something's burning

People are already asking me what I think of the reaction to the notorious Muhammad cartoons, but I feel completely ill-equipped to answer. Someone even asked me Saturday why Islam is so much more "extreme" than other religions. It's an easy question to ask when you are a member of the Western society that has affected/shaped/violated the Islamic world in such extreme ways, and you don't have to live with the consequences on a daily basis. When I think about the embassy torching in Damascus, I just feel torn up inside. I hope that the angry people who did it come to feel some regret. I wish there was some sign of the same thing from this misled, or vicious, Danish newspaper editor.

There are some intelligent voices popping up on this question. Juan Cole, in particular, offers the perspective that is missing from most Western media. If you're just wondering what the hell happened, the coverage in The Independent has been especially good.