As a former Gainesville resident, I’m displeased with the reaction to the Dove World Outreach Center’s planned “Burn a Quran Day.” Students need to use their education and make sure these people know they do not represent Gainesville.
Not only is this a slap in the face to those working for understanding in this country, but to all residents of Gainesville who do not share the same sentiments as these people. This is exactly the type of situation that warrants a gigantic protest and perhaps huge bottles of water and dozens of fire extinguishers.
This story is awful, but imagine how empowering it would be to show up to their burn fest and stop it dead in its tracks? Students need to assume their rightful place in the world as mediators of idiocy. This is happening in your backyard. Students need to take back their town from these dumb hicks. The number of students definitely beats out a few dozen people who need to crawl back under the rock from which they came. If students can protest the UF police for using a Taser, they can certainly protest a group of dummies who will bring physical harm to themselves and our countrymen serving overseas.
Let’s demonstrate to the world that there are still some people in this country who give a crap about free exercise of religion, not just using purchasing power to shut down their couch-selling business they have going on the side. The U.S. won’t regain its reputation for standing up for religious and social freedoms in the world unless the world can see that this is only a small part of what makes us whole.
Inaction is the same as participating in this atrocity. Just going about your day and not making a stand against ignorance is a waste of time and money. What good is an education if you keep it to yourself?
