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Pastor Jones (the Quran Burner) Arrested for Protesting Outside a Mosque in Dearborn

By
Real Estate Agent with Retired

Pastor Terry Jones, yeah, that guy that burned the Quran, and then 100,000's of muslims protested violently, killing dozens of people innocent of an unrelated to this incident, was arrested in Dearborn for protesting outside the Islamic Center mosque. A jury found him guilty of breaching the peace and inciting violence, fined him and he was restrained from visiting the site, or "near" the site for the next three years.

Ok, the fine was a token, $1. But he didn't pay and ended up in jail. Someone later bailed him out.

Now, I really do believe that Jones is at best a fool looking to continue his Warholian 15 minutes of fame. And I agree, what he does can result in violence. However, that violence has been demonstrated to be perpetrated by others who disagree with him. In effect, he has had his first ammendment rights taken away because someone else might react with violence.

However, we do not see other groups with similar messages against non-muslims having their rights revoked. Even the KKK was allowed to march through a largely Jewish section of Skokie. Those cretins from that "church" (I use the term loosely) that blames military deaths on homosexuality have had their rights to their vile speech upheld. Nobody kicks Farakahn off the podium when he verbally assaults Jews, caucasions, etc.

So why was Jones singled out. The yelling fire in a theater analogy (which the prosecuter actually used) doesn't work, not when you look at the examples above. Would he have been prevented from protesting in front of a synagogue? A Roman Catholic church? Probably not.I wonder if this will go any further.

So what do you think the reason is.

Broker Nick
South Florida Real Estate & Development, Inc. - Coconut Creek, FL
Broker Nick Relocation Broker Service

Mike - It only ends in violence by a people full of violence - not all but anyone who kills in the name of religion is a radical terrorist. 

How many Bibles have been burned in Iran - I have known Christian missionaries killed carrying Bibles across into Iran and the Bibles burned - 

No protests when its on the other side - only to appease the other...

Apr 24, 2011 10:14 AM
Broker Nick
South Florida Real Estate & Development, Inc. - Coconut Creek, FL
Broker Nick Relocation Broker Service

Happy Easter Mike to you and your family - hope you had a wonderful Estaer weekend.

Apr 24, 2011 10:16 AM
Michael Delaware
North Sky Realty LLC - Battle Creek, MI
REALTORĀ®, CRS, GRI

He will probably win on the grounds of free speech.  However, the freedom of religion is protected by the same amendment.  So if he was determined to be obstructing or harrassing employees at their place of work because of their religious beliefs, it can take on a different light.  I do not know much about this story in Dearborn, but I am familiar with the Skokie case and the ruling. 

In Michigan there is also the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act that prohibits harrassing people at their place of work because of one of the protected classes, including religion.  So it will be interesting to see how this unfolds, and whether it will go to a higher court for a ruling.

Apr 24, 2011 10:58 AM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Sardi - would that be under the equal protection even if an idiot clause?

Doug - the first amendment doesn' protect popular speech, only the unpopular

Lenn - it didn't state, but, the judge's name is Habib

Lloyd - that would be a matter between him and his denomination, I don't think that any state "licenses" clerics of any religion. And while there may be intolerance on both sides, there is a big difference between Jones and those that will kill someone who believes differently

Nick - thanks for the feature, but this is the U.S., different laws (not that I agree will killing missionaries).

Michael - there was no mention of interfereing with anyone's attempt to exercise their religion. He was also not charged under that act.

 

Apr 24, 2011 11:30 AM
Broker Nick
South Florida Real Estate & Development, Inc. - Coconut Creek, FL
Broker Nick Relocation Broker Service
Lloyd - you don't see much difference between a man who burns a book and a man who kills another human being? What planet are you from? Excuse me - but no government has a right to revoke a pastor - that is amazing those who are trying to protect rights are so free to take away rights of those who we disagree with. I would never burn any book - but how many flags were burned in protest by radicals? Where is the outcry?
Apr 24, 2011 12:00 PM
Broker Nick
South Florida Real Estate & Development, Inc. - Coconut Creek, FL
Broker Nick Relocation Broker Service

 

 Congratulations - This post is now featured in Silent Majority of The Active Rain Network!

Apr 24, 2011 01:17 PM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I personally think the guy is a complete idiot.  That being said, he is an American and all our speech should be free.  It's just wrong when people can protest at a funeral of an American soldier and another person can't protest at a mosque.

Apr 24, 2011 03:10 PM
Cheryl Campbell
Jack White Real Estate - Wasilla, AK
Wasilla Alaska Realtor

Those demanding for Jones' pastorship to be revoked, aren't saying a word about Rev. Jeremiah Wright's pastorship to be taken away!

And to compare Jones' burning the koran to muslim radicals butchering innocent people is utterly absurd.

Its a blatant double standard, and my opinion is that if it satisfies the liberal PC crowd, then they get a pass, but if it is a conservative of any kind, it has to be stopped.  If he went down the street to a synogogue or church, this would not even be a blip on the news.

Apr 24, 2011 04:17 PM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Tammy - it does not seem to be "fair"

Cheryl - perhaps some peoples speech is freer than others

Apr 24, 2011 04:37 PM
Rob Arnold
Sand Dollar Realty Group, Inc. - Altamonte Springs, FL
Metro Orlando Full Service - Investor Friendly & F

This Jones fellow is just a jerk, period.  He obviously has nothing more productive to do with his time than incite others to violence.

Apr 25, 2011 01:41 AM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Rob - yes, he is a jerk, but, he does have a first ammendment right to it

Apr 25, 2011 02:01 AM
Lloyd Binen
Certified Realty Services - Saratoga, CA
Silicon Valley Realtor since 1976; 408-373-4411

You're right.  I'm wrong. I made a mistake.  Of course there is a big difference between killing innocent people and burning a book.

But it's the same intolerance, narrow-minded bigotry and hatred that causes both incidents.  Let him talk, let him burn books.  If the media ignore him...he goes away.  Guaranteed.  Free speech doesn't mean an open microphone on public air ways.  And, whoever ordains Pastors should be pressured to rescind his ordination based on his actions.

Apr 25, 2011 01:16 PM
Bob & Leilani Souza
Souza Realty 916.408.5500 - Roseville, CA
Greater Sacramento Area Homes, Land & Investments

Mike, fair is fair and this particular situation was NOT fair. Perhaps this is the result caused by a mix of political correctness and affirmative action? Only "minority" groups are allowed to do things like this and get away with it? Dunno. Whatever it was, it wasn't fair.

Leilani

Apr 25, 2011 04:09 PM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Free speech does mean an open microphone on public airways.

Leilani - I believe it was  a mix of a lot of things

 

Apr 26, 2011 05:59 AM
Lloyd Binen
Certified Realty Services - Saratoga, CA
Silicon Valley Realtor since 1976; 408-373-4411

Oh, Really?  I must have missed that part of the First Amendment.

Apr 26, 2011 06:43 AM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

The internet is not mentioned the constitution either, but that is a free speech zone. The constitution does not put limits on where speech is considered free.

Apr 26, 2011 06:46 AM
Karl Hess
Keller Williams Shore Properties - Barnegat, NJ
on The Jersey Shore

The scariest part of the story: "Dearborn Mayor John O'Reilly Jr. told the Free Press on Saturday that he has no problem with Jones rallying at City Hall, where the city has a free-speech zone.

So much for the Constitution.

The ACLU has filed, with various degrees of success and failure, a number of lawsuits on the issue.

The most prominent examples were those created by the United States Secret Service for President George W. Bush and other members of his administration. Free speech zones existed in limited forms prior to the Presidency of George W. Bush; it was during Bush's presidency that their scope has been greatly expanded.

ACLU Free Speech Zones

Apr 26, 2011 07:50 AM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Karl - and there were plenty created for the democratic conventions, its not unique to Bush. They have been going on with the Obama administration also, even as far back as his campaign. However, this is not about Bush or Obama, it is about Pastor Jones's first amendment rights being trampled upon.

Apr 26, 2011 04:46 PM
Steve Hoffacker
Steve Hoffacker LLC - West Palm Beach, FL
Certified Aging In Place Specialist-Instructor

Mike,

Great post that has generated some great, thoughtful responses. Either we have a First Amendment or we don't. Pretty basic stuff. :)

Steve

Apr 26, 2011 06:34 PM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Steve - and either it is enforced equally or we have tyranny

Apr 27, 2011 03:03 AM