codyg1985’s Think Tank

The situation that has arisen from the Danish cartoons has spiraled out of control. The way the Islamic extremists are reacting to these cartoons is uncalled for, and is in no way an appropriate response to those sketches. The cartoons, no matter how offensive they are, are not worth starting a conflict over. Although the actions of a small percentage of Muslims certainly do not speak for all of Islam, those actions only reinforce the violent stereotype that taints the religion’s image and meaning, and unless the majority does not speak out against these actions, the image of the Muslim world will only continue to sink in the eyes of the world.

Was it appropriate for Flemming Rose, the cultural editor for the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten, to authorize the publication of those cartoons? Probably not. Two wrongs do not make a right, so just because the Christian and Jewish faiths have been persecuted in the past by Islamic fundamentalists does not mean that it is right to go the other way and persecute Islam. However, by responding to the cartoon by going out and proving the very point that the cartoon makes only causes people to condemn the violence instead of the person holding the pencil.

I know that the Qur’an does not teach to kill people. Given the action of Islamic extremists, however, many people believe otherwise. If Muslims want their religion to have a better image, believers should step up and voice outrage over this violence. They should voice outrage over previous actions taken by Hamas and Al Qaida. A large number of these people should do this all over the world. A campaign, if you will. Positive actions make a lasting impression, and those actions could lead to some good press for Islam.