Free people everywhere should support the European press in publishing cartoons which are offensive to many Muslims (“The cartoon controversy,” Feb. 6, p.6). Although distasteful, these cartoons are acceptable in a free society and demonstrate the open hypocrisy of the Islamic world. The Islamic world seems to disregard the fact that these cartoons were legally published by private companies and have been condemned by several Western leaders for their insensitivity.
On Jan. 3, Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stated that Israel should be “wiped off the map” and that the Holocaust was a “myth.” Although met with quiet criticism from the West, these comments were greeted with silence by the entire Muslim world. The hypocrisy inherent in criticizing the work of a free press while preaching anti-Semitism and the destruction of Israel should be obvious. When will the double standard end toward the state of Israel? When will the Islamic world understand its hypocrisy and work towards peace? The world’s conciliatory attitude towards a society in which violence is preached by a large segment of the population is hypocritical. Why is Israel the only country in the world that is continually criticized for trying to protect the lives of its citizens? If the Muslim world wants respect for its ideals it must offer the same respect in return. Hypocrisy is showing its face in the capitals of the Middle East, as Muslim citizens preach respect towards themselves without giving it in return.
Geoffrey Bloom CAS ’08