This is the third article by my count in The Daily Tar Heel in which someone has complained about a flier that is critical of Islam ("UNC Officials Back Local Arab and Muslim Groups," Sept. 26). All I can say is, "Welcome to college."
Since when is it a crime for someone in a university environment to question religion? In graduate school here I had to listen politely to a professor who often referred to "Christianity and other myths," even if I did not happened to agree with his view. Muslims aren't exempt from a free discussion of their views.
This flier you keep talking about may have turned up on or about Sept. 12, but I suspect that it was written well in advance of that date. It's too bad if recent events make people uncomfortable when someone dares to kick their sacred cow. Islam is no more exempt from criticism than any other world religion. Islam has its shortcomings.
Its human rights record is atrocious. Look at what's being reported by the BBC about the introduction of Sharia law in parts of Nigeria.
Islam wears a different face at home than it does in the West. Where Islam is the dominant religion, there are severe constraints on other religions. That's the message I keep getting from this elusive flier to which the DTH continues to refer. Muslims students should be confronted with their religion in a negative light the same way other college students have to put up with people questioning their beliefs. No Americans should get a free ride on having their beliefs questioned.
Floyd Whitney
Administrative Assistant
