Controversial speaker Terry Jones defends Quran burning to journalism classes

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Rev. Terry Jones stood at the front of the class defending his infamous Quran burning to journalism students.

Invited by Associate Professor of Journalism Tim Boudreau, Jones spoke to Boudreau’s JRN 102: Introduction to Journalism and JRN 404: Law of Mass Communication classes Wednesday in auditoriums in Pearce and Asnspach halls.

Boudreau said he brings in a controversial speaker every year to illustrate how offensive speech is protected by the First Amendment.

Jones, pastor of Dove World Outreach Center, sparked mass protests after he pledged to burn about 200 Qurans on the 2010 anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Jones made no apologies and told students to observe how freedom of speech exists only for mainstream opinions.

“Even if you do not like it, it needs to be tolerated,” he said. “It needs to be thought about without fear.”

Jones said there is currently a $2.4 million on his life. After receiving hundreds of death threats, mass protest and objection from both Christian and Islamic groups, and even personal requests from President Barack Obama and General David Petraeus, Jones agreed to cancel the 2010 burning, giving his word they would never burn a Quran.

His word ended on March 20 when Jones served as judge over a mock trial of the Quran at his church. After a jury with no Muslim members found the book guilty, an assistant pastor burned the book in the sanctuary.

Jones said he had not planned to burn the Quran, but he changed his mind.

“I lied,” Jones said. “It was not on purpose, but I lied.”

The mock trial was streamed live and resulted in mob protests in Afghanistan, killing 30 people and injuring 150 more.

Saudi Arabia freshman Ammar Assiri is a Muslim and said he remembers the day when his class saw Jones on the news. He said he felt like crying.

Jones said what he did in burning a book was not comparable to radical Muslims killing innocent people. Assiri agreed the mobs were not right in murdering, but said Jones burning a holy book he has only partially read was still crossing a line.

“I would never do that to their book,” Assiri said. “I just want (Jones) to seek the truth. We’re not the ones you thought we were.”

Jones said he supports Herman Cain as a presidential candidate in the 2012 election because he is a “businessman who tells it like it is.”

Jones said he believes President Obama is a Muslim who was not born in the U.S.

Rochester Hills junior Kelsey Houghtlin said she was glad Boudreau brought someone to campus with an interesting perspective.

Although Houghtlin, who attends His House Christian Fellowship, 211 W. Broomfield St., said she does not agree with Jones’ actions, she does believe he has the legal right to protest and burn the books.

“I think he has the freedom of speech to do it, but I don’t think he’s right,” she said. “It doesn’t demonstrate Christian beliefs.”

Jones said he plans to run for president in the 2012 U.S. election. His campaign, Stand Up America Now, has a seven-point platform, including deporting all illegal aliens, reducing military spending and reducing corporate taxes.

“It’s funny when someone tries to stump (Jones), and you can tell he’s stumped, he tries to turn around the question,” said White Lake sophomore Neil Barris.

Jones said the Bible is a holy book to him, but it is still just that: a book. To Muslims like Assiri, however, the Quran is more than a book.

“We cannot live without it,” Assiri said. “It’s everything.”