In a recent speech, the pope quoted a Christian emperor from medieval times, who basically said that Muhammad's call for spreading Islam with violence was evil. (The pope said he was trying to condemn religious violence in all forms, whether Muslim or anyone else, but he regrettably chose an awkward way of expressing this notion.) I can accept that this quote expresses ignorance about the true tenets of Islam, as one Muslim leader stated. However, is it sensible for some Muslims to react with violence in protest of a quote that misrepresents Islam as being a violent religion? I just find it to be unfortunate and ironic that some Muslims choose to react to words with violence, thereby somewhat confirming the implication of the very words that have angered them. Here's the article:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14861689/

And that's not to say that there's not plenty of Christian hypocrites out there, because there are. What I am saying is that every time violent protests break out among Muslims as a result of something someone said in reference to Islam, it makes it seem to the rest of the world that Islam indeed is prone to violence.

Has anyone heard of mosques being fire-bombed by Christians in any part of the world? Admittedly, I would not want to travel to any country that is fervently Islamic at this time, out of fear of being hurt or killed.