous, the rights-respecting and freedom-loving souls of the earth, not them. Hold your head up, folks...and feel free to hold your nose, if necessary.

Alex
said

I can't believe the kindergarten mentality I've seen in posts associated with this story."They burn our stuff, so why shouldn't we be allowed to burn their stuff".Grow up and lead by example people. Show the extremists (on both sides) how wrong they are by not stooping to their level.

RK in MB
said

Most if not all wars have been based in ideology. As was once said, if we live by "an eye for an eye" the world would be blind. I'm not religous, but I am sensitive to people's faith. If this lunatic goes through with this book burning, I hope the non-believers are left out of the fray that is sure to follow. Did you ever notice that someone who wants to tell you about their faith really isn't interested in hearing about yours? If there is a god, surely he will step in to prevent a massacre performed in His name, won't He?

William (Ottawa)
said

Obama is a confused. Sad that most people don't understand the difference between man made religion and a genuine relationship and faith in the creator. Equally sad is how the humanists always piggyback onto the subject to dis Christianity and other beliefs then proselytize for their own man made religion promoting the god of self. Insecure? Maybe if folks did less 'dissing' and more reading they would actually find out a few facts and be less willing to throw around misinformed fluff on the subject. Genuine faith and man made religion are two distinct issues not to be confused.

Kodie
said

Where were all the protests when the soldiers bibles were comfiscated recently and were burned? Wow I don't recall any muslims or leftists protesting that, but as soon as it's a christian burning a muslim book the whole world runs to the defence of this book, but yet in the name of their religion they have killed using the same book the pastor is going to burn. He isn't killing anyone simply burning a book. The idea is strange but it's not criminal.

Ingrid
said

Wow what an international outrage over the burning of a holy book. It shows how politicians are geniunely afraid of these fanatics. Not to mention that these Muslims are proving this reverend right. They are very violent, not peaceful as they claim to be. Previous posters are right, where is the outrage about stoning a woman to death, flag burning, bible burning and the list goes on.

GUTSHOT!! in Thunder Bay
said

What Obama needs to do is shut up. He had no trouble limiting his comments about the ground zero mosque, and yet here he is sticking his nose into this matter. This is how diversity will ruin us all. Different religions which is almost our moral being and fiber, which divides us into an almost "tribal" way is the root of all our troubles. We arent meant to live together. We need separation. WIthout separation there will be nothing but infighting and instead of unity we will have division... and thats no way to keep a nation together. Let them burn their books. I dont care what religious books people want to burn, but stop this division from the top down Obama. You should have kept quiet. There should be no mosque at ground zero, just as there should not be any synogogues. The US still is a Christian nation, and you cant force them to accept muslims. Nature/tribalism will always triumph.

Alberta Guy
said

Religion - as a concept - has been the greatest millstone ever hung around the neck of humanity from it's inception. When you add up all the people killed in the name of religion and, no doubt, all those who will continue to be killed, it's insane. It's time for EVERYONE to forget about this ridiculous "hocus-pocus", superstitious nonsense and move on. Science, not superstition and mass hysteria, is the road to enlightenment.

Dan in Quebec
said

Wow. aren't we scared? Incredible how the burning of the book is causing such fear among politicians. Is this normal? Did the radicals succeed in striking fear in Americans? What if the opposite would occur, like a Muslim cleric in a foreign land burned the American flag? Would that foreign government condemn the act on national TV and have the cleric arrested (no freedom of expression laws in most countries)?

Canadian
said

I think this man is very silly and his burning of the Koran is not going to change anything. At the same time there are two sides to this. Bibles have been burnt many times also Jewish holy books but I dont recall all mayhem breaking out about it. We seem to be appeasing all the time these days, do we now have to bow down to the rants and raves?

Michael Campbell
said

The Muslim extremists are already "blowing themselves up" taking innocent lives..do you really think it can be worse? As much as I despise Sara Pauline, I give here credit for stating about the "insensitivity of the Muslims" who wish to build their "Cordoba House" mosque at ground zero NY. I think it is time for Christians to stand up to the fanatics of the Muslim faith. Failure to do so, humbles us to the same level as those meek Muslims who let their fanatics control their faith. I side with the Florida Pastor, even though what he is doing is absolutely extreme; perhaps it will make more people aware of the real issues facing us all!

Andrew
said

Burning Books does not and will not stop radical Islam from jihad it will only intensify their will to fight. If Christianity is the truth as Christians claim then presenting the gospels through respectful dialogue, debate, and faith based good works should be enough. I can have all the faith in the world but if it is not accompanied by Love it is useless.

Anthony
said

Religions are all the same, regardless of which one - a substantial waste of time and resources, human brainwashing, and non existing Gods. It is, after all 2010 and for many the earth is still flat. So is their mind.

Michael
said

"..better angels"? ....you serious!? Enough with the namby pamby, warm and fuzzy so called spirituality Mr. Obama. He obviously doesn't know much about these matters despite calling himself a Christian. However he had no trouble playing to that constituency of gullible folks in the election if it meant getting votes and as soon as he was elected he was bringing in laws which are diametrically opposed to Christian teaching. So much for change. Terry Jones the wayward self styled pastor hasn't been listening to any angels as his position is totally unbiblical despite his twist on the subject.

Dean in Abby
said

Isn't freedom of speech and expression why the west is fighting in the middle east? Besides, I don't see anyone over there whining about stoning people to death, murdering christian converts etc., so, have at it Mr. minister. Isn't it ironic that he is getting death threats in his own country for exercising his right to free speech and expression.

Chris in Ontariariari-Oh!
said

Wow,this guy won a Nobel Peace prize and he can't even deal with some nutbar in his own backyard.Unbelievable!

Robert
said

Religion has had over 6000 years to get it right,But nope, they screwed it all up.It is over, shut them all down, the world would be better off.

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