Ugh. this is kind of sickening. I hope it doesn't get too far.
Oliver Barry CRS,GRI Real Estate Broker Bob Parks Realty 1517 Hunt Club Blvd Gallatin TN 37066 Phone: 615-826-4040 Fax: 615-822-2027 Mobile: 615-972-4239 _____ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Shane Ford Sent: Monday, August 23, 2010 8:00 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [gatornews] [SUN]: Machen: We need to reject Dove World + Other Political Musings --- 8/23 06:01 --- [Crabbe] Machen: We need to reject Dove World UF's president also spoke out against Arizona's controversial immigration law. By Nathan Crabbe <mailto:[email protected]> Gainesville SUN Staff writer Published: Monday, August 23, 2010 at 6:01 a.m. Last Modified: Sunday, August 22, 2010 at 11:42 p.m. University of Florida President Bernie Machen waded into local and national controversies - rejecting both the anti-Islamic actions of a Gainesville church and restrictive immigration policies being debated nationally - in a wide-ranging interview before the start of the fall semester. The church, Dove World Outreach Center, has received national media attention for a Quran burning planned for Sept. 11. Machen said he was concerned that the church is hurting public perception of Gainesville as a tolerant place. "I think our community - I'm speaking as a Gainesvillian - needs to reject Dove World and what they're all about," he said. "I think that they do not represent the tolerance that we've exhibited in our community, and they are bad for our community in that sense." Machen emphasized he was speaking for himself and not the university, but said he plans to talk more about the issue Thursday at his annual State of the University speech before the Faculty Senate. The interview was conducted last week in advance of the start of UF's fall semester, which begins today. In addition to Dove World, Machen spoke against Arizona's controversial law that requires officers to check a person's immigration status while enforcing other laws. Machen - again saying he was speaking for himself and not providing the university's position - said he thought Arizona's approach would end up hurting the country. "I believe that we're a country of immigrants, and I think that diversity makes us stronger," he said. A federal judge has struck down parts of the law, including the law enforcement provision and a requirement that immigrants carry their papers at all times. Some state and federal politicians are proposing even more restrictive measures, including amending the Constitution to no longer allow automatic citizenship for children born to illegal immigrants. Machen said he opposed changing the long-standing tradition of granting citizenship to those born on U.S. soil. He noted that some of his positions on immigration put him at odds with U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., whom Machen endorsed in the 2008 presidential campaign. Machen has a history of taking similar positions on immigration. As president of the University of Utah, he supported allowing the children of illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition. At a student rally at UF last year, he pledged his support for the federal DREAM Act. The proposal would allow illegal immigrants who graduated high school in the U.S. to gain legal status. "We have to be accepting of the fact that our country's changing and we've got to deal with that," Machen said in explaining his positions. He said his personal history informed his views on immigration. He said his wife, Chris, once worked as a home health-care nurse in Michigan and took care of the son of two undocumented workers. The boy was born premature and had medical problems that required home care. The job allowed his wife to see firsthand the experience of undocumented workers, Machen said. "You think of undocumenteds as burdens on society (but) they were two of the hardest-working people she'd ever seen," he said. Machen also has taken positions in support of gay and transgender rights in the past. He backed providing benefits to the domestic partners of UF employees and took personal stands with his wife in opposition to Florida's statewide gay marriage ban and a Gainesville measure that would have repealed protections for the rights of transgender individuals. In addition to its anti-Islamic positions, Dove World has attacked Gainesville Mayor Craig Lowe for being gay. Church members also sent their children to public schools wearing "Islam is of the devil" T-shirts and wore the same shirts while preaching at UF's Turlington Plaza. Machen said he thinks the community needs to speak out against the church's message. "I think the community needs to stand up and say, 'No, this is not Gainesville,' " he said. He added, "It's important that Gainesville be recognized as a welcoming place for people of diverse backgrounds, interests and abilities ... That's what makes this a great place." Contact Nathan Crabbe at 338-3176 or [email protected] -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us
