Cal Thomas should get the facts right

In a commentary published on June 16 titled "A year after Cairo, little has changed," Cal Thomas writes about how mosques are still being constructed in the United States despite protests and public opposition; however "No reciprocal rights have been granted to Jews and Christians to build synagogues and churches in Muslim countries."

Is Thomas implying that the United States should adopt the same restrictions on free speech as the countries in the Middle East he finds have "intolerance of any religion except Islam?"

Essentially is he saying we should tolerate any religion except Islam? His argument makes no sense and is not even based in reality since a number of Muslim countries not only have large Jewish and Christian populations, and that, despite public opposition, synagogues and churches exist and are built in Muslim and Middle Eastern countries.

Recent evidence of this can be seen an op-ed article published by Andrew Baker in The New York Times on March 3, 2010 reporting on the restoration and rededication of a historic synagogue in Cairo, Egypt (of all places!) despite demonizing of Israel and fear that Egyptians would react with anger when told of the restoration work.

Cassandra Roos

Chicago