Update

[poliphilo]

Events have moved on. Pastor Jones has suspended his book burning. In a statement to the media he said he'd done a deal; in return for his backing down the controversial New York mosque (only it's not a mosque) will be moved away from Ground Zero. A spokesperson for the Ground Zero mosque said it was the first he'd heard of it.

What I'd like to believe is that Jones' meeting with real-life Muslims- who seem to have treated him with respect and courtesy-  has knocked him off balance. Of course there's been pressure from all over. It must be disconcerting (even as it feeds your vanity) to turn on the TV to hear the President of the USA denouncing you.

In a country that cares less about liberty and free speech Pastor Jones would have been arrested or firebombed or mysteriously made to disappear by now. Last night I called this story "a carwreck of the human spirit". I spoke too soon. What we've seen over the past twelve hours is the application to a festering psychic wound of reason, courtesy, kindness- and they seem to have made a difference.

Comments

[veronica-milvus.livejournal.com]

I think he has made that up himself, not sure anyone actually said it.

[chiller.livejournal.com]

The point is, he's stood up and said that he has an undertaking from one or more Imams to that effect. When the mosque goes ahead, all the people who want to believe that Muslims are double-dealing people who seek to undermine the US will point at this and say "they went back on their word!"

I think the way the pastor has handled this has been enormously cowardly. He needed to say "I was wrong, I take it back," and set a loving example to his followers.

[clindau.livejournal.com]

I think that setting a loving example to his followers is the last thing on his mind.

[daisytells.livejournal.com]

I thought it wasnt a mosque, but rather a "cultural center". Newspeak?

[chiller.livejournal.com]

No, you're right. It's a cultural centre. But everyone just sees 'Muslim' and calls it a mosque.

What bothers me about this is: why shouldn't Americans have a mosque and go and worship in it, if they want to? Isn't freedom of religion kind of entrenched? Do these people think that American Muslims are somehow not American? Can we kick those people right in the face? Can we?

[wlotus.livejournal.com]

I will supply the boots.

[stevegreen.livejournal.com]

In the UK at least, they're pretty interchangable terms, as the same building is used both as a house of worship and a focus for community activities.

[daisytells.livejournal.com]

My point exactly. Muslims of my acquaintance also used the term interchangably here as well.

[stevegreen.livejournal.com]

Similarly, I always refer to my place of worship as "the pub", even though many different kinds of hostelty, public house or bar may be involved.