Awesome posts some of you!!
Personally, I think the offenses over the cartoons are a load of crap. I am Christian, and I will admit, I don't like to see a bible torn in half, or anything along that nature, but I am not going to start some major :bull crap: because it rubs me the wrong way. I'm not the one who has tu suffer for those actions when I'm standing before God. (if you don't beleive in God, I'm not sorry if I offended you by the way)
As for understanding the middle eastern cultures and religion, why?
Their "religious" teachings are not about converting the infidels or anything along those lines. According to them, you submit to their power, and their rules, or you die. They care about as much for their own people as they do for the "western devils".
You can try to understand it all you want, but when you get blown up as you're hugging the dude, and "understanding" his plight and way of life, you aren't going to get any sympathy from me.
There is an interesting article that was in the WSJ in january that some of you may be interestedin that I think relates, and is pretty scary. Its a bit long, but I encourage you all to read it.
http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110007760
