Three years ago, a nobody from nowhere got famous for doing something unpleasant.
The self-ordained pastor of an unknown Florida church threatened to burn a Quran. Then he did it. Then others with their own intentions picked up the story and used it to inflame Muslims in several nations.
The result: At least 50 people were killed.
Now he's back, threatening to burn 3,000 Qurans on Wednesday as a "memorial" to the victims of the 9/11 attacks.
I've not named the man. Publicity is what he wants and I decided my small protest against him would be to not contribute to it.
Then I heard about a planned counterdemonstration by a Muslim interfaith activist, Mike Ghouse. This year he's bringing his 10th annual "Unity Day USA" to the same Florida town where the pastor has threatened to burn the Qurans.
Ghouse has invited every religious and political leader in Polk County to participate. There will be an American flag ceremony. He's called for American Muslims around the nation to contribute to a blood drive in memory of those killed in the 9/11 attacks.
I asked Ghouse why it was so important to respond so directly to the nobody from nowhere.
"He is insignificant to us here in the United States, but the whole Muslim world is watching," Ghouse said.
Ghouse faces straight up to the fact that terrorists and politicians acting in the name of Islam have been responsible for attacking their enemies — including many non-Muslims. He knows those attacks color the perception of his faith in America.
He's produced a video aimed mostly at American Muslims that addresses this directly. Standing in front of an American flag, the Indian-born Ghouse lists terrible actions committed by Muslims in several nations.
"Shame on all of us Muslims for not speaking against them forcefully. Those misled Muslims may have believed we gave them the permission. You better know we didn't," Ghouse says.
Yes, he acknowledges, it's a terrible thing for someone to burn a Quran. But the teachings of Islam and of the Prophet Muhammad should define the proper reaction. The Quran, he says, has 114 chapters. All but one begins with an emphasis on God's mercy.
Murders, oppression and anti-religious discrimination, Ghouse says, are all counter to the real teachings of his faith. This time, he's issued a challenge to the nobody pastor: Meet him in a debate about the Quran.
"If you find five faults in Quran in a public discussion, I will abandon my faith and join your ministry. ... On the other hand, if you cannot find faults, I am going to be easy on you, I will not ask you to become a Muslim, but ask you join me to do the work of Christ and Muhammad in building a cohesive America, where no American has to live in fear of the other."
Now, the pastor is as likely to agree to this debate as he is to ride a unicorn. Ghouse is an idealist who believes his calls for dialogue and reason and mercy can reduce the world's violence.
"We value freedom of speech and we want to reclaim the model of the prophet in dealing with conflicts," he said. "Violence is not the way. I do hope, with the right reach and articles, we might be able to change the minds of those few Muslims who resort to violence."
In the video, Ghouse quotes Jesus' Sermon on the Mount: "Blessed are the peacemakers."
May it be so.
Jeffrey Weiss writes for Religion News Service.