Hi, Phil--

Why does it have to be either one of those two alternatives?

Oprah is not known for her depth. A Cliff's Notes approach to a religion with going on 1,000 years of history and millions of adherents oversimplifies also.

A closer analogy to the silence of the imams is the silence of the Christian clergy, including the Pope, in the face of Nazi persecution of the Jews. One need not be the source of evil to be afraid to confront it. Does that historical moment define Christianity?

If not, why should this historical moment define Islam?

I can't speak for the adherents of Islam, but I know how to evaluate an argument like the Post reporter's: pure opinion applied with a broad brush. And I also know that there are no mammoth monoliths in this world, especially religious ones. To pretend there is one is a sure way to misunderstand the dynamics.

Mary Anne