Comments: Un-Islamic violence

Paper Edition | Page: 8

Sept. 14, p. 6

The killing of US ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens is an unacceptable tragedy. As outraged as Muslims may be by the release of a film that made a mockery of the Prophet Muhammad, it should not have been used as a pretext for violence.

The Libyan government cannot escape the blame for its failure to protect the lives of diplomats.

Your comments

I am pleased to read this editorial, especially the last paragraphs about provocation and how to respond it.

Islam has to grow. Being passive in reaction to provocation is a sign of maturity. You can have emotions obviously, but when Muslims will understand that everything will change in the relationship between the “West” and the Muslim world?

Nanda

I was surprised to read that “they” (armed groups with rockets) have been in “cahoots” with “those” who produced the film. Does this mean that “they” (the thugs) are also Christians? On television we heard that the film was financed for only US$60,000 by the Coptic Christian family of the producer in Egypt.

Freedom of expression is sacrosanct in the West and is the foundation of every democracy. You may ridicule, insult and offend. But you may not lie. Telling a lie and passing it off as the truth is unlawful. There is no “right” to lie.

So, all Muslims can do if they are offended is to sue the persons responsible — if what is “produced/said” is a lie. In the West, people are free to make fun of the pope, make movies about Jesus Christ and other biblical figures.

Islam is “considered” aggressive because it does not accept other, different opinions and therefore wants to curtail the right of free opinions.

It seems that free speech is what is left over when a community has determined in advance what it does not want to hear.

Olga Pitcairn
Pennsylvania, the US