After Beheading, Rising Anger in New Jersey (Warning: Graphic photos down thread)

Nytimes ^ | 06/19/04 | JASON GEORGE and MARC SANTORA

[Pikamax]

After Beheading, Rising Anger in New Jersey By JASON GEORGE and MARC SANTORA

ITTLE EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, N.J., June 19 — There are the flowers and the crosses, the notes and the photographs and all the other signs of sympathy and grieving that one would expect to find at an impromptu shrine devoted to someone murdered in a most cruel fashion.

But one day after graphic photographs of the body of Paul M. Johnson Jr., beheaded by Islamic extremists, were beamed around the world, a new sign appeared in the yard next to the house of Mr. Johnson's sister in Little Egg Harbor Township.

"Last night my heart was filled with love and prayers, but today it is filled with hatred. Last night I was not a racist, but today I feel racism toward Islamic beliefs," the sign said. "Last night Islamics had a chance to speak up for Paul Johnson, but today it was too late," it also said. "Today Islamics better wake up and start thinking about tomorrow."

The sentiment reflected in the sign was not shared by everyone in the southern New Jersey community where Mr. Johnson had grown up, but it was shared by several people interviewed over the past few days.

Muslim officials around the state, and the world, were quick to condemn the killing and offer their sympathy to Mr. Johnson's family.

A week ago, when Mr. Johnson was kidnapped in Saudi Arabia, where he worked as an engineer for Lockheed Martin, there was a great deal of hope among friends that everything would work out.

On Tuesday, when the terrorists put out a video saying they would execute Mr. Johnson in 72 hours if their demands were not met, the situation took on added urgency and people turned to prayer.

About 100 friends gathered Thursday night for a candlelight vigil. Friday they found out that their prayers had not been answered.

"A lot of people are angry, a lot of people are sad and a lot of people are hurt," said Dennis C. Seeley Jr., a chaplain for the Eagleswood Fire Company. Mr. Seeley, who helped organize the vigil, had the same exhausted look as others in the town.

John Hayes, a childhood friend of Mr. Johnson's, said: "I just can't believe it. I didn't think it was going to come to this." Mr. Hayes said he was sad for Mr. Johnson's son, Paul III, and his grandson, Paul IV, who live in Florida.

Mr. Johnson's family spent most of their time in private, grieving.

Joseph Billy Jr., an F.B.I. agent who spoke on the family's behalf, said, "They knew that the odds were not in the favor of law enforcement." He thanked the Saudi and American governments and said, "Paul considered Saudi Arabia his home."

Some neighbors did not hide their anger, saying privately that blood should be met with blood.

Khalid Masood Butt, 51, president of the Pakistani American Muslim Organization of South Jersey, said, "This is understandable as the people react and they are under the influence of emotions." He said he wanted to offer the family support. "But I wondered about how I would be received. Now I feel I should have done it. As an American, as a Muslim, it is my duty to give them the concepts of being a Muslim."

[alisasny]

AHHHH where were these graphic photos shown...I didnt see them on any major news station....we were censored

[WorkingClassFilth]

Muslim America, you better decide which side of the fence you be sitting on - quick. Holding onto a sham nuetrality is the best way of getting a picket shoved up your @ss.

[muawiyah]

This head chopping business is really angering Americans. Islam stands a real good chance of losing it's two most holy cities pretty darned soon. Leastwise, no one here will counsel against that being done anyway.

[jocon307]

"Today Islamics better wake up and start thinking about tomorrow."


That's the phrase, well put.

[Scythian]

Nothing will come of it, Saudi's have oil, we want it, that's it, discusting

[wrathof59]

"As an American, as a Muslim, it is my duty to give them the concepts of being a Muslim."

We have seen too many times this concept of being a Muslim. The Muslims should hang their heads in shame for the animals they breed in the name of their "Religion of Peace".

[RoseofTexas]

"This is understandable as the people react and they are under the influence of emotions." He said he wanted to offer the family support. "But I wondered about how I would be received. Now I feel I should have done it. As an American, as a Muslim, it is my duty to give them the concepts of being a Muslim."



One piece of advice Mr. Muslim...don't even think about showing your face in from of them... F that religion!

[Eastbound]

"As an American, as a Muslim, it is my duty to give them the concepts of being a Muslim.""

No comment.

[RoseofTexas]

ooops...meant in FRONT of them....GOSH I despise the Muslim religion! Sorry but that's the way I feel!

[A. Pole]

AHHHH where were these graphic photos shown...I didnt see them on any major news station....we were censored

They do not like such photos at the International Show Tribunal in Hague either.

[sionnsar]

As an American, as a Muslim, it is my duty to give them the concepts of being a Muslim.

Sir, with all due respect, you and your mosque need to begin to speak out loudly and forcefully, with actions that will tell your non-Muslimic American countrymen that you truly believe these actions are not inherent to Islam. We will eventually see the true face of Islam -- it is up to you to (help) determine what face it is we see.

[Diogenesis]

al Qaeda terrorist Abdulaziz al-Muqrin, grounded for "plausible deniability" after a purported Saudi "conflict"
against terrorism (unlikely since the House of Saud created 911 and much of worldwide terrorism).
Some say the brutal murderer of Paul Johnson died with a smile on his face because he
helped Dan Rather, CBS, NBC and ABC-TV in their war against America
as they encouraged and enabled terrorists for YEARS against the USA.

---

PICTURES OFJOHNSON BEHEADED after encouragement from Dan Rather and CBS again.

[God luvs America]

Seriously....NJ is not the only place where the rage is brewing in America!

[A. Pole]

Ronly Bonly Osama will demand these photos to be removed.

[The South Texan]

Being that this is from the NY Slimes, I am surprised they didn't find a person that could blame it on Bush.

[Diogenesis]

The War for Infinite Justice MUST BE ESCALATED

[StormEye]

"Khalid Masood Butt, 51, president of the Pakistani American Muslim Organization of South
Jersey, said, "This is understandable as the people react and they are under the influence of
emotions." He said he wanted to offer the family support. "But I wondered about how I would be
received. Now I feel I should have done it. As an American, as a Muslim, it is my duty to give
them the concepts of being a Muslim."

You're not American and neither is your stupid, primitive religion!
Leave America and take your "Muslim Organization" with you!

[SuziQ]

I'm glad, at least, that Paul Johnson's family is putting the blame squarely where it belongs; at the feet of the animals who killed him.