In Sept. 2005, ten Danish cartoonists inked caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad. Months after the 12 cartoons were printed controversy had grown. Some or all of the cartoons have been reprinted in newspapers in more than 50 other countries, resulting in violent protest particulary in Muslim countries, France and England included. Various critics have different views and perceptions of who and what may have been offended or targeted.

As a result of the riots, the irony lies in many people's minds on how sensitive yet destructive those who participated in the riots are. Some question if the religion of Islam is no longer the "Religion of Peace", as it has been known to be

There are both good and bad Muslims in this world, and it would be provincial to think otherwise. However, this hyper-reaction by the few bad apples is damaging Islam's respectability and reputation as a prominent religion.

The Quran is continuously being interpreted by clerics throughout the world. The idea that Muhammad cannot be drawn is a recent and radical interpretation.

Before this modern Jihad against the west began, Muslims were creative and very skilled artistically; not violent and destructive. One of Iran's most revered artists, Soltan Mohammad, painted Me'raj one thousand years ago. This image depicted the Prophet Muhammad's ascension to heaven.

The fact that this painting is celebrated as a masterpiece baffles me. On May 13, 2005, Soltan Mohammad is praised as a great painter in a conference held by Ahmad Masjed-Jamei, Iran's Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance.

On one hand, drawing the Prophet Muhammad is strictly forbidden in the Quran, and on the other hand you can do it if it doesn't offend Islam. This accepted level of hypocrisy is despicable.

The Danish cartoonists were only exercising their right of free press which is a right granted to all within journalism. What they tried to do was to portray how they view the Prophet Muhammad and Islam.

Whomever that offends has the option to not read or look at the cartoons. They have a choice to view what they may or may not want to see. That very same person also has the option to protest the publication of the cartoons, but in a non-violent manner without harming or destructing others around them.

The violent protestors and rioters that are damaging the general public's perception of Islam are the people responsible for creating that stigma of violence. Protesting violently will not change the perception of being bomb-toting-turban-wearing terrorists, but rather enforce it.

I would not like it if someone offended my religious beliefs, but I would never issue a "Fatwa" and place a $1M bounty on that person's head in the name of my religion. The Islamic community has a right to be angry, but they need to figure out exactly why they are so angry, and work at expressing themselves.

Free press is a mirage in the Middle East and a reality in the west. They should feel free to accept censorship in their culture, but we should never accept it in ours.

The fact that they think they can issue decrees regarding the images that we print in our press is absurd. The arrogance of these clerics is astonishing. It reminds me of a spoiled child that will throw tantrums whenever he doesn't get what he wants.

Don't be so sensitive because sometimes you are subjected to things you don't like. C'est la Vie! Our responsibility as Americans is to prevent the censorship of our press in our country, and dismiss any negative foreign influence that might prevent us from doing so.