To the editor:

I’m confused about why the leaders of the Western world are constantly apologizing to violent Muslim mobs. It seems to me that Muslim leaders should be doing the apologizing. Neither the pope, Danish cartoonists, Jews or anyone that I can think of has come within light years of uttering the kind of vile, intolerant, bigoted language that routinely pours out of the Muslim world. It’s not just language either. Somali Muslims allegedly murdered an elderly Catholic nun because of the pope’s remarks. In Gaza, “protesters” torched churches. Of course, that’s just the latest. And the pope is apologizing? This makes no sense to me.

It’s not a new thought, but if Muslims protested terrorism with the same energy they protest criticism, I’m sure there’d be a lot less of both. Not likely to happen, though, since the same Muslim leaders who incite the protests are also the ones who incite the murder and destruction.

But I still don’t see why anyone should apologize to these people. Straightforward condemnation is more appropriate for violence, bigotry and intolerance.

Gary Henry,

Lawrence