Letters to the Editor

Middle East should grow up

The editorial “Cartoon controversy shows bad
judgment” (Feb. 6) misses the significance of recent events
in the Middle East and Asia.

It briefly describes the violence and destruction in Beirut as a
misunderstanding. However, the enraged mob that torched the Danish
embassy didn’t understand that it was a Danish newspaper
““ not the Danish government ““ that had published an
inflammatory editorial cartoon.

The majority of the editorial explains how irresponsible the
Danish media was for publishing the cartoon, but the Daily Bruin
editorial board seems to have missed the point.

In a free, democratic society people must respect the rights of
others to express themselves.

Expression should be respected ““ even if a group uses that
freedom of expression to insult or assail those things that one
holds most dear.

To respond to such insult with violence is unacceptable. Most of
us learn this on the playground, but the violence that is now
spreading across the Middle East in response to these cartoons
illustrates two important points.

First, there are no free democratic societies in the Middle
East.

Second, there are large segments of the Muslim population that
have a lot of growing up to do ““ apparently they
haven’t gotten beyond the playground.

Rather than giving them a pass on their morally repugnant
behavior, the board should be highlighting the important work ahead
in promoting human rights and freedom in the Middle East.

Kevin Williams Graduate student, microbiology,
immunology and molecular genetics

Dialogue would combat violence

Thank you for running the editorial on the cartoon controversy
(“Cartoon controversy shows bad judgment,” Feb. 6).

The publishing of the cartoons in the Danish newspaper was a
display of great hate and intolerance.

In the name of freedom of speech, the most sophisticated
professional class of European print media organizations revealed
their centuries-old hatred and intolerance toward Muslims.

Showing solidarity with those who promote these kinds of views
does not promote “free speech.” It promotes intolerance
and violence that hurts innocent people all over the word.

We are brothers and sisters in humanity, and all of us should
share the common goal of eradicating intolerance of any kind by
speaking out against it.

It is the responsibility of all people, especially Muslims, to
respond in the tradition of their prophet Muhammad through
education, kind words and dialogue, not through violence and
hatred.

It would serve everyone well if a meaningful dialogue and
discussion took place on the true nature of the Muslim faith and
the true personality of the prophet Muhammad. All of society should
promote higher ideals of love and understanding.

Khadeeja Abdullah Fourth-year, physiological
science