Quran Burning Video Message for Muslims and Pastor Terry Jones

The following Video at You Tube is about how Muslims will respond to Pastor Jones buring of 2998 copies of Quran – Koran
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsQq-tbJ89k&feature=youtu.be

We are concerned about the violent reactions to Quran burning by some of the fringe elements among Muslims elsewhere in the world, the perceptions that get slapped on to Muslims for the actions of a few, and safety of fellow Americans and American Embassies.

As American Muslims, we plan to respond to pastor Terry Jones' planned burning of 3000 copies of Quran on September 11, 2013 with grace and dignity.  We honor the free speech guaranteed in our constitution for every American and have no intentions to criticize, condemn or oppose Pastor Terry Jones expression.  Instead, we will be donating blood and praying for the goodness to prevail.

We hope, our mercy based message will remind Muslims to follow the examples of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), a mercy to mankind to contribute towards a better world.  We believe it may also bring a change in the attitudes of followers of Pastor Jones, and in the behavior of those Muslims who reacted violently the last time Pastor sought notoriety.

Our response would be to show unity and solidarity with fellow Americans and the fellow humanity – we will establish a system to respond to conflicts.  Americans of all traditions and religions will come together and express our goodness through fellowship and prayer, and rededicate our pledge to the safety, security and unity of our nation.

What exactly will Muslims do?
Details at: www.UnitydayUSA.com

Mike Ghouse
(214) 325-1916 text/talk
. . . . .

Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at work place. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. He believes in Standing up for others and has done that throughout his life as an activist. Mike has a presence on national and local TV, Radio and Print Media. He is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News; fortnightly at Huffington post; and several other periodicals across the world. His personal site www.MikeGhouse.net indexes all his work through many links.

Quran Burning Does Not Follow the Practice of Religious Tolerance

Published: Friday, August 30, 2013 at 12:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, August 30, 2013 at 12:01 a.m.

"Where men burn books, they shall soon burn people," — Nuremberg rallies, Nazi Germany.

Intolerance and incitement to violence is not the way to honor the people of 911. The Quran is a religious document. You don't have to agree with it, but respect is called for.

What would you do if the same religious leader chose to burn Bibles? America is a place of religious tolerance. Burning anyone's holy document is not the American way.

Hate and bigotry don't belong in any church, nor should they be preached by anyone professing Christianity. The wise person will shun the evil ways of a false leader. Our civil authorities and police should actively condemn any action that incites violence and civil unrest. It is time to act. Inaction only helps the wrongdoer to succeed.

DAVID R. HUFF

Auburndale

Terry Jones' Quran Burning Will Require Permit from Polk County

Terry Jones, Pastor of Dove World Outreach Center in Bradenton.

ERNST PETERS | THE LEDGER

By Suzie Schottelkotte
THE LEDGER

Published: Thursday, August 29, 2013 at 11:44 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, August 29, 2013 at 11:44 p.m.

MULBERRY | Controversial Florida Pastor Terry Jones must get a county permit to use Loyce E. Harpe Park near Mulberry for his Sept. 11 protest burning of 2,998 Qurans, Polk County officials said Thursday.

Jones said he'll apply for a facility use agreement, but he's not expecting the county to approve it.

That won't deter him from moving ahead with his plans, he said.

"Quite honestly, we all know what this application means," Jones said Thursday. "It's a way for them not to approve it. We'll fill out the application, but we're also going to proceed with our event."

Jones said he has had more than 400 death threats against him and knows he has a bounty on his head for his protests against Islam, but it hasn't stopped him before and won't stop him now.

"They can't think that I will back down because of a piece of paperthat some city or county may not give me," he said. "We are convinced of what we are doing. We are convinced of sounding the alarm and raising awareness about Islam."

Mianne Nelson, spokeswoman for the Polk County Commission, said facility use agreements aren't required for every event, but the scope of this one mandates the pere_SDHpmit.

"If you have an organized group and we are put on notice of an upcoming event, that organization will be required to submit an application," she said.

The scope of the event, which Jones anticipates will attract from 20 to 50 people, creates a safety issue for the county, Nelson said.

"It raises the level of liability for the county," she said. "It puts the county at risk for something going wrong or somebody being hurt."

Nelson said the application can take up to two weeks to process, and the event is 12 days away.

She also said fires are prohibited in Harpe Park because there are no fire provisions there, including picnic grills or fire pits. Jones faces a $250 penalty if he proceeds with an unauthorized fire in the park, according to the county's parks ordinance.

Jones has said he has an enclosed facility for burning the Qurans. Nelson said he would need to list that on his application, and using it would be subject to approval by county administrators.

Jones, pastor of Dove World Outreach Center, has staged several protests against Islam since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. This time, he plans to burn a Quran, the Muslim holy book, for each American life lost in that attack.

Staging the event in Mulberry wasn't always the plan.

When Jones sold his church and property in Gainesville earlier this summer, Mulberry resident Bill McKinney offered his home for the Sept. 11 burning of the Qurans. But on Tuesday, McKinney withdrew his offer, saying heavy rains have left his property flooded.

That's when Jones decided to move his event to the 535-acre Loyce E. Harpe Park, which includes sports fields and a dog park.

Jones said he could stage the event on land his church recently purchased east of Bradenton, but supporters are expecting the burning to take place in Mulberry.

"We don't want to move it to another city at this point," he said. "I'm not going to be intimidated."

[ Suzie Schottelkotte can be reached atsuzie.schottelkotte@theledger.com or 863-533- 9070. ]

What will Muslims do when burning Quran happens? A purposeful Unity Day is the answer

PURPOSEFUL EVENT :  10TH ANNUAL UNITY DAY USA
It is a purposeful event to bring Americans of different faiths, races, ethnicities and other uniqueness together to rededicate ourselves to our pledge; One nation under God with liberty and Justice for all. We will pray for peace, prosperity and security of our nation.

Last year the event focused on the positive response of Sikh community to the Wisconsin Shooting and this year, we will be the positive response of Muslim community to the planned Quran Burning by Pastor Terry Jones in Mulberry, Florida.

Event: 10th Annual Unity Day USA
Time: 8:46 AM
Date: September 11, 2013
Place: Mulberry Civic Center,
901 NE 5th St  Mulberry, FL 33860
http://www.cityofmulberryfl.com

Press Conference: 8:00 AM

 PICTURES  INDICATE HOW IT WILL BE DONE IN MULBERRY, AS HAS BEEN DONE

PICTURES FROM UNITY DAY IN DALLAS

The 10th Annual event is moved to Mulberry, Florida - for a singular purpose - to mitigate possible apprehensions generated by the planned burning of 2998 copies of Quran on September 11, 2013. We hope it restores our faith in the cohesiveness of America, and we the people will go on about our business of living our daily lives.We honor the free speech guaranteed in our constitution, and have no intentions to criticize, condemn or oppose Pastor Terry Jones freedom of expression.  Instead, we will be donating blood and praying for goodness to prevail.

We hope, our mercy based message will remind those few Muslims elsewhere in the world that violence is not the way. We believe it may bring a change in the attitudes of followers of Pastor Jones, and in the behavior of those Muslims who reacted violently the last time Pastor sought notoriety.

The full press release: http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/08/planned-muslim-response-to-quran_18.html

We will gather;
    to be together as Americans
    to express our gratitude to our men and women in uniform
    to honor individuals who have contributed to the well being of Mulberry, Florida
    to emphasize and appreciate diversity represented by America.
    to cherish the otherness of others.
    to commit to be good neighbors
    to rededicate our pledge to the peace, prosperity and security of America

Please join us with your family and friends to be together as Americans. Your presence is a valuable expression of unity. Along with our elected officials, civic, religious and business leaders, you help fulfill our common values and aspirations. Your presence fortifies our commitment to a pluralistic America.

As Americans, and as American of all hues, we uphold, protect, defend and celebrate the values enshrined in our constitution. All our faiths reinforce the creed of "One Nation under God, with liberty and justice for all”.

On this Unity Day USA, we, the people of the United States of America of every faith, race and ethnicity, will gather to express our commitment to co-existence, safety, prosperity and the well being of our nation.

PROGRAM OUTLINE Event: 10th Annual Unity Day USA
Time: 8:46 AM

Date: September 11, 2013
Place: Mulberry Civic Center, 901 NE 5th St  Mulberry, FL 33860 FLAG CEREMONY

 

NATIONAL ANTHEM
(Preferably joined in by members of at least 7 faith traditions, if not all)

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
To be led by the Hon. Mayor George Hatch of Mulberry

   

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Acknowledgement of dignitaries- Suzanne 

Thanking key volunteers - Curtis 

Thanking the Media- Butch

Appreciating the sponsors - Lynn

PURPOSE 

Purpose - a new positive approach to conflict mitigation and rededicating to our pledge – one nation under God with Liberty and Justice for all- Mike

Blood donation – Dr. Bajwa (3 Minutes) about the nationwide blood drive

GREETINGSGreetings from several religious traditions a few Video Samples;  City of Carrollton-II - City of Carrollton – Chicago Bible College


CIVIC LEADERSHIP

Mayors, Police and Fire chiefs, and Civic Leaders to share 3 minutes each – about their responsibility in treating each citizen with respect and dignity

HONORING THE ACTIVISTS
Those who have stood up for others

SPIRITUAL LEADERS

All-inclusive spiritual leaders will be on stage representing each tradition, and lighting a candle of the next, a symbolic gesture to be the light to others. Every available religious American representation in Polk County will be accommodated. This is not about sermons but about being together as Americans. Please beware, it is about Americans and included in the group will be Atheists, Pagans and other non-religious traditions.

PEACE PLEDGE

• I will I will speak up when there is injustice.
• I will speak up when truth is not spoken.
• I will make my words and my actions mitigate conflicts.
• I will do my share in nurturing goodwill for the benefit of all.
• I will do my share of peace work, without looking for others 
• I will do respect the God given uniqueness of each individual.
• I will do my best to live and let others live their way.
• I will do my best to nurture goodwill in everything I do.

SPECIAL MUSLIM PRAYER ( 3-4 Minutes)Muslim prayers and supplication for the safety and security and unity of our nation. Pray for the well being of all Americans, and seek forgiveness for all of us, and may God guide  Reverend Terry Jones to become a be blessed peace maker. Pray for the goodwill of the people of Polk county and Mulberry City, and pray for a cohesive America, where no American needs to live in apprehension, discomfort or fear or fellow Americans.

CONCLUSION REMARKS
Mayor Hatch and one of the top officials will make the remarks.

BLOOD DONATION

Please donate to defray the costs. All donors over $100 will be listed on this site. If one or two individuals want to sponsor, we would really welcome it. It will save us time.  Donate at http://americatogetherfoundation.com/donate/ 
 VIDEO MESSAGE TO MUSLIMS AND PASTOR JONES

A VIDEO MESSAGE TO MUSLIMS AND PASTOR JONES http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsQq-tbJ89k&feature=youtu.be

 

All of this is at www.WorldMuslimCongress.com

1. PLANNED MUSLIM RESPONSE TO PASTOR JONES QUR'AN BURNING URL- http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/08/planned-muslim-response-to-quran_18.html

4. A PROPER RESPONSE TO INFLAMMATORY ACT - SAUDI GAZETTE
http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20130821177617

5. FOR MUSLIMS IN AMERICA, A NOVEL PROTEST - TIMES OF INDIA
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/From-Muslims-in-America-a-novel-protest-against-quran-burning/articleshow/21982162.cms

6. TAMPA BAY FOX NEWShttp://www.myfoxtampabay.com/story/23233567/2013/08/22/pastor-wants-to-burn-3000-korans-in-mulberry

9. MUSLIMS PROTESTS - MULBERRY LEDGER
http://www.theledger.com/article/20130820/news/130829938

 A FEW CURRENT PICTURES:

 

MULBERRY MAYOR HON. GEORGE HATCH

LAKELAND MAYOR HON. GOW B. FIELDS

 

THE MULBERRY UNITY DAY TEAM - MIKE, CURTIS, SUZANNE, LYNN
AND FRIEND SUSIE (NOT ON THE TEAM)

All the original pieces related to the Quran burning even are at www.WorldMuslimCongress.com 

HOW UNITY DAY WAS BORN
http://911unitydayusa.blogspot.com/2011_12_01_archive.html

Unity day 2009

Unityday 2006

Thank you.
Mike Ghouse
(214) 325-1916 text/talk
www.AmericaTogetherFoundation.com

www.FoundationforPluralism.com
www.UnitydayUSA.com 

World Muslim Congress' Unity Ceremony Set to Counter Mulberry Quran Burnings

World Muslim Congress' Unity Ceremony Set to Counter Mulberry Quran Burningshttp://www.theledger.com/article/20130826/NEWS/130829384&tc=ix?p=2&tc=pg

Mike Ghouse  talks about his plans Monday with Curtis Rahman, Suzanne Carter-Moore and Lynne Weatherholtz Broom.

CALVIN KNIGHT | THE LEDGER

By Suzie Schottelkotte
THE LEDGER

Published: Tuesday, August 27, 2013 at 12:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, August 27, 2013 at 12:21 a.m.

MULBERRY | It's not the sprawling Unity Church of Dallas, but Mike Ghouse said Monday he's pleased to stage his group's annualUnity Day ceremony Sept. 11 at the less imposing Mulberry Civic Center.

"This is where we need to be," he said. "We are going to show the world that this is how we do it."

Ghouse, president of the Dallas-based World Muslim Congress, is bringing his group's annual ceremony to Mulberry to counter a Florida minister's plan to burn 2,998 Qurans at a Mulberry resident's home a few miles away. Ghouse traveled to Mulberry on Monday to scout locations for the peaceful ceremony and to meet with others who oppose Pastor Terry Jones' protest.

City Manager Rick Johnson said the city has no reason not to rent the Mulberry Civic Center to the Muslim-based group, but said he hopes ongoing construction at the center won't pose a problem.

The city has been battling water intrusion in the basement, and tests are underway now to determine how the water is seeping in.

"We've been taking reservations for the civic center through January, and this one is no different," Johnson said.

"There just may be some work going on, and the building may not look very good."

Ghouse estimated the ceremony could draw 100 participants. The civic center can accommodate 180 people.

The program at the Dallas church, in contrast, has attracted as many as 500 participants, Ghouse said

He said the ceremony will promote unity among all faiths and peaceful resolution to conflict.

Suzanne Carter-Moore said she's glad to see Ghouse in Mulberry.

Soon after Jones announced his plans to burn 2,998 Qurans at a home near Mulberry — one for every American who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks — she's been on a crusade to counter the demon­stration.

"We don't want to stand for radicalism, regardless of where it comes from," she said.

Her high school friend, Lynn Weatherholtz Broom, has joined her in organizing an effort against Jones' protest, and now a 17-year-old George Jenkins High School senior, Curtis Rahman, is taking up their cause as well.

"My brother was just deployed to Afghanistan," he said. "I'm standing up for what I believe in."

Since Carter-Moore initiated a Facebook page called Not In Mulberry Terry Jones, 400 people have indicated they support the effort.

Ghouse announced last week that the World Muslim Congress is moving the one-day event to Mulberry.

Jones said last week he welcomed the event, which he said won't interfere with his plans to burn 2,998 Qurans at the home of Bill McKinney off Shepherd Road.

Jones said McKinney offered his home for the event after Jones sold his church and property, the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, earlier this summer.

Jones said he's anticipating about 20 to 50 supporters will attend the burning.

[ Suzie Schottelkotte can be reached atsuzie.schottelkotte@theledger.com or 863-533-9070. ]