- A New Jersey Hyundai dealer had promised a car to pastor Terry Jones, who had threatened to burn the Muslim holy book, if he would refrain from the act.
- The dealer says he'll make good on his promise.
SOUTH BRUNSWICK, New Jersey — New Jersey's top Hyundai dealer says he will make good on his promise to give a 2011 Hyundai Accent to pastor Terry Jones for not burning the Koran. The Gainesville, Florida, pastor had threatened that he would burn the Muslim holy book in a stunt intended to protest plans to build a mosque and community center near the New York City site of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack.
Brad Benson Mitsubishi Hyundai offered the car on a radio ad in September in which he gave his "International Idiot" award to Jones.
In the spot, he commented: "I'm sure book burning is gonna have those terrorists quaking.... If you stop all this Koran-burning nonsense for good and go back to handling snakes or whatever it is you do down there, I'll give you a brand-new Hyundai to use for a whole year, you idiot."
Although he had only offered the use of a car, the Associated Press quoted Benson as saying he is giving Jones the car instead because he doesn't care "to be involved in the politics of that." The AP report said Jones intends to donate the car to "an organization that helps abused Muslim women," without naming that group. Benson's radio ad said Jones plans to donate the car to "another Christian organization."
Benson posted his October 1 radio ad on his dealership's Facebook page, asking for people to weigh in on whether he should hand over the car or not. "What should I do? Give this guy a car or blow him off?" His Facebook page said he received 2,600 responses, with the majority saying he should come through on his promise.
The lowest-priced 2011 Hyundai Accent costs $10,705, which includes a $720 destination charge.
Inside Line says: One Facebook commenter probably has lots of company in writing: "I need a car more than this jerk. Where's my freebie?" — Laura Sky Brown, Correspondent
Add A Comment »
tbone85 says:
01:27 PM, 10/18/2010
Travai, great last line. :-)
travai says:
08:31 AM, 10/18/2010
As for First Ammendment Rights, I'm sure about three of you even know what's in it, or can name any of the legal precedents that have guided its use in mass media. The ad-hoc restriction of free speech known as "prior restraint"(advocated for on both sides of the political aisle) can be used when speech creates a "clear and present danger" to the country. In this case, formal censure was not used, and Obama was one on a long list of Republican and Democratic civic and military leaders who explained to him how stupid it was. Full interview with Terry Jones himself: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009zklg (He sounds like Early Cuyler from the Squibillies, btw.)
ALSO, It would have been better if they had gifted a Hyundai GENESIS, for obvious reasons.
sammysamurai says:
06:26 AM, 10/18/2010
Maybe he would like a hellfire exterior with a brimstone interior on his new Hyundai!
bearsdkillz says:
02:25 PM, 10/17/2010
Can we burn the pastor instead of the book?
sniperruff says:
12:18 PM, 10/17/2010
"One Facebook commenter probably has lots of company in writing: "I need a car more than this jerk. Where's my freebie?" - Laura Sky Brown, Correspondent"
That's what I think every time the "Extreme makeover - home edition" comes on.
laguna1 says:
05:38 AM, 10/17/2010
The word Koran is spelt incorrectly, it's Qur'an :)
@jrhspeed: "But we're not supposed to talk about what "international idiots" a lot of Muslims are, they might get "agitated" and do something "crazy", like kill somebody..."
What the hell? Idiots? Talk about a one-dimensional view/being small-minded....
A lot of Muslims are not idiots. What about those who don't want war, what about those who just want to get on with life? It's funny how a minority become a majority with everyone :\
Just so you know, Ireland is home to Christian group called: Real Irish Republican Army (IRA). They cause terrorism in the UK by planting bombs and blowing themselves up.
Honestly, the hypocrisy is astonishing...
tbone85 says:
03:55 PM, 10/16/2010
"The President, sworn to uphold the Constitution, even uses the power of his office to squash the pastor's constitutional rights. Nice...As a Christian, I don't agree with the pastor's Koran burning (I Peter 3:15), but I still get upset with the double standard I see and the willingness of so many to give up our Constitutional rights for fear of a violent response."
Well, I wasn't aware that the President threatened the good pastor over his publicity-seeking pledge. The President has the right as a citizen to agree or disagree with another person's free speech.
My opposition to the Koran burning has nothing to do with fear of violence or an attempt to crush the pastor's Constitutional rights. My opposition is to someone claiming to act in the name of Christianity while so transparently acting only in support of his own ego and celebrity. I'm adamantly opposed to speech intended solely to incite. I don't believe in burning the bible, the cross, or the flag. If someone elects to do these things, I elect to criticize them.
When a person practices their First Amendment rights, they are not guaranteed some form of immunity from others practicing their free speech rights as well. If there is criticism, or commercial reaction to intentionally inflammatory speech, it's all part of the whole rights/responsibility thing. No government action was taken to prevent him from speaking. He saw the negative reaction and elected to act more responsibly rather than follow through on his threat.
Free speech isn't easy, or free for that matter. If someone has the stones to intentionally try and offend others, they ought to at least have the good grace not to whine when someone criticizes them for acting like a chump.
bimmerjay says:
02:40 PM, 10/16/2010
I have also not burned a Koran. Black Noir Pearl/Saddle Genesis 4.6 for me, please. Thanks.
rustyshunt says:
08:57 PM, 10/15/2010
Define Reward:
Gift for helping society, or the greater good
Define Ransom:
Payment in exchange for not committing a crime, or acting against the greater good
Any questions?
Rusty
truecarfan says:
06:52 PM, 10/15/2010
jrhspeed - I actually think that is comical by the Hyundai dealer...but he is sticking to his word...which is something most people DON'T do nowadays.
As far as the religious argument you put up. I am actually a bible believer...but I also know for hundreds of years governments and zealots falsely used the name of Christ and "for the sake of the cross" to destroy other groups of people. The populations of North and South American natives were decimated by people who thought killing a heathen was a good thing if they didn't convert. Thousands and thousands were killed in The Crusades for the name of Christ. Many Jews were killed and run out of Europe for being "Christ killers". So making an argument against what Muslims do now is actually a waste of time. God will all sort it out. The hypocrisy is on all sides.