The Road To Hell

According to BBC News, at least 10 people are reported to have been killed and several injured in Libya in clashes during the latest protests over the Muhammad cartoons outside an Italian consulate. The protesters were said to be angry at Italian minister Roberto Calderoli, who had worn a T-shirt showing the cartoons.

Meanwhile:

• A minister in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Haji Yaqub, announces an $11m (£6.3m) reward for anyone who beheads the cartoonist who drew the images.
• Peshawar cleric Maulana Yousaf Qureshi offers 7.5m rupees ($125,000) and a car to anyone who kills the cartoonist.
• Thousands of Muslims are also expected to protest in London over the cartoons today.

As I see it, the cartoons have widened the rift between Islam and the West, which the fundamentalists are successfully exploiting. Both cultures have differences, which may prove to be ultimately irreconcilable unless considerable tolerance and understanding are shown by each side. Roberto Calderoli, apparently is a member of Italy's anti-immigrant Northern League party, and he appears to be a rather odious fellow - he recently called Muslim immigrants in Italy "Ali Babas" and accused them of stealing houses and jobs from native Italians.
But his actions regarding the cartoons are totally irresponsible, and endangers Italians living in the Middle East (note: since the posting of this entry, Calderoli has resigned from the Italian government).

Now I don't believe that every Muslim seeks the destruction of western society because of the publication of these cartoons. These Muslims have the right to peacefully show their distaste for the images. At the same time, they should also denounce the extremist elements in their midst, who taint their religion with banners glorifying each bombing, kidnap, destruction and atrocity.

These extremists are successfully (in my opinion) painting Islam as an intolerant religion dedicated to the destruction of our civilization and they strengthen support for far-right elements (like the British National Party and the aforementioned Italian Northern League).
The average Muslim need to recognize this. Jihad Momani, the newspaper editor who published cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in Jordan, also wrote the following comment (before he was fired and arrested):

"Muslims of the world be reasonable. What brings more prejudice against Islam, these caricatures or pictures of a hostage-taker slashing the throat of his victim in front of the cameras or a suicide bomber who blows himself up during a wedding ceremony in Amman?"

Amidst all the breast-beating about insulting the Prophet Muhammad & defending our freedom of speech, both sides (Muslims & the West) appear to be overlooking each other's traditions and values.