Loony Pastor Still a Loon, But No Longer a Fire Hazard

Thank God. Can we go back to ignoring this guy now? I thought it was worth noting way back in July when the crazy “Burn a Qu’ran Day” was first announced, especially because it seemed to me then–and still now–that political conservatives like Newt Gingrich needed to either accept some responsibility for the Islamo-hatred they were whipping up or step up to the plate (as some belatedly did in the past 24 hours) and denounce this kind of extreme wackadoodle nonsense.

But I think our colleague Jim Poniewozik gets it exactly right–after ignoring this story for over a month, the media coverage of it this week has been a shameful exercise in snowballing, piling-on, and lazy false equivalizing. (I don’t care that it’s not a word–my dictionary and I are going rogue.)

If Jones changes his mind about changing his mind–and I’d bet there’s a pretty good chance of that–the public can only hope that reporters and cameras don’t descend on Florida this Saturday to watch Jones and a half dozen followers whip out their lighter fluid. But members of the media can do more than hope. We can do the right thing by letting this hatefulness play out on a homemade backyard stage instead of a global media platform.

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  • newfreedomblog

    Someone also needs to pick up your computer and toss it into the dipsy-dumpster. What you write is not a lot different than what Rev Jones says…….both are equally sensationalized garbage.
    .
    Just saying.
    .
    I think I’ll go on a crusade to burn copies of TIME ragazine. I wonder if that might pi$$ off a few Muslim Terrorists?

  • Ivy_B

    Thank you Amy. I completely agree.

    There would not have been any controversy about the Park51 community center (as there had not been for months before Pamela Geller began to whip up the troops) if the media had ignored it. The same would be true of this person and his 50 member congregation. I have been angry about the media frenzy all week.

    I just heard All Things Considered announce the non-burning and say Gee, do you think the media made too much of this? Other reporter, Oh no, it’s a data point. It is important for us to raise the discussion. Disgusting.

  • Friar Tuck

    Can we go back to ignoring this guy now?
    .
    I’d settle for you going back to ignoring this guy. You’re just part of this twisted sociopath’s PR machine. Why is that so hard for you to grasp?

  • deconstructiva

    Thanks, Amy. I agree; this should be ignored. But its interesting (and depressing) that there’s not much attention paid to Christianity and Islam sharing the same God. So why treat these two groups as different / enemies / etc.? While you’re still po’ed, Amy, please do a change of pace and reply to us with more thoughts to cleanse yourself before burying this issue forever. Or at least here.

  • apr2563
  • deconstructiva

    Thanks for link, apr. More proof that TPM should be used here instead of Politico. Carpentier is a good writer.

  • perrywhite1

    I agree completely, Amy, every word.

    Never in my 30 years as a fellow ink-stained wretch have I been as ashamed of my industry as I am currently. Sure, we’re all scared, but that’s no reason to all suddenly turn into P.T. Barnum — especially when it could have tragic consequences, such as with this hateful clown.

  • kevin

    CNN actually had a good story yesterday about a Muslim center and a Christian church in Memphis who were showing that interfaith cooperation is alive and well. It was nice to see a preacher on television who actually understands Christianity’s central message for once.

  • formerlyjames

    I think it’s hilarious. Religious slapstick. This is good stuff. If only a 2000 Abbot and Costello existed. May they rest in peace. But I still laugh in their memory. Who’s on first.
    .
    The primary concern here is the violent reaction of the Islamists. Don’t piss them off, right? Because they are violent. Not all Islamists are violent. But most of the violence in the world today is by Islamists, and further inflamed by fools such as this reverend.
    .
    P.S. An opposing Bible burning would only enhance my enjoyment of it all.

  • formerlyjames

    A secondary thought. To all Muslims, instead of rioting and killing innocent people, please have Bible burning. I will attend yours as well as the Quran burning. Burn, baby, burn. Can I bring some rum and my homosexual partner as well. My train of thought from this religious idiocy is almost off the track. My last contribution. Good night.

  • shepherdwong

    Never in my 30 years as a fellow ink-stained wretch have I been as ashamed of my industry as I am currently. Sure, we’re all scared, but that’s no reason to all suddenly turn into P.T. Barnum — especially when it could have tragic consequences…”
    .
    Really? Lewinskigate? The 2000 election? The run-up to Iraq? The Wilsons? The Swiftvets?
    .
    Anyway, they have to degrade themselves. There are only two political parties in town. Republicans are P.T. Barnum. Journalists are the trained animals.

  • kbanginmotown

    You beat me to it, shep!
    .
    I’d add “death panels” and Terry Schiavo to your list of symptoms of the media’s OCOSD*
    .
    Obsessive Compulsive OOH! SHINY! Disorder

  • kbanginmotown

    Burning Man…Burning Bibles…I think you’re on to something! ;)
    .
    Seriously, tho, given the fact that the domestic terror alert level is elevated, I’d guess that a Bible burning would bring about a heightened state of alert within the American law enforcement community as well.

  • kbanginmotown

    Amy: Good to see you posting and glad to see that you were in front of this story back in July. How do you rate the chances of this incident becoming an opportunity for enhancing inter-faith understanding and community?
    .
    re: words:
    equivalizing == antithetical == refudiate == you go, grrrl!
    snowballing == careful there…

  • http://jcapan.wordpress.com jcapan

    Ah, but Friar-san, if loons weren’t ranting against the boogedy boogedy, and Amy weren’t ranting against loons, what would we be left to?
    .
    Amy being terrible at her job completes us ;-)

  • bryanfred

    @ kevin -
    .
    Agreed. Pastor/reverend/preacher/etc has to be the most venerated position in the U.S. (world, for that matter) requiring no qualifications. If a guy like this can use fiery rhetoric to capture the attention of a handful of pinheads, he’s got a church – and now somehow commands some sort of authority. Meanwhile Christians and Americans across the spectrum get to suffer for it.

  • Alex Vallas

    The media bear enormous responsibilty for the extensive and unwarranted world wide coverage of this lunatics threats. This demented individual should have never received infinitesimal attention and his threats would have been localized.
    I watched CNN and saw hyprocracy at its best. A reporter condemned the President and Secretary of Defense for reacting when in fact they did the right thing to not further inflame Muslims and put our military in greater danger. As Secretary Gates stated, if his call saved one life it was worth it. The CNN reporter continued with the statement, is the White House going to react to all nutheads (my words)? Well, is CNN going to react to all nutheads with their unconscionable reporting? They do not stand alone, but they were the most prevalent. Sadly, the media have become extremely unprofessional. These inexperienced reporters are constantly looking for negatives and the gotcha moment. I particularly took offense when one reporter called him “the reverend.” Sadly, the fires have already started in Muslim countries because of this so-called pastor. Much of their reactions in the Islamic world are based on ignorance fueled by al-Queda and the Taliban. We should not add fuel to the fire.

  • anoracle

    -
    -
    ————– Mind-control de-brains the masses!
    -
    Re: “Pastor should exit the global stage” (?) (NO!)
    -
    —————You people need to WAKE UP!
    -
    That “Pastor” deserves a President’s medal!
    THE “KORAN” SAYS “KILL ALL THE INFIDELS”!
    —————- THATS ‘YOU’ AND ‘I’!
    AND,— ANY WHO DON’T PUT THEIR NOSE IN CAMEL DUNG AND ‘MOON’ THE WORLD 5 TIMES A DAY!
    ————————————————————————–
    BURN THE DAMN “KORAN”!— BURN THEM ALL!
    ALL “MUSLIMS’ ‘LIVE BY THE “KORAN”!
    U.S. Military killed by MUSLIMS IN Iraq: 4,750 U. S. Troops Slaughtered BY MUSLIMS IN Afghanistan : 1,350!
    “KORAN” IS THE MUSLIM ‘BIBLE’!
    ISLAM IS THE RELIGION OF MUSLIMS!
    “MOSQUES” ARE “MUSLIM” TEMPLES ALL’ Muslims ‘live by the “KORAN”!
    The “KORAN” says: “KILL ALL INFIDELS”!
    Muslim parents teach their children to “KILL ALL INFIDELS”, tie EXPLOSIVES to their bodies
    and send them off to kill themselves while also slaughtering “Infidels’!
    The children are told ‘this’ action will “Please Allah”, and get them to “PARADISE”
    where they will enjoy the pleasures of many “Virgins” and a “Happy Life” Forever”!
    The ‘First’ of “The Five Pillars Of Islam” says: —-”It is better to KILL them all! (The “Infidels”)
    ALL “MUSLIMS” ‘repeat’ “KILL THE INFIDELS” “It is better to kill them all”; in their “DAILY PRAYERS”!
    5 times a day!
    There are no “Tolerant” or “Peaceful’ “Muslims”!
    Everything ‘Muslims” do is aimed at “DOMINATING THE WORLD”!
    Muslims say: “There is only ONE GOD: “ALLAH”!
    AND: “Any– who don’t “honor Allah” are “INFIDELS” AND SHOULD DIE”!
    Recent Newspaper articles recorded “MUSLIM” “Terrorist “Suicide Murderers”
    killing Americans and others in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iraq!
    All “Muslims” ;’Pray’ for the DEATH OF ‘ALL’ INFIDELS’!
    “MOSQUES” are where they gather to encourage each other to keep this ‘thought’ foremost in their minds!
    NO SANE RATIONAL PERSON WOULD PERMIT THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MUSLIM MOSQUE ANYWHERE! —— DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN!

  • http://patricksartor.wordpress.com patricksartor

    No, it won’t hurt Muslims, but, since you’ll have to buy them before you burn them you’ll raise sales considerably and get many more progressives to start reading Time.

  • http://patricksartor.wordpress.com patricksartor

    anoracle,
    .
    Please take the medication prescribed to you.
    .
    You’re writings are almost as bad as Freeinpa’s.

  • formerlyjames

    Almost. A bit beyond. patrick, please send me some of the medication that would placate this degree of crazy.

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  • http://resurrectedheart.wordpress.com Neil Schori

    How to respond to the Koran-burning pastor: http://bit.ly/dmLTIF

    I’m a pastor, BTW.

  • http://lookinfromoutside.wordpress.com lookinfromoutside

    Re: 11
    .
    Either the High Sheriffs are also affected by OCOSD (see 6.2) or Time’s spam filter is on the blink. ;)
    .

  • http://lookinfromoutside.wordpress.com lookinfromoutside

    Amen to that Sir.

  • http://patricksartor.wordpress.com patricksartor

    ” A bit beyond. patrick, please send me some of the medication that would placate this degree of crazy.”
    .
    If I had any you know that I would be putting it in Rusty and Freeinpa’s morning coffee.

  • kbanginmotown

    Honestly, JC: Don’t you miss being over here like sacred and me? With bats hit crazy RW neighbors? me: getting yard signs stolen. sacred: making bets and winning big buck$ when ex-friends spout off politics. Bizarre.

  • shepherdwong

    I’d add “death panels” and Terry Schiavo to your list of symptoms of the media’s OCOSD*
    .
    Yes, well, some consequences were/are more tragic than others. The fact is, had the media been telling the public the truth about Republicans these past few decades, rather than dancing to their whip and chair, we might not have had 9/11 or, more certainly, Iraq and it might be a whole different world where the Secretary of Defense doesn’t have to call a fanatical Christian minister to talk him out of burning a pile of Korans on cable TV.

  • Cliff

    NO SANE RATIONAL PERSON WOULD PERMIT THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MUSLIM MOSQUE ANYWHERE! —— DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN!
    .
    The irony, it burns!

  • Cliff

    Just saying.
    .
    Of course you are, my dear.

  • Cliff

    Oh f@ck yes, handbags!

  • sacredh

    I’ll buy one of your t-shirts if you’ll buy my timeshare in Orlando. You’re not from that f**king Borgen Project are you? I’ve told you before…”I DON’T have 30 billion dollars!”.

  • sacredh

    TIME’s in cahoots with them. The t-shirts have a picture of a dog with a gun pointed at it’s head on it and a message that says “If You Don’t Buy This Magazine, We’ll Shoot This Dog”.

  • sacredh

    Either drop acid or snort coke. Don’t do both. That’s just abuse.

  • Cliff

    What about if I drop acid and then pound some PCP? Is that abuse?

  • sacredh

    That was directed at anoracle. You might be able to handle it. I’m not sure he could handle an unfiltered cigarette.

  • sacredh

    Did you ever wonder if a face to face conversation with one of the cap lock people would involve lots of shouting?

  • Cliff

    For some reason it makes sense to me that you would pound PCP in the same manner you would pound a Coors Light. That’s probably completely incorrect.
    .
    And yeah, you would probably need earplugs for a face to face meeting with anoracle.

  • sacredh

    A little OT, but I’ve been complaining to my boss for months that I haven’t had a surprise drug test for over a year. We get to work, they say “surprise” and we get a few hours to get to the lab, get tested and get back. It’s like half a day off with pay.

  • apr2563

    sacredh: Not so much shouting from someone like anoracle, but I bet a lot of drooling.

  • sacredh

    What made me wonder is that a recently ex-friend would pretty much go bonkers and start screaming whenever he talked about Obama. His face would turn red, the veins on his neck and forehead would stand out and he’d just lose control. He’s doing better financially than he ever has. He and his wife are clearing well over 7k a month and have both inherited money. He just paid cash for a $40,000 car. There’s no reason for him to lose it. He’s doing far better now than he ever did under Bush. He’s paying less in taxes and just paid off a duplex that they rent out.

  • nflfoghorn

    Racist.
    (Why beat around the bush anymore.)

  • allthingsinaname

    Loony? You are going to have to explain the difference between this guy and Beck, Rush, Palin and, the GOP’s hate filled rhetoric.
    .
    How come you guys will not call these guys loony?

  • nibblybits

    It’s just been reported that ABC and Good Morning America are paying to fly this insane “pastor” to NYC for September 11 guided by a team of producers, hoping to gin up some kind of confrontation with the community center organizers. Just another example of the tabloidization of so-called reputable news. Murrow is rolling in his grave.

  • nflfoghorn

    Now there’s blog wh– er, plugging :) we like!

  • ricardo4max

    Let’s see if I have this correct.
    A tiny little insignificant pastor with a handful of followers ( who have since dwindled to even fewer) threatens to exercise his Constitutional right of expression. The liberal left wing state run media, the Islam sympathizing Obama regime’s lapdogs, blow this WAY out of proportion. And the response of a supposed majority of a supposed peaceful religion’s (Islam) followers is to order that ALL followers commit violent murderous acts against total strangers around the world?
    Meanwhile the cowardly (sin cojones) Western media denounce everyone but those advocating violence as a response.
    Local TV station here in FL (NBC) spent the first 15 minutes or more of their post football game newscast (approx 11:30 PM) fanning the flames and NOT ONE mention or quote from anyone with a different opinion on this matter.

  • ricardo4max

    This from a WSJ poster calling herself Diane ReMarx:”The Ground Zero mosque or so-called Islamic cultural center is neither. It’s a “rabat”.

    The Prophet Mohammed imposed his rule on parts of Arabia through a series of “ghazvas”, or “razzias” (which means “raid”). The “ghazva” was designed to terrorize the infidels, convince them that their civilization was doomed and force them to submit to Islamic rule.

    After each “ghazva”, the Prophet ordered the creation of a “rabat” — or a point of contact at the heart of the infidel territory raided. The “rabat” consisted of an area for prayer, a section for the raiders to eat and rest and facilities to train and prepare for future “razzias”. (Isn’t this how this center has been described?) Later Muslim rulers used the tactic of “ghazva” to conquer territory in the Persian and Byzantine empires. After each raid, they built a “rabat” to prepare for the next “razzia”.

    It is no coincidence that Islamists routinely use the term “ghazva” to describe the 9/11 attacks against NY and Washington. The terrorists who carried out the attack are referred to as “ghazis” or “shahids” (martyrs).

    We cannot let them build a “rabat” at or near Ground Zero. NEVER! “

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