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Opinion

Toon riots likely have deeper roots

Melissa Correa
Opinion Columnist

Embassy riots are out-of-control. Sunday morning, hundreds of Muslims bombarded the U.S. Embassy in Indonesia. I'm beginning to believe the cartoon depicting a bomb on the Prophet Muhammad's head isn't the driving force behind the protesting. 

I believe embassy raids have something to do with the Islamic Faith. After talking with some of my Muslim friends, it's clear to me religion is viewed quite differently across the sea. 

I value my Catholic faith. I try to live a good life. I go to church and I say my prayers. I understand everyone can celebrate whomever he or she chooses. I am not offended if someone flaunts a "Jesus is my homeboy" T-shirt. I don't get upset when the Lord's name is said in vain, nor do I plan and carry out protests concerning abortion or gay marriage -- smashing windows and rioting in the streets. I take my faith seriously, but at the end of the day, it doesn't define who I am.

Over seas, in Pakistan and Indonesia for example, it seems the Islamic faith defines what a person is. I read about Muslim beliefs, and came to find it's a great religion. The faith calls for peace, love and understanding of others. I guess in a country where liberties are scarce and free speech doesn't exist, we Americans seem scary. 

I can't speak for the Danish cartoonist, but I am sure his intentions were not to stir up such a ruckus. 

Several people were injured at the U.S. Embassy. Those Americans had nothing to do with the cartoon. I don't think it's fair to punish innocent people for the mistake of the cartoonist. Of course we all want to see the cartoon after it has raised so much controversy. But don't punish the world for wanting to know the news of the day. 

Also on Sunday, Pakistani Muslims burned a U.S. flag and a picture of President Bush. That didn't accomplish anything. President Bush had nothing to do with the cartoons. I value our president's integrity and stand behind all of his policies. It's safe to reason that if rioting Muslims were picketing our president's face -- then all of this wasn't over the cartoon. 

"We are ready to attack the enemies of the Prophet," said one banner in Pakistan. I know a majority of Pakistanis support Osama bin Laden, and if that's the real reason they are rioting against the U.S., then they need to come out and say it. There is no point to use the derogatory cartoon as fuel for the fire.

The people who anger me, though, are those who burned 15 churches in Nigeria on Sunday after they "heard" a Christian burned a Quran. To me, it seems like some Muslims are going on a witch-hunt. We need to come together, not as a nation, Muslims or Christians, but as people and end it all. There is not point in harming innocent people, especially over hearsay.

The attacks are wrong. I am guessing the Muslims behind the embassy riots are pretty devoted to their faith. So it is safe for me to believe, the Muslims behind the attacks are praying five times a day. What I want to know is how they can pray for calm and peace and ask the Lord to help in their daily lives and then get up from prayer with such resentment in their hearts -- enough to battle a variety of embassies. 

I am just waiting to find out what these embassy attacks are really about. Surely it can't be over a cartoon. 

My mom always said there is no use crying over spilled milk. It just seems to me like everyone already apologized and the cartoon was pulled from newspapers. It's time for us to put this matter behind us and move on. 

I believe American Muslims should publicly voice the concerns of their people. If there are other matters we need to tend to, well let's make them clear. 

Protestors in Pakistan chanted "God is great" and later chanted "Any friend of America is a traitor." 

Come on. God loves everyone. God is not going to side with you or me. God doesn't love Pakistan more than America. For once, can we put our religious beliefs aside and get to the root of the problem? 

One of my favorite sayings from the Prophet Muhammad is, "God does not judge you according to your appearance and your wealth, but He looks at your hearts and looks into your deeds." I think that's a great concept. The next time I want to get upset over spilled milk I will think back to those words and realize it's not worth it.

Correa, an opinion columnist for The Daily Cougar, 
can be reached at mel_correa@yahoo.com.