Spring Break
Mideast Muslims Must Denounce Violence
Casapulla
Issue date: 9/21/06 Section: Commentary
Muslim organizations throughout Britain have accepted the apology of the pope and have moved on. Likewise, 100 protestors gathered peacefully outside the Vatican embassy in Indonesia. However, none of these people have made the critical step to denounce the violence being carried out by their fellow Muslims in other parts of the world. In Somalia, for example, a 66-year-old Italian nun was killed on her way home from the children's hospital she worked at and authorities have not ruled out a link between her death and the pope's statement. In addition, seven churches have been attacked and burned in the West Bank and Gaza.
Muslims who did not like the pope's acknowledgement of violent as part of their religion took to the streets to remind the world just what violence looks like - in case we had forgotten the outbreak of violence that occurred after a Danish newspaper printed cartoons of the prophet Muhammad. The world was shocked at the level of violence that produced and we were assured that it was a special circumstance since the offense was so egregious - apparently not.
How about instead of rioting the Muslims make a deal with the pope. He apologizes for his comments and all the Muslims throughout the Middle East who are upset at being characterized as "violent and insensible" publicly denounce jihad and the concept of a holy war. It's always a good step towards being seen as non-violent if you start rejecting violence.
Staff Columnist Rob Casapulla is a 5th-semester political science major.
Muslims who did not like the pope's acknowledgement of violent as part of their religion took to the streets to remind the world just what violence looks like - in case we had forgotten the outbreak of violence that occurred after a Danish newspaper printed cartoons of the prophet Muhammad. The world was shocked at the level of violence that produced and we were assured that it was a special circumstance since the offense was so egregious - apparently not.
How about instead of rioting the Muslims make a deal with the pope. He apologizes for his comments and all the Muslims throughout the Middle East who are upset at being characterized as "violent and insensible" publicly denounce jihad and the concept of a holy war. It's always a good step towards being seen as non-violent if you start rejecting violence.
Staff Columnist Rob Casapulla is a 5th-semester political science major.
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