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......your firm belief goes directly to the issue at hand-whether the West or the East wins the religious war...it's my firm belief that Islam doesn't need to do one thing more in the way of direct terror, that 9-11 was sufficient for the purpose of preparing the West for a prayer rug in every home, because any attempt to unite in opposition will automatically trigger the multicultural responses that have been assiduously imbedded into our culture for the past forty years or so...I need look no further than the Catholic catechitical conference I attended last weekend in which a workshop devoted to 'Learning Islam' was well received and attended...or to our public library sponsoring evening lessons about Islam...any initial urge to retaliate will be beaten down in time by such 'enlightening' processes as these...I suggest those of you with children attending elementary and high school take a look at the curricula of these places, for if some nipping of the bud is to take place, it is necessary...

Your concerns are valid. Islam is a religion of war and oppression that has some peaceful adherents, just as Christianity is a religion that values love between one man and one woman for life but has some adherents who think it's the religion of gay marriage. The problem is, it's difficult to get this across to people without seeming to demonize the Muslims that have no interest in doing anything to harm the U.S.

I will only say this: I may walk the path of Richard Wurmbrand. I may walk the path of Todd Beamer. I will not walk the path of the Muslim or the path of the submissive dhimmi.

Multiculturalism is but one of hurdles we'll have to overcome. We've also got to reorder our values. We've become a people that values life more than freedom, not recognizing life without freedom is not cohesive with really living at all. That so many people fear for their lives more than losing freedom is very disturbing.

Just as troubling are the deflections our leaders offer Islam. Neither democracy nor a thriving economy will alter the nature of the beast Islam is. People want to ignore history that tells us Hitler rose to power within a democracy, and while Germany was in deep financial woes at that time, it was still one of the wealthiest nations at that time. Neither democracy nor wealth deterred it from making war based on ideology.

Your reference to school curricula should not be taken lightly by anyone in light of the recent US Supreme Court refusal to hear a case involving the teaching of the religion of Islam, including Islamic prayer in public schools. Again, these are public schools financed by taxpayer dollars for anyone that missed it. The court gave to Islam the tools of indoctrination forbidden Christianity.

Catholics should have rallied to Pope Benedict over the stir his speech created. I felt his speech was extremely well timed coming on the heels of the forced conversions of two kidnapped western journalists in Gaza. Instead of rallying to his defense, many Catholics openly criticized him or questioned his obligation to speak forthright. We've also got Catholic churches in our area, Fresno, CA, working vigorously to present Islam as an equal to Christianity. I don't know if individual diocese are doing this of their own accord or under papal guidance. Disturbing either way. What is also troubling is the local bishop has Catholics going to mosques, not Muslims coming to churches.

Looking over what I have just written, our best attribute is also our worst. We are primarily a Christian based society taught it is better to give than receive. Our giving now includes the giving of that which made us unique without getting anything but misery in return. We must learn to close our hand.