More (Than) Muslim Riots Stirred Up By Pastor Jones?
I just saw this link over at Volokh discussing Terry Jones, the pastor who burned the Koran last month in Florida. Apparently he now plans to stage a protest at the largest mosque in the U.S. and, as the WSJ points out, the city of Dearborn isn't having it. A prosecutor is seeking to stop him and, if not stop him, move him to a "designated free speech zone":
The Wayne County prosecutor is asking a state court to order Mr. Jones to pay a peace bond to guarantee the event won't be violent. "The greatest danger is the likelihood of a riot ensuing, complete with the discharge of firearms, unless this bond is granted," the prosecutor said in her complaint.
The city of Dearborn, meanwhile, has asked Mr. Jones to move his rally two to three miles away to one of its two designated "free speech zones," from the planned site near the Islamic Center of America. The city—home to Ford Motor Co. and one of the largest Arab-American communities in the U.S.—cited concerns about traffic and parking near the mosque, which is near two churches hosting Good Friday services.
The city of Dearborn was in the process of denying Mr. Jones's permit, said a spokeswoman, adding if he went ahead as planned, he could face arrest. ...
Michigan's 19th District Court is expected to hear Wayne County's case Thursday afternoon. Mr. Jones said he plans to appear in court and said he would refuse to post a peace bond if so ordered, which could land him in county jail. Concerns about the public's security were unfounded, he said, repeating he had no plans to burn Qurans.
After the high bar for prohibiting speech was set in the recent case of Snyder v. Phelps, the question to ask is: "If the speech was pro-Muslim would there be the same reaction?"
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Oct '10
Re: More (Than) Muslim Riots Stirred Up By Pastor Jones?
the US should create a law that makes it a crime to insult religions.
Jul '10
Re: More (Than) Muslim Riots Stirred Up By Pastor Jones?
That may be one of the most insane ideas I've ever heard.
Oct '10
Re: More (Than) Muslim Riots Stirred Up By Pastor Jones?
America has a choice--either abolish free speech (and make it partial) or abolish Islam--which will it be? which is more doable?
Sep '10
Re: More (Than) Muslim Riots Stirred Up By Pastor Jones?
"Free speech zones"? So that means you can only speak freely when and where the government dictates? Isn't this the kind of thing the ACLU should be getting involved in?
Apr '11
Re: More (Than) Muslim Riots Stirred Up By Pastor Jones?
SEIU protesters in Wisconsin were climbing through the windows of the capital bldg. and crapping on the lawn without a permit and Obama thought it was great and wished he could join them.
Feb '11
Re: More (Than) Muslim Riots Stirred Up By Pastor Jones?
Are you joking? If such a law is passed then the anti-blasphemy laws Muslims have always wanted will finally be realized. How about demanding that Islamic followers accept the right to be offended and if they don't like it they can move to a Muslim country. No one is holding a gun to their head making them stay in this country. Why should the US have to bend over backwards to accomodate an intolerant faith? Why is it that the followers of the so called religion of peace always give veiled threats of violence if their faith is somehow offended?
Oct '10
Re: More (Than) Muslim Riots Stirred Up By Pastor Jones?
Rosie
Are you joking? If such a law is passed then the anti-blasphemy laws Muslims have always wanted will finally be realized. How about demanding that Islamic followers accept the right to be offended and if they don't like it they can move to a Muslim country. No one is holding a gun to their head making them stay in this country. Why should the US have to bend over backwards to accomodate an intolerant faith? Why is it that the followers of the so called religion of peace always give veiled threats of violence if their faith is somehow offended? · Apr 20 at 10:30pm
But what if the offended Muslims are already living OUTSIDE the US?
Any offensive acts or statements targetting Islam inside the U.S. will be broadcast to millions of Muslims all over the world. Will Americans be pressured to silence the pastor? It's already happening...
Feb '11
Re: More (Than) Muslim Riots Stirred Up By Pastor Jones?
The endless groveling of American official towards muslims is exceedingly tiresome.
We have the world's largest military budget, yet we are required to tremble in fear lest foreigners come and kill us if we diss their holy book.
Our own military burns Christian bibles as trash, but orders American soldiers to treat the koran with reverence.
Another in the endless list of reasons why the herd of fools ruling this country need to be booted out of office.
Edited on Apr 22, 2011 at 3:28amAug '10
Re: More (Than) Muslim Riots Stirred Up By Pastor Jones?
Whaaaat????
Re: More (Than) Muslim Riots Stirred Up By Pastor Jones?
John Marzan's modest proposal notwithstanding, I think the Supreme Court precedents to consider might be more of the KKK-march variety. Some interesting rulings there.
Oct '10
Re: More (Than) Muslim Riots Stirred Up By Pastor Jones?
in the Philippines, where 95% of the population is Christian and "only" 5% Muslim--if you insult Islam, you are asking for war.
Mindanao is home to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, an armed Muslim separatist group.
Feb '11
Re: More (Than) Muslim Riots Stirred Up By Pastor Jones?
"But what if the offended Muslims are already living OUTSIDE the US? Any offensive acts or statements targetting Islam inside the U.S. will be broadcast to millions of Muslims all over the world. Will Americans be pressured to silence the pastor? It's already happening..."
You will never win with the radicals, if isn't the Koran burning that offends them; its our Western culture with all its vices and if it isn't that its our freedom. You can never appease these people because what they want is total domination. They use violence to achieve that domination and unlike your proposal I do not want to live as a dhimni (second class citizen). Here is a proposal since it seems that the radicals only respond to violent power, respond in like manner. The crux is that as free born people living in an open society we will not do that and they know this, using it as a tool against us. So please explain Mr. Marzan, do you want to propogate the power of these Muslim radicals by caving to their demands? Do you want the rest of the non Muslim world to be second class citizens?
Jun '10
Re: More (Than) Muslim Riots Stirred Up By Pastor Jones?
From the WSJ: "As reprehensible as his beliefs may be, this is an unconstitutional attempt to limit his unpopular speech," said Rana Elmir, a spokeswoman at the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan.
May '10
Re: More (Than) Muslim Riots Stirred Up By Pastor Jones?
The entire United States is a "designated free speech zone."
Jun '10
Re: More (Than) Muslim Riots Stirred Up By Pastor Jones?
"What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"
Jul '10
Re: More (Than) Muslim Riots Stirred Up By Pastor Jones?
Kervinlee: The entire United States is a "designated free speech zone." · Apr 21 at 5:24pm
You beat me to it! Who are these yahoos to presume to restrict a sovereign peoples' right to free speech? Has the Islamic Colony of Dearbornistan completed its secession from the United States?
Oct '10
Re: More (Than) Muslim Riots Stirred Up By Pastor Jones?
This concept went by the wayside sometime ago. Feel free to speak your mind, just not where anyone can hear it in public.
In short, Muslims are not want to to assimilate either in culture or ideology.
Therefore the politicians are afraid and they find themselves in a soup.
This is diversity at its worst...
Jul '10
Re: More (Than) Muslim Riots Stirred Up By Pastor Jones?
So he can't exercise his right to free speech because offended Muslims might riot?
Which is the crime? The speech or the riot?
Honestly, I sympathize with Terry Jones. I think his impulse is to stir the hornet's nest in order to awaken the American people to the fact that hornets live among us.
Apr '11
Re: More (Than) Muslim Riots Stirred Up By Pastor Jones?
SEIU protesters in Wisconsin were climbing through the windows of the capital bldg. and crapping on the lawn without a permit and Obama thought it was great and wished he could join them. You can get a permit to crap on the lawn?
Oct '10
Re: More (Than) Muslim Riots Stirred Up By Pastor Jones?
Kenneth: So he can't exercise his right to free speech because offended Muslims might riot?
Which is the crime? The speech or the riot?
Honestly, I sympathize with Terry Jones. I think his impulse is to stir the hornet's nest in order to awaken the American people to the fact that hornets live among us. · Apr 21 at 6:07pm
Amusing this. In Canada you might find yourself before a Human Rights Commission for this comment and be sued down to your socks... And you would loose.
The Terry Jones actions are not that hard a call on this soil.
Where have we come to where there are so many instant victims lining up for compensation or consideration in one form or another ?