Pastor Terry Jones' influence on American reputation
By Claire Cudahy
Up until a few weeks ago, the name Pastor Terry Jones would not have rung any bells for the average American. Today, Jones basks in the wake of his controversial actions that have sparked a series of global debates on Islam in America, freedom of speech and the War on Terror.
In case you live under a rock, the former hotel manager turned pastor is responsible for the widely criticized "International Burn a Koran Day" which was set to mark September 11th.
Jones is head of the Dove World Outreach Center, a fundamentalist Christian church in Gainesville, Fla. which sent shock waves through the world with his fiery message: Islam is of the Devil.
This small-time pastor has received big-time attention with condemnation from the Vatican, State Department, the commanding general in Afghanistan and even fellow evangelical preachers.
With tensions already running high over the proposed mosque at Ground Zero, Jones has stoked the fire of debate on religious freedom and acceptance.
Jones says that the church's goal in burning the Koran was "to expose that there is an element of Islam that is very dangerous and very radical." What seems to be lost on Jones, however, is how "very dangerous and very radical" his own proposed actions are.
Jones' attempt to spread his beliefs through hate and religion is not unlike the acts of terror used by radical Muslims. The irony is clear; the man claiming to fight terrorism is, in fact, a terrorist in his own right.
Jones' theological belligerence ignited protests by hundreds of Afghans who burned US flags and yelled "death to America." General David Petraeus, currently in Afghanistan, said the pastor's decision to burn the Koran could "endanger troops and it could endanger the overall effort here."
After a two-month stay in England this summer, I was shaken by these anti-American sentiments. While in London, I had the opportunity to meet a wide swath of people with varying opinions on my homeland.
It took only one Frenchman scoffing at my accent for me to, stupidly, decide it must be true that most French people hate Americans.
Applying that same logic to the Terry Jones scenario is disheartening. An Islam-hating, burn-in-hell preaching, pistol-toting American has crept into the subconscious of the global population. He is everywhere in the media spouting his beliefs and national pride.
What should be taken away from this story is not what stays in people's minds. That "bigot" and "American" are synonymous rather than that ignorance is dangerous and breeds hate and misunderstanding on all sides.
Although Jones agreed to not go through with his proposed Koran burning, it was not due to pleas from the Vatican, the potential danger it would cause to our US troops in Afghanistan or a realization that his entire belief system concerning Islam is wrong.
Jones claims he called off the burning after making a deal with the imam Feisal Abdul Rauf on the placement of the mosque on Ground Zero, something the imam has publicly denied.
Where does this leave the open-minded, accepting Americans? Misrepresented. Here's hoping the media can shed some light on a positive American force.
Claire Cudahy is a junior english major.