Koran-burning pastor turned away by Canada

[doggie]

Way to go Canada I wish we could do the same. I wish he would go over to the middle east and do some Koran burning there they would welcome him with open arms.

"I am very disappointed," Jones told the Toronto Sun from Dayton, Ohio, on his way back to Gainesville, Fla., with brother-in-law co-pastor Wayne Sapp, associate director of Stand Up America Now, after they were both turned away by the Canada Border Services Agency at the Detroit-Windsor, Ontario, border.

"This is a real blow to freedom of speech," said Jones, who gained international attention in 2010 for his plan to burn Korans, the Islamic scripture, on the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States.

Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2012/10/ ... z29CGRTp69

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2012/10/ ... 350027000/

[mebeforee]

It never fails to irritate me how people claim their actions are 'freedom of speech' even while they're actively silencing someone else.

Shut the fuck up, Terry Jones. You're trying to suppress the freedom of speech/freedom of religion by burning someone else's holy texts. Your message is not superior in any way to the one the Koran has, and whining about 'freedom of speech' doesn't make it so.

[jaynie]

You know, there is making a point that people take "sacred" objects too seriously, and there is being a bigoted asshole deliberately trying to provoke outrage (and inspire hatred) as revenge for some imagined slight (not that 9/11 was imagined -- i mean the idea that all or even most Muslims support it is imagined). I remember when this first came up, many people took the Koran-burning as a sign of the former, but I think it's really clear Mr. Jones is on Team Bigot.

"This is a real blow to freedom of speech," said Jones, who gained international attention in 2010 for his plan to burn Korans, the Islamic scripture, on the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States./

Apart from the general horrificness of this guy, this bit irritates me because it makes it sound like Canada is somehow failing to uphold its freedom of speech laws properly. Because we have to view the issue in exactly the same way as Americans, you know. We can't possibly have rules against hate speech that are valid and generally well supported; it must be that we're wrong. :x

[BravaAmica]

Last time I checked, Canada is a sovereign nation and can deny entry to anyone for any reason just like the US can. Quelle surprise!

What the fuck is it with Americans who think Canada owes them a favor? These Americans are often the same ones that get in a snit about presidential elections and threaten to move to Canada if their candidate doesn't win. Um, why would Canada want a spineless, spoiled coward to come live there?!

[SpeakNow]

By his logic non-Christians should burn bibles to remember the crusades

[Shasta ODonegal]

What a cosmic joke it is that the more delightful members of Monty Python share names with Americans who are nasty.

[jaynie]

Last time I checked, Canada is a sovereign nation and can deny entry to anyone for any reason just like the US can. Quelle surprise!

What the fuck is it with Americans who think Canada owes them a favor? These Americans are often the same ones that get in a snit about presidential elections and threaten to move to Canada if their candidate doesn't win. Um, why would Canada want a spineless, spoiled coward to come live there?!

Especially when they want to move to Canada because they're afraid of the socialism of Obamacare :lol: .

[Hane]

All I can say is that this is a considerably more comprehensible version of the USA putting Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens) on the no-fly list, in the wake of 9-11.

(Comprehensible because this guy is a douchecanoe, and, by all accounts, Yusuf Islam isn't.)

[Mustang Sally]

Last time I checked, Canada is a sovereign nation and can deny entry to anyone for any reason just like the US can. Quelle surprise!

What the fuck is it with Americans who think Canada owes them a favor? These Americans are often the same ones that get in a snit about presidential elections and threaten to move to Canada if their candidate doesn't win. Um, why would Canada want a spineless, spoiled coward to come live there?!

Seconded. The arrogance is staggering.

[Witsec7]

Gah, so we get to keep him? :?

[Hane]

Last time I checked, Canada is a sovereign nation and can deny entry to anyone for any reason just like the US can. Quelle surprise!

What the fuck is it with Americans who think Canada owes them a favor? These Americans are often the same ones that get in a snit about presidential elections and threaten to move to Canada if their candidate doesn't win. Um, why would Canada want a spineless, spoiled coward to come live there?!

This ignorant attitude can be summed up in the Oscar-nominated song from the "South Park" movie:

"Blame Canada; blame Canada--

They're not a real country anyway."

Meaning, there are so many stupid USAdians*, oblivious to history, who think of Canada as a hunk of North America that really "should belong to us," owing to our superficial similarities in language and culture, and hence get pissed off when Canada exerts its sovereignty and refuses to roll over and play dead for the USAdian right wing.

* I invented and use the term "USAdian" because Canada, Mexico, et al., are every bit as much "America" as the fifty states are.

[CanadianHippie]

News flash Jones! People who are not living in Canada don't have to same right to enter or leave the country or travel within the country as those of us who do live in the country. That means if you wanna come visit you need to play nice.

[CanadianHippie]

All I can say is that this is a considerably more comprehensible version of the USA putting Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens) on the no-fly list, in the wake of 9-11.

(Comprehensible because this guy is a douchecanoe, and, by all accounts, Yusuf Islam isn't.)

And he's caused problems for us before. So it's like a parent deciding their kids friend can't come over and play anymore because the friend likes to run around the house screaming obscenities and throwing things.

[ElphabaGalinda]

You know, there is making a point that people take "sacred" objects too seriously, and there is being a bigoted asshole deliberately trying to provoke outrage (and inspire hatred) as revenge for some imagined slight (not that 9/11 was imagined -- i mean the idea that all or even most Muslims support it is imagined). I remember when this first came up, many people took the Koran-burning as a sign of the former, but I think it's really clear Mr. Jones is on Team Bigot.

Apart from the general horrificness of this guy, this bit irritates me because it makes it sound like Canada is somehow failing to uphold its freedom of speech laws properly. Because we have to view the issue in exactly the same way as Americans, you know. We can't possibly have rules against hate speech that are valid and generally well supported; it must be that we're wrong. :x

The freedom of speech comment of his really bugged me too. Canada doesn't have the same laws regarding speech as the US, and he's acting like he just assumes Canada will decide to deal with a bigoted asshole in the same way as the US. Like he can't possibly imagine that another country has its own laws and can refuse entrance to anyone. Maybe he thinks we're not a real country :roll:

[mirele]

And he's caused problems for us before. So it's like a parent deciding their kids friend can't come over and play anymore because the friend likes to run around the house screaming obscenities and throwing things.

Terry Jones is not the only religious nutter the Canadians have asked not to come back after their first trip over. The Phelpsies visited Canada once, and it was notable because a Canadian policeman helped them burn a Canadian flag. (I am not Canadian, but it's my understanding it's not quite the wicked, wicked crime so many consider it to be here in the USA.) The policeman explained himself by saying that they (Phelpsies) were mucking it up and about to burn themselves, so he stepped in to complete the job so they wouldn't burn themselves and stay longer in Canada.

The Phelpsies have tried sneaking over into Canada since then, but have been turned back every time. Canadians have good taste.

[CanadianHippie]

Terry Jones is not the only religious nutter the Canadians have asked not to come back after their first trip over. The Phelpsies visited Canada once, and it was notable because a Canadian policeman helped them burn a Canadian flag. (I am not Canadian, but it's my understanding it's not quite the wicked, wicked crime so many consider it to be here in the USA.) The policeman explained himself by saying that they (Phelpsies) were mucking it up and about to burn themselves, so he stepped in to complete the job so they wouldn't burn themselves and stay longer in Canada.

The Phelpsies have tried sneaking over into Canada since then, but have been turned back every time. Canadians have good taste.

In Canada, we love our flag, but we understand that it's merely a physical representation of our government and keepin assholes out of the country is far more important.

[lilwriter85]

I remember Phelps family/WBC planned to picket Tim McLean's funeral. Tim was the Canadian man killed on a Greyhound bus in Cananda. A schizophrenic man attacked him and stabbed him to death. The WBC said Tim's death was punishment for Canada allowing gay marriage. The Canadian government prepared for the WBC and order the border guards to deny them entry. From what I remember the WBC backed out of their plans to picket Tim's funeral.

[BravaAmica]

This ignorant attitude can be summed up in the Oscar-nominated song from the "South Park" movie:

"Blame Canada; blame Canada--

They're not a real country anyway."

Meaning, there are so many stupid USAdians*, oblivious to history, who think of Canada as a hunk of North America that really "should belong to us," owing to our superficial similarities in language and culture, and hence get pissed off when Canada exerts its sovereignty and refuses to roll over and play dead for the USAdian right wing.

* I invented and use the term "USAdian" because Canada, Mexico, et al., are every bit as much "America" as the fifty states are.

I completely agree. And it's embarrassing when some of my fellow US citizens act like assholes. I've always admired the Canadian border guards I've encountered that handle assholes like this pastor with good manners and aplomb.

[BravaAmica]

Gah, so we get to keep him? :?

Unfortunately, yes. And I don't think it's fair to do that to Canada, do you? They've never done anything to the US to deserve this guy.

[Cherokee2000]

In Canada, we love our flag, but we understand that it's merely a physical representation of our government and keepin assholes out of the country is far more important.

Canadian Hippie, you're right. But I must have somehow picked up on my USAdian relatives' genes, because I get incredibly offended when anyone disrespects the flag. I had an uncle who made it his business to keep the Canadian maple-leaf flag in his yard in tip-top shape. He cleaned it regularly and replaced it when it showed any signs of being tattered. Now THAT's a patriot!

(Uncle rolls over in his grave every time a Terry Jones or a Phelps idiot tries to cross the border into his country :flags-canada: )

[Maude]

The freedom of speech comment of his really bugged me too. Canada doesn't have the same laws regarding speech as the US, and he's acting like he just assumes Canada will decide to deal with a bigoted asshole in the same way as the US. Like he can't possibly imagine that another country has its own laws and can refuse entrance to anyone. Maybe he thinks we're not a real country :roll:

This. We don't have the same views concerning freedom of speech. Things that incite violence (like burning the Qur'an) just aren't permitted. Windsor has a sizable Muslim population, so I can just imagine what would've happened had we allowed him entry. Kudos to our border patrol for turning him away. :clap:

[CanadianHippie]

Canadian Hippie, you're right. But I must have somehow picked up on my USAdian relatives' genes, because I get incredibly offended when anyone disrespects the flag. I had an uncle who made it his business to keep the Canadian maple-leaf flag in his yard in tip-top shape. He cleaned it regularly and replaced it when it showed any signs of being tattered. Now THAT's a patriot!

(Uncle rolls over in his grave every time a Terry Jones or a Phelps idiot tries to cross the border into his country :flags-canada: )

Yeah, but think about it. If burning the Canadian flag got Fred Phelps and his cronies out of the country faster, would you do it?

[CanadianHippie]

This. We don't have the same views concerning freedom of speech. Things that incite violence (like burning the Qur'an) just aren't permitted. Windsor has a sizable Muslim population, so I can just imagine what would've happened had we allowed him entry. Kudos to our border patrol for turning him away. :clap:

Thing is, thinks that incite violence can be forbidden in the US, so it's not Canada has some super special law that US doesn't have. We just like to use it more.

[Cherokee2000]

Yeah, but think about it. If burning the Canadian flag got Fred Phelps and his cronies out of the country faster, would you do it?

I don't know if I'd feel honoured to do it, but yeah, I would do whatever it takes.

[DistantStar]

I'd have to dig it up, but I read that he had a couple of criminal incidents in his background that would be enough for Canada to say no to him for anyway; they are very strict about that sort of thing. So he can't scream about religious discrimination and freedom of speech (WTF? Different country, asshole) as the only grounds.

I am truly sorry we share even a planet with these sorts of assholes, Canada. I can't say I blame you on the grounds of "what an asshole" alone.

Of course I am one of those weird Americans that doesn't worship the flag and thinks certain people need to chill when somebody burns one in an attempt to piss them off because dammit they are letting them win.