Sir, - As someone who has taught English for many years to members of ethnic minorities, I am deeply concerned lest the recent outrages are seen as the beginning of a global confrontation between the Islamic and the Western worlds - an outcome which would probably delight the perpetrators.
Many Irish people have felt stigmatised because of the actions of a minority of their countrymen, and they should therefore be careful not to vent their anger on members of the Muslim community. The perception of being persecuted turns moderates into extremists.
We must pray that the US administration shows the utmost sensitivity in its dealings with the world's Muslim governments, the vast majority of whom have condemned the atrocities. Yasser Arafat's donation of blood, despite his age and infirmity, underlined very movingly the sincerity of his condolences.
Our personal contribution can be the seizing of every opportunity to build meaningful bridges towards people from the Muslim world.
It is facile to say that our Muslim brothers and sisters are "just like us" - they very definitely are not. Concepts such as freedom, independence, the family and respect for women have different meanings in the two cultures. There is much in the everyday behaviour of even "straight-laced" westerners that Muslims find profoundly shocking. When, as a young single woman living away from my parents, I taught Muslim men in Britain, my manner had to be very different from when I was dealing with their British or European counterparts.
Nevertheless, there is considerable common ground between devout Muslims and practising Christians. Few Irish Christians realise that Muslims bow their heads in respect when they utter the name of Jesus, or that they believe good Christians may have a place with them in heaven. The two faiths share a love of justice and a desire to help the underprivileged.
The capacity to forgive is perhaps a virtue more particularly linked with Christianity - but I remember being impressed by the father of the young Muslim killed in the Canary Wharf bombing. He said that if his son's death in some way contributed to peace , it would not have been in vain. How many Christians could have reacted like that? - Yours etc.,
Katherine J. Dowds, Castle Park, Dublin 22.