Where are the responsible Muslims (and Christians)?

When radical Muslims commit acts of terrorism or mayhem, we are assured that the Jihadists do not represent the billions of moderate, law-abiding Muslims around the world. I am sure these folks exist, but can’t help wondering why we hear so little from them when their religion is used as an excuse for violence.

Although the Islamic Society of North America held a news conference condemning the attacks on U.S. embassies in the Middle East, most of the Muslim authorities interviewed by the news media have been quick to explain why Muslims’ feelings are hurt but tepid in their condemnation of the violence. We also have seen little or no reaction from mainstream Muslim clerics around the world, or from the leaders of moderate Muslim nations like Turkey and Indonesia. The U.N. has been pretty quiet, too.

I would like to believe that the majority of Muslims are as peaceable as your average Methodist, but I have to wonder why they allow the Jihadists to represent their religion.

Christians have been pretty quiet, too. Everyone agrees that the Koran-burning Rev. Terry Jones and the sinister folks who produced an obscure YouTube film have a right to free speech. But I have yet to hear any condemnation of these wingnuts from the National Council of Churches, or from leading Evangelicals such as Rev. Franklin Graham or Mike Huckabee. Their silence plays into the hands of the Jihadists who want their followers to believe that all Americans go around trashing Muhammad.

We also need to clarify that the right to free speech does not confer immunity from its consequences. No one wants the government to go after whoever produced the film, and the government’s request to YouTube to “review” the offending video is a little creepy. But I’ll bet a lawyer for the families of the murdered diplomats would have no trouble convincing a court that these folks have blood on their hands.

Finally, I’m getting a little tired of hearing that we should be sensitive toward Muslims’ fragile religious feelings because they tend to kill people when they get riled up. Perhaps it’s time to communicate that Americans are just as passionate about our flag as Muslims are about their Prophet. And we have cruise missiles.