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Thursday 9 September 2010

Quran-Burning: Conflicting News Items

Conflicting news are coming about the Quran-burning event. The story changed even as I was writing this post, and since I don’t know what twists are yet to come, I am posting the thing the way I wrote it (just now), along with link to the news page where updates can be found.
Pastor Terry Jones, who had called for burning the Quran on September 11, has cancelled the event “because the leader of a much-opposed plan to build an Islamic Center near ground zero has agreed to move its location”, according to an item from Associated Press, posted on Yahoo! News just a while ago. “The agreement couldn't be immediately confirmed,” AP adds. There are glitches.

GLITCH 1: According to the news item (still being updated as I write this), “Jones said Imam Muhammad Musri of the Islamic Society of Central Florida told him that officials would guarantee that the mosque would be moved.” The “mosque” refers to Park 51 (the so-called “ground zero mosque”), which is being led by a certain Imam Feisal Abdur Rauf. Did he authorize Musri of Florida to make any such promise? (See next).

GLITCH 2: "I asked him three times, and I have witnesses," Jones said, referring to Imam Musri of Florida. "If it's not moved, then I think Islam is a very poor example of religion. I think that would be very pitiful. I do not expect that." What if Rauf has not been consulted and Musri has made a promise on his own? (Since President Obama has already called the whole act of Jones a “stunt”, we wonder if this announcement about a deal is yet another stunt staged by Jones after he failed to gather support for his call to burn the copies of Quran: see next).

GLITCH 3: According to news report, Imam Musri “thanked Jones and his church members ‘for making the decision today to defuse the situation and bring to a positive end, etc”. Even if this deal turns out to be real, the saddest thing is destruction is being equated here with construction. Somebody wants to build a community center. Jones responds by threatening to burn copies of the Quran. This is blackmail and coercion, and not “a positive end” of anything (See next).

GLITCH 4: This came just as I was writing this post: “The imam and developer behind a plan to build an Islamic center near ground zero are denying reports that there is a deal to move the facility.” This is the latest update. So, was it just another "stunt" of Mr. Jones after all?
Note: Photograph is from Associated Press.

13 comments:

ReeBz said...

Such events are always subjected to conflicting and contradictory statements.I had deep sighs when i read here that the event has been canceled-whatever the reason behind may be!

If its only a stunt near President Obama, then wont it be better if he arrests him and put in a prison for a week or so to avoid any such criminal activity?I think it will help!

CN said...

ReeBz,

I have had the same wish/hope since the "get-go" that certainly ALL would be better off, even Jones, were he to be put in prison long enough to come to his senses and sign a contract to forsake all such violent, inflaming plans.

Problem is that America takes freedom of speech as a religion - yet as you probably know there are very contradictory interpretations of this should fear of self or nation be involved.

Perhaps an international petition would be in order here, especially if Jones continues his stunts.

Imam Musri of Florida appears to be the hero here and no one else, not even Obama...

Thinking said...

hmmm....I think it is time for this WORLD to make a law on respecting all the RELIGIONS of world.

America....Like Pakistan....was born with morale to have freedom of Religion....

And now...we should include new term in that statement....

To have feerdom of religion and to RESPECT and give SPACE to other religions....

hmmm....

ReeBz said...

Connie:
I had a very big debate sort of discussion with few Americans about what freedom of speech is.
According to the dictionary of "Oxford University Press"- "Oxford guide to British and American culture", Freedom of speech is :"The right to express any opinions in public.This right became part of American law under the "First Amendment".If the opinions expressed are false or damage a person's reputation,however that person can take legal action under US law.In Britain people are free to express most opinions,but it is against the law to express some ideas,e.g ideas that aim to cause RACIAL hatred."
hence it is proved that hurting someone's religious sentiments and hate-mongering ideas are not welcomed and legal even in U.S...To me oral condemnations donot make a difference.Had it been from Pakistan,or from Muslims there would come orders from U.N and from west to arrest the man and punish him in the most terrible way, but now as it is Terry Jones,only oral protesting is enough..?

CN said...

ReeBz,

I completely agree and many if not most Americans would probably also agree albeit most also don't see the sense of speaking up. Thus, those who would USE the sacred belief of Freedom of Speech against peace are often thus allowed to do so...

Problem here also is that media and sinister movements behind the scenes on ALL sides here and there often ignore BOTH "freedom of speech" and human rights in this time so unless people have the time you and sometimes I do to bother to do the research, many reporters, lawyers and common folk are simply afraid to write for public to condemn these ridiculous yet potentially dangerous events.

I stress - not only in US but all over the world. US arrogance needs OTHER COUNTRIES/other peoples to CONDEMN without hesitance the crazy behavior in some areas of our leaders. They won't quit, I'm afraid, including our current administration which in SOME not all ways is like Bush administrations -- without Pakistan's gov/military's & Afghanistan's refusal to cooperate on the abuses...

We need each to work hard to REQUIRE our people and governments to STOP Kidnapping people based on bounty, false charges, ridiculous and uncharged reasons and stop cooperation with Drones, charging people without fair trial, disappearing and assassinations. We need to work INTERNATIONALLY on these things or peace, freedom, end of human rights and end to war will simply not come.

Thanx for ALL you are doing dear friend in many many ways.

Thanx for spending the time discussion freedom of speech.

Huff Post has an article on why our international and US Media embarrassed itself on the kook from Gainesville under the religion section.

Hope you all had a beautiful and richly nourishing Eid.

CN said...

ReeBz,

I completely agree and many if not most Americans would probably also agree...yet the media and sinister movements behind the scenes on ALL sides here and there often ignore "freedom of speech" as well as human rights in this time. I stress - not only in US but all over the world. US arrogance won't quit, I'm afraid unless we all REQUIRE our governments to STOP kidnapping people randomly, based on bounty, false charges, and stop cooperation with Drones. People need actual charges, families and leaders of human rights MUST know their whereabouts, there must be fair and civilian trials which are NOT mere Kangaroo courts such as that for Aafia-- many of us should go to these trials to observe and write about them (you should have older people work with you and advising). There should be no more disappearing people, torture, assassinations via US, Pakistan, China or wherever. We need to work INTERNATIONALLY on these things or peace, freedom, end of human rights and end to war will simply not come.

I sense that you will be a leader in accurate and non-inflaming media...:)

ReeBz said...

Connie:
all the things you mention in your these two comments or i think you demanded them from this world- impossible for us to achieve. Cause then this planet will turn into a heaven,and It'll never happen we all know...

"I sense that you will be a leader in accurate and non-inflaming media...:)"
I cant, neither i wish for it, cause it seems that whoever becomes the leader,loses his sense of realization and feelings.. Self-love takes the place of mutual-love,sharing with fellow-men,devotion and dedication for the country!

Thinking said...

hmmm....what Connie has wished for or DEMANDED here is not so UN-ACHIEVABLE at all....aftre all we all are human being and we are not animals.

Ofcourse...world is full of disregarding people....hatred and love has always balanced in this way....

What OUR part should not to take hatred as a source to exhale our own disappoitments...but to inhale only.

hmmm....we will find people around us who not going to help us to make this world a better place to live in....

But you could find distraction loving people easily...

Even though...we have to keep on searching and to keep our faith live....and to transfer it to our next generation...

Be Optimist....is the only solution.

Hilal Ahmad said...

19 were killed nd over 200 were injured by indian forces many arrested nearly 100 missng here in kashmir during the protests on 13 september 2010 against quran burning in usa

ReeBz said...

Being optimistic is not always the solution :)
we need much more rather than being bookish now, but its only my opinion of course.
just imagine in whatever situation Pakistan is going through, do you think if we stay optimistic it will solve our problems?No.. it will only create false hopes and we will have higher expectations!

Thinking said...

hmmm.....deari....ReeBz....

You can't keep on walking until you have faith that you have legs to walk with...

Your faith to reach somewhere depends on your desires and wish.....

Your desires and wish makes you optimist...eventually makes you work on your wishes and desires....

I have so many wishes and I believed that YOU like all the youth of Pakistan must have desires...too...

So be optimist my dear....little friend...it will cost nothing and infact not at all BOOKISH....lol...

You like this word....Bookish...right?

Thinking said...

hmmm.....deari....ReeBz....

You can't keep on walking until you have faith that you have legs to walk with...

Your faith to reach somewhere depends on your desires and wish.....

Your desires and wish makes you optimist...eventually makes you work on your wishes and desires....

I have so many wishes and I believed that YOU like all the youth of Pakistan must have desires...too...

So be optimist my dear....little friend...it will cost nothing and infact not at all BOOKISH....lol...

You like this word....Bookish...right?

ReeBz said...

I'm not in love with the word bookish ofcourse,but donot want to argue as in this way we will be just defending ourselves,instead of discussing the topic.
But i partially agree with what you said Hr :)!