Expressing anger and sorrow, a world apart

Two stories today (March 1), pages apart, each different as night and day.

“Brutal Death of French Jew Brings Calls to Combat Evil” and “Cartoon Display Protested” got my blood boiling.

I find it truly amazing that while members of UC Irvine’s Muslim Student Union stood and shouted during a protest at a forum on Islamic extremism Tuesday night, just up the road a small group gathered at UCLA to pay respects to and remember Ilan Halimi, the young Frenchman who was brutally tortured and murdered Feb. 13.

When responsible members of the Muslim community begin to voice the same outrage for people like Halimi and Theo Van Gogh as they do over cartoons, then maybe some of us here in the 21st century West will begin to listen to them.

Until that day comes. I can only say, “Shame on you.”

JAMES ARONE

Burbank