I hate to insult Muslims here but is this really the right way to respond?

Question

"In the West Bank, two churches were set afire as anger over the pope's comments grew throughout the Palestinian areas.

In the town of Tulkarem, a 170-year-old stone church built 170 years ago was torched before dawn and its interior was destroyed, local Christian officials said. In the village of Tubas, a small church was attacked with firebombs and partially burned, Christians said. Neither church is Catholic, the officials said."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060917/ap_on_re_eu/pope_muslims_43

regardless of what the Pope said I see no justification for violence. Its hard for world to take Muslims seriously when they say Islam is a religion of peace when every action out of the Arab world says the exact opposite.

Answer 1

When's the last time you've heard of anyone from Islam doing anything peaceful? Almost never, right? Thats because it's not good news. We see them as violent because all we ever hear or read is about violence and fires, but really there are people working towards peace everyday. They just don't make news because who wants to hear about feeding the poor, or helping to build shelters, or even making sanitary conditions to live? Not me..

Answer 2

What I have found most annoying about this incident has been the incitement to discord by the press. Even in the BBC's own website it took a long time to find the actual text of the speech, rather than the citation of what the 14th century emperor said. By repeating the words of the emperor with no context, angers have been fueled. If you read the speech, and put the citation into context, it is far less offensive. And, to finally answer your question, I think the reaction is foolish in the extreme and shows how middle-eastern media have also been fanning the flames of religious discord.

Answer 3

You know - hate always begets hate. Love is the only thing that has been a true conquerer in history. The arab hates the Jew and the cycle continues. The Jew hates the arab and the cycle continues. The terrorist hates the westerner etc ... If one side decided the stop hating what would happen? Probably nothing right away. But if one side decided to continue to love eventually it would conquer. Through a miracle from God I've decided to love em all even if they hate me.

Answer 4

Nothing can justify violence. This shows a sheer lack of education and knowledge how to be tolerent. The vital force to indulge in violence becomes uncontrolable without proper education. Civic society today is also responsible for the generation of such feelings caused by insecurity. This reaction on their part is uncalled for.

Answer 5

There are a lot of muslims who are misguided, sacrificing themselves in the name of allah in return for 72 virgins in the afterlife. If they can only follow the moderate Imams wherein their teaching of killing an innocent civilian is just plain murder. Most muslim countries are intolerant of other religion where if they catch you practicing your Christian faith, your *** is placed in a cell. But go to a Christian country, all muslims are free to practice their faith any time and any place they want, and when they’re offended by the slightest thing, then there’s hell to pay. Not to offend muslims, but the intolerance of their faith to other religion is too obvious.

Answer 6

The Pope is not a stupid man. He knew exactly what he was saying and doing. Maybe he needs some brand new martyrs to liven things up a bit, get the cash rolling in again.

Answer 7

They've been fighting with each other for centuries.
Since the world has gotten smaller (airplanes, ships etc. ) they've started fighting with the rest of the world. Old habits die hard.

Muhammad spread Islam by the edge of the sword. So why would his followers be any different?

Answer 8

Look at Muslims manners with non-Muslims during wars, and you can conclude yourself that individuals' way of anger expression has nothing to do with Islam:

In his book As-Sunan Al-Kubra, Al-Baihaqi reports that Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) directed the commanders of the Muslim army saying: Do not drown or burn a palm tree; do not kill an animal (unless it is for eating) or cut a fruit tree; do not demolish a cloister; do not kill children, old people or women. You will find people secluding themselves for worship; leave them to observe what they secluded themselves for.”

Answer 9

This is a completely different scenario, but bear with me. Someone says your girlfriend/sister is a whore and a ***** and that she gave him (or her boyfriend or her or whatever) crabs or screwed a dog or something. Do you say "You're wrong and a liar" or do you lay 'em out in the middle of the room?
The fires were not set by the Muslim religion. They were set by people who were angry and wanted to do something hurtful to someone who hurt them. It wasn't right, but it wasnt evil or understandable from the right angle. It wasn't well thought out either.

Answer 10

I don't know but maybe all Muslims aren't this way?
It would like someone calling themselves christian & then sleeping with your wife!
I think the best response first of all is how you live your own life!
As to what you say to them sometimes the best response is no response!