Spring Break
Mideast Muslims Must Denounce Violence
Casapulla
Issue date: 9/21/06 Section: Commentary
Shockingly, Muslims in the Middle East are responding to criticisms of the Prophet Muhammad with violence and anger. Muslims are attacking all Christians, especially Roman Catholics, after the remarks made by Pope Benedict XVI in Germany last week - at least they are finally giving the Jews a break. Last week, the Pope spoke at Regensburg University in Germany, quoting 14th-century Emperor Manuel II Paleologos of the Byzantine Empire he said, "Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."
The links between Muslims and violence is quickly becoming engrained in everyone's mind. Despite their wish to be classified as gentle and peaceful they just can't seem to shake that habit to burn things down every time they get offended. We keep hearing about how Islam has been hijacked by a minority of extremists - yet the masses of people who turn out to burn effigies of other people's religious leaders seem to contradict this. To this day, there is a significant lack of denunciation of violence carried out in the name of Islam and under the guise of a holy war. This silence of Muslims and their leaders is quickly becoming deafening.
In fact, it is almost cyclical. Someone publicly denounces certain violent aspects of Islam, then Muslims riot and burn things, usually killing a few people, all the while calling for the death of the denouncer. Next, the denouncer apologizes, but the riots keep going for a week or two just to make sure we all get the point that Muslims are not at all violent.
Here is an idea - in a religion where the call to jihad is a valid doctrine, maybe its followers should refrain from rioting every time they disagree with a characterization of their beliefs. Calling for the conquest of Rome and for the aid of God in slitting the throats of the "worshipers of the cross," may not be the best way to go about proving you are not violent. In a world where one of the most powerful Muslim nations is Iran, whose leader constantly calls for the destruction of Israel and the conquer of the West, it seems a little hypocritical to now be offended when someone calls you violent.
The links between Muslims and violence is quickly becoming engrained in everyone's mind. Despite their wish to be classified as gentle and peaceful they just can't seem to shake that habit to burn things down every time they get offended. We keep hearing about how Islam has been hijacked by a minority of extremists - yet the masses of people who turn out to burn effigies of other people's religious leaders seem to contradict this. To this day, there is a significant lack of denunciation of violence carried out in the name of Islam and under the guise of a holy war. This silence of Muslims and their leaders is quickly becoming deafening.
In fact, it is almost cyclical. Someone publicly denounces certain violent aspects of Islam, then Muslims riot and burn things, usually killing a few people, all the while calling for the death of the denouncer. Next, the denouncer apologizes, but the riots keep going for a week or two just to make sure we all get the point that Muslims are not at all violent.
Here is an idea - in a religion where the call to jihad is a valid doctrine, maybe its followers should refrain from rioting every time they disagree with a characterization of their beliefs. Calling for the conquest of Rome and for the aid of God in slitting the throats of the "worshipers of the cross," may not be the best way to go about proving you are not violent. In a world where one of the most powerful Muslim nations is Iran, whose leader constantly calls for the destruction of Israel and the conquer of the West, it seems a little hypocritical to now be offended when someone calls you violent.
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