Everyone who reads my blog knows I believe that Muslims and the terrorists who claim to be Muslims are two totally separate things, that you can’t be a Muslim or a believer in Allah and kill for the sake of Allah. Which is why I was sickened when a man named Nakoula Basseley Nakoula (or Sam Becile; this guy’s got so many identities it’s hard to keep up) made a movie called “The Innocence of Muslims”, which portrays Mohammed as nutcase from illegitimate parentage who created a cult that likes to kill people, especially Christians, and dehumanize women. and then released a 14-minute trailer on YouTube! I watched five minutes of that video, and I felt nauseated.
The video has caused a wide reaction, the east of which has been rioting up and down the Middle East, where portrayal of Muhammed (not to mention portrayal of Muhammed in such a gross fashion) is generally considered an insult. People at American embassies have died because the riots have gotten out of hand, and some have made use of the video to try and make political gains in elections.
What do I think? I think the man who made this movie and reportedly decieved the actors into thinking they were making an entirely different movie, is a monster. He’s abused free speech, caused a huge amount of anguish and rage, and God bless the lawyer who can find a way to get this man in prison for what he’s done. This isn’t art or free expression he’s made; it’s just hate-speech, similar to the movie Der Juden as made by the Nazis.
Now, I know I don’t usually take such upfront, angry stances on issues; I try to couch my messages in terms that won’t be considered incendiary. But this time, I take exception. Whoever made this film, whoever you really are, I hope they can find a way to put you in jail for what you’ve caused. It’s senseless, gruesome, and it’s totally inaccurate.
And to all Muslims out there, I hope you don’t let this blatant insult to your religion bother you. This one man, a man who stomps on America’s values and acts decidely un-American, is a monster, and he will answer for what he’s done, either in the courts or by some Divine Intervention. When that happens, I hope we can all move on.
Share your thoughts with me on this. I’m curious to know if you feel how I feel.
Rami Ungar The Writer 
Ditto on all of your thoughts. Some people engage in hate speech (in all its forms) under the guise of “free speech.” I work with international students at a university, many of whom are from Saudi Arabia, and we in our office fear others on our campus will take out their anger toward the uprising in the Middle East on them. So many “Christians” are completely ignorant of what it means to be a true Muslim. I know ours will be engaging in their Friday prayer on campus praying for those who were murdered and injured. Thank you for writing this. Jane
You’re welcome. My school also has a lot of international and Muslim students, and I’m sure they have the same emotions about what is happening in the Middle East. Recently, my school also has had some trouble with overly-loud racists, so I’m also worried that those same people may make some noise on campus or the Internet.
But i’m hoping knowledge will win out and people will realize that Muslims are peaceful people, and that the deaths in the Middle East can’t be attributed to all Muslims. That’s what I’ll pray for tonight before Shabbat comes in, at least.