City Tries to Disown Pastor Who Planned to Burn Koran

[babylonsister]

City Tries to Disown Pastor Who Planned to Burn Koran

Chip Litherland for The New York Times

Corinna Johnston photographed her 2-year-old with a peace sign Friday at the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Fla.

By DAMIEN CAVE
Published: September 10, 2010


GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Stephanie George used to see members of the Dove World Outreach Center at her neighborhood grocery store, wearing T-shirts that said “Islam is of the devil.” But on Friday, she and her friend Lynda Dillon showed up early at Dragonfly Graphics to order a dozen shirts with a different message: “Love, not Dove.”

The design itself, complete with a lyric made famous by Elvis Costello (“What’s so funny ’bout peace, love and understanding”), takes direct aim at the pastor Terry Jones, his church and his threat — now suspended — to burn copies of the Koran on Saturday, Sept. 11.

But Ms. George and others who have lined up for the shirts from Dragonfly frown and sigh with exasperation that such a public stand is even necessary.

“He’s a lunatic, and yet I still feel like I need to get the message out that we’re not lunatics with him,” said Ms. George, 46. “I don’t want this to represent my neighborhood.”

Mr. Jones has become a reviled figure around the world. But the people of this youthful city in central Florida are taking his actions personally, with anger and heartbreak, as one of their neighbors drags their hometown into nearly nonstop news coverage and infamy.

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/11/us/11gainesville.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

[Pirate Smile]

1. Reminds me of this tweet from yesterday:

@kinggayle I realized this morning: the way I feel Pastor Jones does not represent ME...is the same way most Muslims feel about the 9/11 highjackers.

Nobody wants the world to think the assholes represent them or how they think or feel.

[Cha]

2. The irony is that Gainseville is a really

progressive part of Florida. It's a beautiful city..I used to live there a long time ago and went back in the early part of the century to visit..just bustling even in the summer..that quaint college town~ :grouphug:

[Peacetrain]

3. Saturday Morning.. I just heard he has said he will NOT do that

nor does he meet with the Imam.. Something happened last night.. I know his kids have put him at arms length.. at least his daughter.. she said he has mental issues.

[LiberalFighter]

4. Is it possible that sign is an ordinance violation?