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February 12, 2006
Who is Insulting Muhammad Now?
Topics: Understanding IslamIn a thoughtful interview with the Houston Chronicle, Dr. Javed Aslam, a retired physician from Pakistan and member of the Islamic Society of Greater Houston, suggested "every Muslim's feelings are deeply hurt by the cartoons." He also condemned those rioting and killing in response to the now infamous cartoons:
Q: Who is rioting, burning buildings and killing people?It is hard to disagree with Aslam's logic. What's worse? Killing and rioting or publishing a few cartoons? The hypocrisy of the protestors becomes even more evident considering that their rage was manipulated by lying Muslim leaders on the basis of (fake) cartoons that were never published.A: The people rioting and doing these things are the ignorant people, and we totally dislike what they are saying. People were terribly rude to Muhammad; once he was speaking, and people threw stones and made him bleed. Yet, he never raised his hand against them. ... My point is, who is insulting the prophet now? We are because we are behaving in a way that he would never approve.
In some of his other answers, I do think Aslam plays down the East vs West controversy by suggesting it is primarily one of misunderstanding. This editorial, also appearing in the Chronicle, explains why:
Meanwhile, the Muslim mobs now torching buildings and craving beheadings demonstrate why free speech is so necessary for a just and civil society. If a Danish cartoon were the only issue, Somalis wouldn't have attacked innocent aid workers saving Somali lives. Lebanese wouldn't be seeing a revival of the Christian/Muslim strife that almost destroyed them. Above all, tens of thousands of Muslims wouldn't be bolstering the hated stereotype of themselves as fanatics whose only answer to intellectual challenge is violence.There are deep divisions between Western and Muslim countries whose basis is more than a simple misunderstanding. Our beliefs are radically different and living together in an ever shrinking world has become challenging. Patience and grace would go a long way on both sides of the international divide and could bring forth the fruitful discussion that is currently suppressed by intimidation and rhetoric.The governments of many Muslim nations control the press and muzzle their citizens, at the same time manufacturing hateful expression against the West and Israel. While they protest Western insensitivity to Islamic beliefs, they show little tolerance for the beliefs of others or concern for the welfare of their own people.
Posted by tim at February 12, 2006 3:19 AM
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- Who is Insulting Muhammad Now? - Feb 12, 2006
