Letter: 'Double standards'

The inhabitants of Carnoustie are fortunate to have Bart Critser living among them (Letters, 13 September) to provide "the locals" with a "broader picture of American culture", but they would be wise to look farther afield for information about current events in the US.

Mr Critser is wrong to claim that Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf has agreed to move the mosque he proposes to build close to the site of the 9/11 attack in New York, a project seen by 54 per cent of Americans as an affront to the memory of those slaughtered on that day.

In his latest statement, the imam says he intends to go ahead with the mosque, as is his "right", in spite of giving offence to so many Americans.

President Barack Obama and most of the American left-wing commentariat have supported the right of Imam Rauf to build his mosque, but have condemned the eccentric pastor, Terry Jones, for threatening to burn Korans on the anniversary of 9/11, an act which would have broken no law but which would have offended a great many Muslims.

Thus Mr Jones has unwittingly (or perhaps intentionally) exposed the double standard that makes offending Muslims more reprehensible than offending ordinary Americans. Pastor Jones, wisely, did not carry out his threat, but Imam Rauf intends to go ahead with his mosque. Who, then, is the true peacemaker?

ANTHONY E ROBSON

St John's Place

Perth