A chapter of Murfreesboro history closed recently as Pete Doughtie, publisher of the Rutherford Reader and one of the more controversial figures in town, died on Jan. 10.
Doughtie carved himself a unique niche in the Murfreesboro media landscape. What started as a classified and shopper type of paper in 2000 evolved into a forum for discussing the social, religious and political change that the area experienced—particularly regarding the rise of Islam in American society and the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro constructing a large mosque off of Bradyville Pike and the ensuing court battle and international headlines.
Doughtie’s commentaries and guest columnists, often warning of an organized attempt by Islamic radicals to infiltrate all aspects of society and take over the governments of every country, earned him heaps of hate mail but also plenty of praise.
The unfolding of the information in the Rutherford Reader over the years, and the community response to it, certainly made for an interesting study in free expression, religious liberty, modern political discourse and standing for your convictions.
Some observers say Doughtie’s tale is one of a man spiraling into an unhealthy obsession with the topic of a fringe group of radicals and conspiracy theories. Others applaud the man as someone who stood true to his worldview and the American way of life in the face of extreme intolerance from an outspoken faction of the town.
He wrote of the wave of migrants coming into the U.S. from predominantly Islamic countries, and reported on groups attempting to introduce pro-Islam curriculum into Rutherford County schools. He made connections between Middle Tennessee residents and the Muslim Brotherhood and other terrorist groups and militant Islamic organizations that make no secret of their goal of taking control of governments and societies across the globe.
Doughtie documented the rise of Islam in American politics and society, predicting that more and more Muslims would become involved in public life and politics, and his death came shortly after the election of the first Muslim women to the U.S. House of Representatives.
As local mosque leaders and their affiliates continue to work to bring more immigrants into the area to add to the local Muslim population, some of their loudest supporters hurl such words as “bigot,” “hate,” “Nazi” and “white supremacist” towards Doughtie and any who dare oppose them.
While advertiser boycotts and online chatter targeted Doughtie and the Reader, he nevertheless amped up his speech against the spread of Islam in the U.S. and drew attention to the state of human rights, free expression and living conditions in Islam-majority societies.
Doughtie’s wife and business partner, Kaye, has continued to publish the weekly paper in the weeks following his death.
According to Doughtie’s obituary, he met Kaye in first grade while the two were growing up in Virginia; their first date was in the fourth grade.
Pete is survived by four sons—three of whom, Lee, Jay and Patrick, live in Murfreesboro—and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
What the future holds for the Reader is yet to be determined, though it, and Murfreesboro, will likely not be the same without Pete’s voice.
So, keep the conversation going, Murfreesboro. Love one another, love your country, love your liberty; be courageous enough to speak, but intelligent enough to listen.
