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Show Wednesday, February 8, 2006 DAILY EDITORIAL HERALD DollySeratd | Ee Albert J. Reece g pacae Randy Wright, Executive Editor Donald W. Meyers, Editorial page editor ee ee “IN OUR VIEW Behindthe. Muslim mob worry, Muhammad,’ says. “We'veall been caricatured here.” The newspaper, France Soir, ran the jokein defense of a Danish ne cet had published a he Muslim pone | Inside the paper were several examples from the original series. At least six other bidden, Muslims are taught, be. Cause images leadto idolatry. While the Danish newspaper clearly enjoysa right to free it should not have published the cartoons.It forgot common decency andrespect for the religious sensibilities offaithful Mi It is true that satirical attacks have alwaysbeenleveled against enemies in ongoing wars. Cartoonists savaged Hitler, Mussolini and Japan’s sacred emperor during World War II, for example. ewise, Mi insurgents around the world are easy targets for sharp-witted editorialists. Satire is all about exposing and terrorists who style themselves as pious Muslims are brimjaneeee it. They do not hesitate mosques tobits or tokill innocent bystanders — mostly other Muslims — in violation of their owncreed. They indiscriminately attack markets, public buildings, buses, weddings and even funeral services. They have no problem uecouet's directives against s or killing of prisoners. deserve no protecsensitivity about Muhammad. And yet,publication of these cartoons was wrong.Not all Muslims are terrorists or insurgents. A great many are indeed pious, individuals who respect the rights of others. They are entitled to some deference from nations and newspapers alike. havea right to take offense at Srereeent portrayals of their most Portrayals of two greatreligious figures — Jesus and Muhammad the trouble with freedom is that there's always someone who will misuse it to hurt another. ‘less of low crude or hurtful something is, the more they seem to want to publish it. Sore protection from satire in the West; there is a right to blas‘This is true, but it is not the whole story. Freedom ought to come with a sense BY 00ts ae to live. Freedom in the hands of SS ehoer sellcantrol con mon sense or respect for their fel- GURINDER OSAN/Associated Press Muslim of Raza-eRasoolcouncil burn a symbolic flag of Denmark,ata protestin New Delhi, India, on Tuesday. The protest was against the publication of cartoons depicting Prophet Muhammadby a Danish newspaperand subsequently by otherdailies. lowmenis dangerous — dangerous to peace, to prosperity andto the moral fabric that binds society. Despite the justifiable indignation of true Muslims, however, nothing can justify the violence that has ensued overthe publication of a few cartoons. When piety obscures all common sense and turns people into depraved criminals,it loses its claim to moral high ground. Weare not convinced that many of the individuals committing violent acts around the world have genuinehurt feelings anyway. Whileidolatry is prohibited in Islam, a cartoon image of Muhammadis unlikely ever to become an object of religious reverence. The point is overblown.Faithful Muslims do not become idolators because someone else made an image. As a matteroffact, images of Muhammadwerestruck on coins as early as the year 685 by Muslims themselves in commemoration of their prophet. The ban on Muhammad's image came later. Today's violence is morelikely a pretext for venting frustration toward the West. The cartoons simply handed an undisciplined, uncivilized Muslim rabble an excuse to go on another rampage. And so the wedge betweencivilizations is driven deeper. Peaceful Muslims areas dismayed by events as non-Muslims. They worry that the imageofIslam will be permanently tarnished no the wild actions of the mob. Their concern is well-placed. Muslims have enjoyed acceptance = Europe, but relations are now etl Jordan, the independent newspaper al-Shihan reprinted some of the cartoons to show readers what was behind the protests. In a related editorial, the new: r hit the nail on the head: “Mi of the world be reasonable.... What brings more prejudice against Islam, these caricatures or pictures of a hostage-taker slashing the throatof his victim in front of the cameras or a bomber who blows himself up during a wedding ceremonyin The bevdertof islam have al- waysbeen violent. leit expects to maintain any credibility as of peace,it ee Rcttien Coan oot ea fh and cultivate Sant leuenceslos oearary petets of view. Those viewsare not going away. They will continue to be exin free Western societies. And this is the line that ultimatedefines the boundary between ‘West and Islam. Democracies have decided that freedom — even if it means t jolerating some bad behavior — is better than a society in which one religion makes the Some accommodation by Islam toward Western values is necessary for peace.Islam needs to tolerate fi , ‘The alternative is perpetual war. Give Palestinians chance to work bugs out of democracy Sng) | Like manyPalestinians I was proud that we have conducted these elections peacefully. = : I was also disappointed with the results, but I suppose this is how democracy is: We haveto accept the results even if we do not agree with them. This summerI visited my family in the Gaza Strip for the first time in five years. My niece ill and I rushed her to the local hospital. The doctor told me they couldn't see her because she wasn't an “emergency. After not bean‘ableto get her admitted, I learned ofa local mosqueclinic which was usually funded by Hamas;it was mylast resort. The doctors and the nurse shocked me with their professionalism, gratitude and caring. I think many people have chosen Hamas because ofbothits service ad transparency. As Hamas and others the region are trying to redefine fas selves,all we can do is step back and watchfor change. The Palestinians have spoken and chosen whatthey think is right for them; I hope the West will not makeus regret practicing what they are spending lives and resources promoting in manyparts of the world. » Hani Almadhoun, Provo No origin-of-life theory exists because life always existed The Daily Herald is correct, “thereis no scientific theory on the origin oflife.” If theories are based on observable facts, and if at one time no life existed in the universe, nonlife could have “observed” it managed to evolveinto life. So,if no scientific theories on the origin of life exist, what is the alternative explanation? Reason tells us that we haveno scientific theory on the origin of life because life is without origin. postulateof life's immortality does not violate the laws of nature in ee form. ascent on the other peee ey oralPe and others demonstrated beyond any reasonable doubt fe life comes only from life similar to Given the fact that no biological generalization rests on a wider series of Scenic conde hat fe has robe Pros te i nl fobowe tat the myth of life’s origin from nonlife should finally be abandoned. » Kazmer Ujvarosy, San Francisco State, not bars, must do more to rein in drunken drivers I don't believe Talbot's drunken drivfogstabs be ut on the Suieions ot 8 “Tipase with the facts that the statelet this person get away with multiple DUIs and only gaveher reason to continue. As someone who has been a designated driver for some friends in the past, I can only assume thatit is the patron's ponsibility to have a ride home if they ide to drink. The bar does not have the means to know if a person has a ride or if they droveto the bar. I would hold the state responsible for letting this person be able to enter the bar in the first place after having so many DUIs. If there was a way to recognize these people with numerous DUIs, then they could enforce a future law that prohibits such le from drinking at an estabbusiness or even purchasing alcoholall together. That would ait they wouldn't be out drinking t! away on the town. » Jared Dayley, Springville Richard Dutcher produces fine, thought-provoking films It is sad that someone who has not even seen “God's Army 2: States of Grace” would write such a derogatory letter for all the world tosee. I really liked “Brigham City” because I thought we Laat Saints needed the message he developed in that movie. 1 looked forward eagerly to = latest ae and I was not ‘on is right eran de ays that uer Dt “is rather brilliant.” DOONESBURY- Garry Trudeau veg.: MieWANE > He does morethan just crank out a namby-pamby feel-good movie. When you see oneof his movies, you know he has taken the time to weavea thought-provoking messageinto it which you can take with youand mull over for days, And this movie definitely has soul. “God's Army2: States of Grace” is definitely a “go-see” movie if you are looking for an entertaining, thought provoking,life-changing experience. Please get out there and support Dutcher so he can continue to make great LDS movies. And no, I am not related nor do I know the man personally.I just like what he is doing. » Diana Babbitt, Springville How to comment E-mail letters to dhletters@heraldextra.com Fax to 344-2985 Mail to P.O. Box 717, Provo, UT 84603. » Letters must include the author's full name, address and daytime phone number. » Weprefer shorter letters, 100 and 200 words, Letters maybe edited for length. » Writers are encouraged to » Because of the volume of letters, wecannot acknowledge — eae ra nee | | | | | | J |