Your article, “U.S. Muslims search for understanding” (Feb. 11), was a pleasant surprise.
I know I speak for many Muslims when I say that we have been yearning for a long time to read such an article. It was a positive change and we hope it will not be an isolated occurrence.
Many Muslims here are constantly insulted and demeaned by news articles and features in the various media that present Islam incorrectly. These serve to propagate and cultivate the widely accepted stereotypes of the religion without any regard to its actual principles and the feelings and opinions of the majority of its followers.
Christians may often see articles about their religious holiday and how our city and country celebrated it, without any reference to the violence in Ireland, El Salvador and Bosnia. So, too, do we hope to see articles one day (at least a little bit more often) about our religious holidays (and other issues) without the words “terrorist,” “fundamentalist,” “violence,” “Satanic Verses” and “bombing.” Your article was a step forward in that direction and I highly appreciate it.
