Editor,
The Muslim and Western hate-mongers are engaged in a spitting match, and I am having trouble deciding which side is more foolish.
The Muslim hate-mongers claim that their faith in a twisted version of Islam entitles them to hurt and insult innocent people, while the hate-mongers of the West claim that their faith in a twisted version of freedom of speech entitles them to insult, provoke and hurt Muslims.
Muslim preachers who project their own anger and feelings of impotence on prophet Mohammed instead of projecting prophet Mohammed's mercy and faith in God on themselves are painting a cartoon of prophet Mohammed and his message which is not flattering.
People in the West with a grain of decency would have dismissed the Danish cartoons of Mohammed as sophomoric hate messages if it were not for reactionary Muslims who are acting in a way which makes the false message of these cartoons look true. These misguided Muslims are in effect putting their own clouded judgment above the commandments of Islam.
Islam's code of behavior for incidents like these is unambiguous. Chapter 25, verse 63 of the Quran states, "The true believers of the most merciful are those who walk on the earth with humility, and when the ignorant address them, they say, peace."
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Chapter 7, verse 199 reads, "Hold to forgiveness and command what is right and ignore offensive people."
Chapter 28, verse 55 states, "And when they hear vain talk, they turn away from and say, 'To us our deeds, and to you yours; Peace be to you: we seek not the ignorant,'" while chapter 41, verse 34 commands, "Repel evil with what is better: then he between whom and you there was enmity will become as though he were your friend."
What a human tragedy. Emotionally disturbed Muslims are denigrating Islam and hateful Westerners are denigrating the freedom of speech - and both are beliefs worthy of respect and reverence.
Sami Shakir
UNM alumnus
