Protesters in the Muslim world overreacted concerning Danish drawings of the prophet Muhammad. The degree of response is not proportionate to the offense.
Swastikas, burnings of crosses and desecrations of temples, mosques, churches and synagogues should be prosecuted as hate crimes; in the West, rule of law deals with these transgressions.
The movie "The Last Temptation of Christ" and Andres Serrano's depiction of a plastic Jesus in urine are two examples of art that offended many Christians. Yet, how many Christians demanded death to the artists?
Elements of the Islamic world cry Islam is peaceful, while shouting carnage and destruction. Author Salman Rushdie received the death penalty for [his novel] "The Satanic Verses." Dutch filmmaker Theo Van Gogh's film on Islam incited his murder.
As with terrorist attacks, retaliation is often directed at people with little or no link to their supposed antagonists. In the summer of 1997, Tatiana Susskin's leaflets depicting Muhammad as a pig resulted in two suicide bombers with links to Hamas killing more than a dozen people, including two Arabs. Susskin was arrested and sentenced by an Israeli court to two years in jail for her act.
We, Muslims and non-Muslims, must demand the Islamic world repudiate religious chauvinism and violence. This is one of the greatest responsibilities of media, both Islamic and Western.
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