Give Me A Break

Reuters just recently posted a comment from Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif that nuclear talks would be easier if the West respected Muslims. (here) Mr. Zarif was referring to the recently released edition of Charlie Hebdo, the satirical magazine with another cartoon of Mohammed on the cover. Give me a break. These Muslims must be the most sensitive people who have ever existed. They need to have an en masse sit-down with Dr. Phil.

I find it amazing how their sensitivity stops short of the display of murdered journalists in Paris, or murdered children in Syria and Iraq, or publically executed homosexuals in Tehran, or their continued public call for the eradication of the State of Israel. I also find it doubly amazing that as soon as an Islamic terrorist carries out some bloody murder, our western leadership fears for retaliation on all of the innocent moderate Muslims. What these leaders really fear is that western citizenry will behave as Muslims. But that fear has so far been unfounded. There has never been a backlash, other than graffiti or some minor destruction of property by the more sensible western public. Our outrage is limited to civilized displays such as demonstrations or blogging.

Our leaders need to stop worrying so much about the sensitivity of Muslims and focus their concerns on eliminating the terrorists that would do us harm. But to do that, our politicians have to first admit the issue is not with Western culture but with Islam and the Muslim default position toward violence.