"Lessons from Mali" 

Snippets from an unsigned editorial  in Our Sunday Visitor Newsweekly. Sunday, February 17, 2013.

"The symbolism of the al - Qaida assault on Mali should not be missed..."

"They imposed Shariah law and sought to destroy the magnificent historical heritage housed in Timbuktu's museum and library.

"But Mali, especially Timbuktu, was once the center of a vibrant Muslim culture and learning long before the United States was founded.

"Thousands of ancient manuscripts transcribed by Muslim scribes were housed there.

"What was eye - opening was that all of this was being imposed on an Islamic society horrified by these excesses.

"Mali's version of Islam and its relative tolerance of other faiths made the assault by the radicals that much more significant.

"Many Westerners blame it all on Islam, decrying it as a blood - thirsty creed, yet, the victims of the violence in Mali were themselves Muslim.

"They were Muslims who hid the manuscripts and hailed the French who rescued them.

"They were Muslims who spoke out against the horrors and Muslims who were killed for resisting ..."

Good points! :)