Sadly we allow ourselves to become angered over the sins of others. It is fine to hate the sins, but it is wrong to react to them in a manner that is just as bad or even worse.
The goal of the cartoons seems to be one of showing the world that Muslims are immature, ignorant and prone to emotional outbursts. Our reaction often solidifies this belief. As a result we give the impression that Islam is backwards, oppressive and dangerous.This is the image we are promoting, not an image of strength or one of reason. Our behavior seems to be our worse enemy.
We actually encouraged the reprinting of the cartoons because in the past we have shown it generates world wide news coverage, not good coverage, one of showing us in the worse possible light. As long as we keep acting in that matter, more cartoons will appear and with each group of cartoons become even more hateful.
Yes we need to take a stand against the cartoons. But, we must do it in a manner that shows us to be dignified, civilized and more respectable than the cartoonists. The methods used to protect Islam in the past need to be updated and we now need to protect our belief in a workable manner and not through brute force.
Our best first tool is education. we need to show the world that Muhammad(PBUH) was an honorable man and did act with restraint, even when dealing with those who offended him.
Have the actions of the past curtailed the cartoons? It seems we have only publicized them and helped spread them much further than they would have been seen. Our past actions did not end them, it only served to encourage reprinting with larger distribution.
Have our actions honored Muhammad(PBUH)? Our actions helped promote the cartoons and brought about world wide distribution. We helped spread the cartoons not end or correct them.