The persistent Islamophobia among Americans and anti-Americanism among Indonesian Muslims are still undermining diplomatic relations between Indonesia and the United States, a lawmaker told a seminar.

Sidharto Danusubroto, deputy chairman of the House of Representatives' international relations commission, said Indonesia was still perceived by some Americans as a haven for Islamic radicalism, while the US was still "cynically perceived as an imperialist country" by Indonesian Muslims. He was speaking at a seminar on RI-US relations under Barack Obama's administration held by the Foreign Ministry at Paramadina University.

Your comments:

Coming from so many backgrounds of faiths - Islam, Christianity, Judaism and Hindu - my family is very open and full of understanding for other beliefs. Living in this pluralistic modern world, one must accept others' beliefs if one wants to live in peace and harmony, and be accepted by others.

Unfortunately, the teachings of radical Islam are currently flourishing in Indonesia. The opinions, the views and the small-mindedness have been accepted by the government, forcing citizens with other beliefs to be quiet and passive.

Let's be honest with ourselves. The problem will never be fixed, unless there is full understanding. God creates all of us equally.

Daniel Emerson

A nation in search of a fair sheikh -- May 8, p. 7

The United Arab Emirates (UAE), a federation of seven emirates, each with its own ruler, sits, usually quietly and prosperously, on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, across a long stretch of bay from Iran.

But last week the UAE had two of its more prominent Sheikhs on public display. They offered such contrasting visions of their home country that, frankly, you were left shaking your head.

Your comments:

I find it ridiculous that someone like Sheikh Issa has been given this much media coverage. He is a nobody in the house of Al Nahyan, the ruling family. No one had even heard of him prior to this 5-year old torture case, and no one had even knew he existed prior to the death of his brother Sheikh Nasser earlier this year (who is yet another no-body in the house of Al Nahyan, which is made up of over 17 sons).

It is time that the western media researched their facts and stopped painting this Issa fellow as someone who is an indicator of how UAE policy is shaped and run.

How easy was it to forget all the good deeds of the UAE for the acts of one nonexecutive and nonsenior member of the ruling family?

I think this case stinks of favoritism and discrimination. As always, however, the UAE will come up on top.

Mike Jones

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