Church burning the Quran--what would you do if this were happening in your town?

[loraxc]

http://gawker.com/5595885/florida-ch...ran-day-on-911

What do you think would be an effective way of protesting or working to counter their message?

[MariaMadly]

http://www.pbs.org/niot/about/niot1.html

[Callimom]

oh this hurts my heart.

Is there an interfaith community that can stand up to this?
Any way to protest the protest like those who oppose Fred Phelps do?
Organize educational forums and opportunities?
Celebrate Ramadan as a community in advance of this?
Have the library or a local theatre show The Peace Tree?
Have a peace festival?

Do some sort of communty support for Muslims (sell t-shirts to raise funds for interfaith educational programs?)

There's a thread in Spirituality about dealing with intolerance (and hate) towards muslim - maybe some of the mamas there have suggestions.

hth
Karen

[LynnS6]

Finding the interfaith community in your area and having them hold a demonstration. Contact the local media and invite them.

Encouraging all the people of faith that you know to write letters to the editor in favor of religious tolerance.

And the Not in Our Town site has some great ideas. Maybe you can sponsor a view of the PBS show?

[loraxc]

Thank you so much. I really, really love the Peace Tree idea and am looking into a way to get these around our city in anticipation of this awful event.

[mamabadger]

Wow. Would it help to try and remove the discussion from conflicting religions, and focus on the issue of book-burning?

[AdinaL]

I have removed a couple of posts from this thread. This thread is for discussion of how to counter the action of the Church in question. This is not the place to air your religious grievances, or discuss how bad all religion is. Please do not post in this manner. Thanks.

[Callimom]

OP any update on community support for opposing this "church"?

[kriket]

Originally Posted by Karenwith4

oh this hurts my heart.

I would at least write a letter to the church stating their methods are inappropriate. I would be afraid to live in a town where this was happening. How long before they come for you?

[AtYourCervices]

http://creativeseminole.com/2010/08/...ing-the-quran/


There ya' go.

[Callimom]

Originally Posted by AtYourCervices

http://creativeseminole.com/2010/08/...ing-the-quran/


There ya' go.

Oh that is beautiful.
Thank you for posting that.

[kmeyrick]

I think that people need to be aware of them and I believe authorities should keep an eye on them in case they get violent.

However. They are using these strategies to build publicity and notoriety. Under no circumstances will arguing or debating work. They aren't interested in proving their point or convincing anyone of anything. They are trying to intimidate people and make them uncomfortable. I think it's best to defuse them by responding with stony silence and focusing on efforts that promote peace and tolerance.

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by kmeyrick

I think that people need to be aware of them and I believe authorities should keep an eye on them in case they get violent.

However. They are using these strategies to build publicity and notoriety. Under no circumstances will arguing or debating work. They aren't interested in proving their point or convincing anyone of anything. They are trying to intimidate people and make them uncomfortable. I think it's best to defuse them by responding with stony silence and focusing on efforts that promote peace and tolerance.

I agree with this. I know it's small potatoes, but when I was in high school a local church organized a book burning for the Harry Potter series. It was mostly a way to get their name out there and make it stick in everyone's mind.

[Callimom]

Originally Posted by kmeyrick

I think that people need to be aware of them and I believe authorities should keep an eye on them in case they get violent.

However. They are using these strategies to build publicity and notoriety. Under no circumstances will arguing or debating work. They aren't interested in proving their point or convincing anyone of anything. They are trying to intimidate people and make them uncomfortable. I think it's best to defuse them by responding with stony silence and focusing on efforts that promote peace and tolerance.

I agree with not engaging/debating but I do think it is important for the community to say: Our community believes in tolderance and peace. We do not condone hate.

Silence can often be interpretted as agreement/approval or indifference.

[MommaKitten21]

Originally Posted by kmeyrick

I think that people need to be aware of them and I believe authorities should keep an eye on them in case they get violent.

However. They are using these strategies to build publicity and notoriety. Under no circumstances will arguing or debating work. They aren't interested in proving their point or convincing anyone of anything. They are trying to intimidate people and make them uncomfortable. I think it's best to defuse them by responding with stony silence and focusing on efforts that promote peace and tolerance.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/09/06/flo...ex.html?hpt=T2


This article talks about what could possibly happen to our troops overseas if this church goes through with the book burning. It makes me sick to my stomach there is no tolerance I would think if these people at this church want to make a statement, they shouldn't burn the book, they should support our troops in someway to make THEM stronger... not more prone to serious attacks from the Taliban.

[KatWrangler]

[kblackstone444]

This is a CHRISTIAN church that's gonna do this?! Whatever happened to "love your enemies"?! They'll just look like hypocrites and fools and the possible repercussions...

[MommaKitten21]

I e-mailed the pastor of the church... wondering if I will get a reply! If I do, I will post it!

[almama]

I love the minister's idea of reading from the Quaran. I had just been thinking it would be great for lots of people to show up at the church with hoses and just spray water. People could spray water all over the country too. Honestly it sounds cheesy compared with the awfulness of the act, but it would be peaceful, dramatic and easy for people to do.

[KatWrangler]

Keeping it peaceful is the key. Don't stoop to this church's level.