Sir, - At the dawn of the millennium, I asked myself what was the most urgent challenge facing the Western world. I decided it was to improve relations with the Muslim world, for the West to seek to understand Islam.
I believe this is now more imperative than ever. Although I detest the extremes of Muslim fundamentalism, particularly the subjugation of women (which goes against the teaching of the Koran), and the repression of other religions (for example, the persecution of the Bahai faith in post-revolutionary Iran), I am a great admirer of Islamic culture - its devoutness, its literature and its arts.
I admire the devotion of daily Muslim life - the call to prayer several times a day, and the modest and dignified dress code of women, which invites respect (yet which also disguises an inner passion and independence of spirit). There is Islamic poetry, Sufi mysticism, and exquisite illuminated manuscripts of sacred texts.
Not least are the brilliant traditions of visual arts and craftsmanship in ceramics, weaving, miniature painting and marble carving, and the breathtaking gardens and examples of architecture that stretch from the Alhambra in Spain to Isfahan in Iran and Samarkand in central Asia, to the Taj Mahal in India, and beyond.
All these have left an inestimable legacy to the world.
But for the West to seek better relations with, to make friends with, Islam will not be possible unless the Palestinian issue is tackled decisively. Otherwise it will remain a running sore that will continue to threaten the safety of the whole world. - Yours, etc.,
Julian Campbell, St Luke's, Cork.