Paris terrorist attack: Second look

Letters to the editor:

Reject extremism

Radical Muslim cleric Anjem Choudary made a lousy case to defend the "Charlie Hebdo" attackers ("People know the consequences: Opposing view").

Clerics like him are the real problem, and they typify the bigoted mind-set gaining traction in some Muslim quarters. By justifying killings, he is inciting and luring young, disillusioned Muslims toward his radical ideology that has no semblance of Islamic theology.

Despite the satire of "Charlie Hebdo," prophet Mohammed's honor remains untarnished, and there's no need to reclaim it through murder. Killing in the name of a person who detested the slightest harm even to animals and plants is a grave abomination to his name. Reverence to him mandates ignoring such satire.

Mansura Bashir Minhas; Hollywood, Fla.

Work together

The prophet is not avenged; he is embarrassed.

To non-Muslim communities: Be not afraid of the majority of Muslims who support the progressive ways of civic and religious life in Western countries. They are not the problem. A small group of terrorists are the problem. Cracking down on Muslims who are not to blame for attacks will add fodder to the terrorist recruiters. To the Muslim communities: I know you have spoken out already to express your anger with those trying to hijack your religion, but it's time to step up and speak out even more.

Let us work together for the values Mohammed, Moses, Jesus and Gandhi all stood for: treating others as our brothers and sisters, and all deserving of respect as creatures of a blessed but struggling creation.

Jed Griswold; Cumberland, R.I.