Which of these images is more disturbing?

In case you had any doubt that large portions of the world's population are still living in the Stone Age, consider the growing protests and increasingly vitriolic reaction of Muslims to cartoons published in a Danish magazine depicting caricatures of the prophet Mohammed. While I understand how blasphemous this is considered by some, I have a hard time fathoming the depth of hatred that has been shown in response. "Massacre those who insult Islam"? How are we in the West supposed to have any sympathy for Islamic values when not just fundamentalists, but mainstream Muslims, espouse this point of view? It seems awfully hypocritical to be condemning the desecration of Mohammed while at the same time kidnapping and beheading innocent civilians, and carrying out suicide-bomb terrorism.

While tolerance, respect and cooperation have generally been the defining features of Muslim-Christian relations throughout history, there have also been periods of murder, intolerance and hostility on other occasions. There are those who believe that the stage is currently being set for an all-out Holy War between these two great religions, one that will make any previous dustups pale in comparison. Many are actively preparing for such conflict at this very moment, and there is certainly plenty of hatred to go around on both sides. Let us hope that calmer heads will prevail.

For those who may not have seen the cartoons and are wondering what all the fuss is about, you can view them here.


UPDATE 2/9/06!

How to resolve this dilemma? European Superman has the answer!

Somewhere in Europe: A political comic strip offends people of certain religion, Islam. The Muslims are angered, they rebel, they attack the embassies of certain European country. What it can be done, that will save the day? European Superman will come to rescue!

Somewhere in the Middle East:

Muslim: "We will kill all the European and we will eat its children."

Second Muslims: "wait, which is that one back in the sky"

Muslim: "it is a bird, he is a plane, no he is Mohammed prophet."

Second Muslims: "no, it is a bomber of the suicide."

Muslim: "he is not neither, he is European Superman."

European Superman: "Salaam, Muslims."

Muslim: "Salaam, European Superman. In the name of the prophet."

European Superman: "the Muslims, I know that you are angered on these comic strips. Listen, I lived in Europe under the Soviet domination. Religion, Islam, were suppressed by the government.

Muslim: "yes, it is."

European Superman: "yes, only you will not solve to any thing burning itself the Danish Embassy. He must have a land of in the middle. I have solution to it the problem."

Muslim: "which is that one?"

European Superman: "Europe must prohibit religious comic strips. And you must burn the Chinese embassy. China is communist, like Soviet union."

Muslim: "the Chinese embassy, hah, why we did not think about that one?"

Second Muslims: "European Superman, you are wise truth."