7 day forecast
Issue One: Attacks on U.S. diplomatic missions
Share with others:
Permanent war
About the attacks on the U.S. Consulate in Libya and the U.S. Embassy in Cairo on Sept. 11: Like it or not, we are in a "religious war." Christian zealots insult Islam and their zealots attack, killing innocent people.
I am convinced this "war between the religions" was no accident but started on purpose over the last 20 years by neoconservative elements in the two Bush administrations and supported by the Republican Party. After the fall of the Soviet Union, America needed a new foe to continue frightening the hell out of people and justifying the military-industrial complex. The best available was Islam.
It will never fall and never be defeated. What we have is "permanent war for permanent peace." Somewhere George Orwell is smiling, sadly nodding in agreement or perhaps crying.
FREDERICK J. ROKASKY
Squirrel Hill
Romney's remarks
I'm writing in response to Mitt Romney's vitriolic remarks and politicization of the tragedy at our mission in Libya. I call on the candidate to retract his remarks and offer a sincere apology to the families of those lost in furthering peace and diplomacy in this region. I also denounce the hateful video and its author and call for open discussions to resolve these religious differences among all peoples.
RICH DOYLE
Baldwin Borough
Mob violence
Regarding Muslim tendencies toward mob violence or, should one say, Muslim sensitivities and how they are displayed: The latest examples are the attacks on the U.S. Embassy in Cairo and the murder of four Americans in Libya.
I have not viewed the film that kicked this particular hornet's nest, though it might well be offensive to some who follow the Muslim faith. That said, any number of things are or might be offensive to members of any number of other religious faiths. The world is chock-full of offensive material. Nevertheless, members of other religious faiths, while they might be made unhappy by such materials, do not indulge in mob violence, do not engage in murder, as happened in Libya.
Some would have it that Muslims are prone to violence, that their religious faith is one of violence and intolerance. Possibly; I don't know. But given the rapidity with which murderous mobs are raised, are Muslims overly prone to offense, or are they too easily led around by their noses to do the "work" of rabble-rousing "clerics"? If so, how come?
ALAN SCHULTZ
McCandless
First Published September 16, 2012 12:00 am
