Time to end ant-U.S. protests

There is a new anti-American protest somewhere every day. I can’t keep with the count. It seems the Muslim world has gone mad judging by the widespread outbreak of street protests by angry Muslims over the film, The Innocence of Muslims.
Even in Australia, a child is reported to hold a sign saying,” Behead all those who insult the Prophet.” I am upset and disappointed at what my fellow Muslims are doing. Is this what your religion is teaching you? Do you think Prophet Mohamed would have liked to see all this killings in the name of Islam?
The amateurish film, which depicts the prophet Mohammed in an extremely insulting manner, has been banned from websites in several countries already. Though I have not seen the film, I am also insulted at the way the prophet is maligned in the film. Region is a touchy and emotional issue, but this is not the way to express one’s anger and frustration.
Islam is a peaceful religion and those who practise and follow it appear to have forgotten that. Muslims are required to respect the dignity of mankind, regardless of religion, race, nationality, or place of birth. Islam, which literally means “surrender” or “submission,” was founded on the teachings of Prophet Muhammad as an expression of surrender to the will of Allah, the creator and sustainer of the world.
The uproar, the killings and destruction of U.S. property, is quite contrary to the teachings of Prophet Mohamed in whose name these atrocities are done.
In his speech at Cairo’s Al-Ashar University during his 2009 visit, President Obama said many Muslims to view the West as hostile to the traditions of Islam. Violent extremists have exploited these tensions in a small but potent minority of Muslims. The attacks of September 11th, 2001, and the continued efforts of these extremists to engage in violence against civilians has led some in my country to view Islam as inevitably hostile not only to America and Western countries, but also to human rights. This has bred more fear and mistrust.”
Obama went to Cairo “to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world; one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect; and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive, and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap, and share common principles of justice and progress; tolerance and the dignity of all human beings.
As they say, politics make strange bedfellows. Not long ago, America was considered to be the liberators in Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. The U.S. was a major player in the Arab Spring, which toppled dictatorial regimes in those countries. Yesterday’s liberator has become enemy number one today.
The Middle East countries should be thankful that the U.S. has stood by in their hour of need and has supported them in carrying out their revolution. It was senseless and inexcusable to kill someone like the U.S. ambassador to Tunisia, Christopher Stevens, who was more than sympathetic to the Tunisians’ aspirations. The Arab Spring was a revolution of the people and let it not be forgotten that it would not have succeeded the way it did had it not been for the U.S. support.
The film that has caused so much disturbance and uproar around the world is work of an amateur and I don’t see why the U.S. government has to be blamed for it. There is a false belief among many Arabs that the film in question was created by the U.S. government. By the same token, if an individual in Egypt, Tunisia or Pakistan does something distasteful, it doesn’t mean that the government of that country should be held accountable.
In a country where freedom of speech is regarded as one of its cardinal assets, there will be times when residents would produce something or act in a manner that could be considered distasteful to people in other countries. It is a clash of civilizations that has to be blamed for people in one country not understanding and appreciating the culture and religion of people in another country.
One can only hope these demonstrations will subside. We also hope and pray that those who go on the street and shout are in the minority. Islam is a lot stronger and resilient. No religion should feel itself under such extreme threat over a film that is a crude and ill-informed piece rubbish.