Muhammad and blasphemy laws

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/11/world/asia/11pakistan.html?pagewanted=2&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha22

Dear all:

I didn't agree with the killing of the governor. However, to gain any understanding of how the young lawyers rallied to the defense of the assassin and how the military establishment appears unmoved by the governor's death, one must do serious reading on the history of Islam, especially its early days and the dynamic role that Muhammad played in those days. While he was far from perfect, he was a well-rounded figure and truly a remarkable survivor and man (religion's founder, administrator, military commander, caravan leader whose reputation for fairness was widely known and was often chosen as an arbitrator of disputes, and an employee who later married his widowed boss who was 16 (?) years (from memory, too lazy to look up Wikipedia) older than he was, and who became his first believer and fiercely supported him and to whom he was devoted [he only took on additional wives after she died]). After reading about this man one cannot help but have an affection and even admiration for this illiterate man even if one is not a Muslim. So imagine how the Muslims would feel about him and how much anger they would experience when they see his name and character are besmirched by non-believers. As I stated before, intolerant Christians think it is a sport to make fun of and denigrate Muhammad. Muslims never do so against Jesus of Nazareth because Muhammad told them to respect Jesus and all the prophets mentioned in the Bible. In some ways, Muslims take their religion far more seriously than Christians do. In that context, the U.S. will never succeed in its ventures in the Muslim lands. It only radicalizes the Muslim youth further who feel incumbent to defend their faith at all costs.

Ignorance of others is not bliss. It's very expensive and dangerous.