Munira Motorwala’s Oct. 7 letter, Fueling the fire, about the recent violence in the Middle East claims that “Quran burnings, cartoons and movies [criticizing the Prophet Mohammed] aren’t freedom of speech, but assaults on religious beliefs of Muslims.

An obscure video that anybody can and did make was an assault? I beg to differ.

I will assume that Ms. Motorwala has no problem with flag or Bible burning or anti-Semitic or anti-Christian cartoons and movies, an abundance of which Jews and Christians are exposed to on a constant basis. In 1987, for example, a controversial piece of art entitled, Piss Christ, which was a photo of a crucifix submerged in a glass of the artist’s urine and was partially funded by tax dollars through the National Endowment of the Arts. Christians were understandably offended, yet they didn’t go on a murderous rampage savagely killing innocent people.

Just because a Muslim is offended, it doesn’t mean they’re being assaulted.

The beheading of Daniel Pearl and Nicholas Berg were assaults. The murder of Christopher Stevens in cold blood was an assault.

An offensive movie or cartoon? Not an assault.

Let me tell you what offends me.

I am offended by Muslim intolerance of anyone who doesn’t agree with them or those who would impose their intolerance on our freedoms and liberties.

I’m offended by Muslim acceptance of honor killings. I’m offended that Ms. Motorwala insults my intelligence by claiming that Islam-bashing is even remotely fueling the fire that has been burning out of control for thousands of years without any excuse whatsoever.

Just because I’m offended, it doesn’t give me the right to go on a killing spree.

Only when the moderate Muslims start standing up to the radicals and stop making excuses for their savage behavior will there be true freedom and tolerance.

Stephanie Kienzle, North Miami Beach