A Florida pastor plans to burn Koran

[Tomasito]

A Florida pastor plans to burn copies of the Koran and a local church has a response. The leader of the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville says he plans to burn copies of the Koran to mark the ninth anniversary of 9-11 attacks. Those plans have drawn criticism from top U.S. and NATO Commander General David Petraeus. He says images of people burning one of Islam's holy books will be used by extremists to incite worldwide violence, endangering American troops and other Americans overseas.

The plan also draws criticism and a reaction here in mid-Michigan. One local church is stepping up to protest the burning. Nine years ago this Saturday the twin towers went up in flames. A pastor in Florida plans to watch the Quran do the same.

Sarah Midzalkowski, Canterbury MSU Chaplain: "It makes no sense, it makes no sense."

Reverend Sarah Midzalkowski works with All Saints Church in East Lansing. She says burning the Quran will solve nothing.

Sarah Midzalkowski: "Ya know, when you burn something, when you destroy it, you remain in ignorance."

In an attempt to change that, Midzakowski has a plan. Those who sit in the pews on Saturday won't hear readings from the Bible, but rather the Quran.

Sarah Midzalkowski: "We don't feel the need to read from the Bible on this particular night."

That's because she hopes to foster interfaith relations a plan that stands in stark contrast to that of the Dove World Outreach Center, which according to it's Facebook page, hopes to "stand against the evil of Islam" for its role in 9/11.

Abubacker Kulam, against burning Quran: "That has nothing to do with the Quran or any religious text for that matter."

Abubacker Kulam is a member of East Lansings' Islamic community. He says the text may burn, but its message will not.

Abubacker Kulam: "The sacred text is always in the people's mind, so that cannot be burned or that cannot be eradicated."

Though the world will watch as Florida tries. That event will take place this Saturday at All Saints Episcopal Church located at 800 Abbot Road in East Lansing from 7 to 9pm.

Source: http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?S=13124751

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Waiting to see your reaction Jim.
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Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance.
- Will Durant

[Beeesneees]

Here's one reaction, Tomasito.

What this man is planning to do is done through fear and ignorance, but he is ONE church leader with a small congregation of under 50 people. Condemnation of his proposed act has been widespread throughout the entire Western world. You should not judge an entire nation by one man's misguided idiocy.

I'm not going to enter into further debate on this, because in my experience political debates often become heated and serve no useful purpose... but that's my view.
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Cheers m' dears!

[Tomasito]

Thank you for your reply Bee. You are absoultely right when you say that it's not correct to judge an entire religion because of the mistakes of some.

Another point is this small church with few members has caused polemic in the entire world.
_________________
Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance.
- Will Durant

[Jamie (K)]

This controversy was caused by CNN more than anyone else. They could have ignored this small-time pastor, but they decided to spread the story all over the world, and President Obama didn't help by talking about it publicly. However, the pastor has the right to burn the Koran or any other book he wants to, just as others have the right to burn the American flag.

What is really stupid, though, is that whenever a story like this comes out -- even in cases where the story isn't true -- there are riots all over the Muslims world, and people get killed in the violence. Muslims decide it gives them an excuse to kill more Christians than usual, so there will be churches firebombed and old nuns murdered, just as has happened during other recent controversies. It takes almost nothing to trigger this behavior.

[Beeesneees]

It is not true Muslims who carry out these acts 'Muslims' - but extremists acting under the Muslim banner.
Sadly there are a growing number of extremists acting under a Christian banner too.
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Cheers m' dears!

[Katty2010]

Bee is absolutely right. There is no such thing as killing people in ISLAM. Its a riot! These sick extermists have made Islam look compeletly opposite of what it really is. Nobody has got right to burn books sent by God. Even christanity is a religion sent by God. Least a person can do is act humanly. I just hope someone brings an end to these extermists who are destroying humanity and peace in world. The media is always portraying the negative side just to make and sell a story.
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Just a confused kid... trying to live through twists & turns of life!
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Everything Is Temporary!

[Tomasito]

Ketty, which extremists are you talking about? Those who were involved in 9/11 incidents or those who are protecting their own land against aliens in Iraq and Afghanistan?
_________________
Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance.
- Will Durant

[Katty2010]

9/11
_________________
Just a confused kid... trying to live through twists & turns of life!
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Everything Is Temporary!