Cartoon controversy and Islamic xenophobia

Re “What would Muhammad do?” Opinion, Feb. 9

Because Jamil Momand is an educated man, it is difficult to understand how his commentary could be so far off the mark. One does not have to be an authority on Islam to know why so many Muslims are reacting with violence to the cartoons lampooning the prophet Muhammad.

Islamic teachings have offered young followers a confused, if not duplicitous, code concerning the use of violence to resolve conflict. Extremist imams and terrorists around the world have seized on these ambiguities to recruit killers.

The rampant xenophobia throughout the Islamic world has become a breeding ground for hatred of anything non-Muslim.

Too many have grown up believing that their piety is best expressed in an angry mob, firing guns in the air and throwing petrol bombs.

They don’t understand that it’s not important for Christians, Jews or Buddhists to respect Islam; it is only important that they do. After all, it is their religion.

JOHN JOHNSON

Encino

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Re “French Weekly Prints Prophet Cartoons,” Feb. 9

It is a bit hypocritical of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to condemn Syria and Iran for stoking public passions regarding the cartoon controversy when her own administration did the same to the American public in preparation for an unnecessary war in Iraq.

TOM IMPELLUSO

San Diego