To the editor:

My, how the headlines have changed.

Twelve caricatures of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad, depicting him and his religion as espousing violence, have brought on a maelstrom of response. Freedom of the press is the reason proffered, but the press’ selectiveness in applying this freedom covers up the real intent behind the publication.

I have a Jewish friend who is a member of a small synagogue in a small city. He informs me that he and others, as local leaders of their area Anti-Defamation League, daily scan the local newspaper, TV, radio, lectures and area schools for any statement that they consider anti-Semitic. Should they discover a bias, that medium or school has immediate hell to pay. I saw a drawing of the Star of David metamorphosing into a swastika, which caricature would never be printed as a cartoon by any reputable paper under the guise of freedom of the press.

The 12 caricatures of Muhammad so publicized throughout Europe should never have been published as well. Displayed as “art” in a museum I would find acceptable. And so I find it lamentable that the Journal-World’s headline “Embassies torched over caricatures” enforces the casual reader’s opinion that Islam’s followers are violent, radical and anti-Western. Every religion has its followers who, however small, would violently respond to a public degradation of their religion. There is something going on behind the caricature turbulence and the Journal-World has a responsibility to offer the reader more in-depth investigative reporting on this issue.

Ken Bubb,

Lawrence