Islam...needless cartoons

I am a hindu, and having lived and worked extensively in Islamic countries like Algeria, Iraq, Indonesia & Malaysia coupled with the fact I am a citizen of a nation which has second largest Muslim population in this world, I am not left untouched by the controversies that Islam finds itself mired into.

While the way Islam is practiced may be conservative in one country, or liberal in an another, or pretty staunch somewhere else, the fact remains the tenets and basis and routine of Islam are pretty similar. I have developed a certain respect towards Islam, there has to be something great about this religion which made entire south east Asia convert from Hindus or buddhists to muslims just over five centuries ago, millions of masses, kings and noblemen adopted this religion, without coercion and bloodshed... why?

Even today followers of this religion are prepared to die for what they deem a noble cause... why?

Simply, there is something unique about this religion that many are overlooking. This religion teaches universal brotherhood, Muslims share same food and drink, but the fact remains...they only bow before Allah...If west thinks they can make muslims their subordinate, they are way off their marks...If they feel Islam will become the single most major religion of the world, why do they fear it? To be honest, wherever there is unrest in Islamic nations, west has a dirty hand in it.

Now add to it the cartoons of prophet Mohammed...in today's world, where Muslims are the most opressed amongst all religions... such insults thrown at them by western non civilized people, should have attracted tremendous violence, rhetoric and forceful opposition. Honestly let me ask, how would have christians or hindus would have behaved if their gods wre made a butt of such a joke. I would have revolted.

However, muslims around the world have shown great composure, barring a few incidents, everywhere else a civilized protest has been demonstrated. If this is not a sign of a mature religion, then what else is? This should serve as a wake up call to all doomsday prophets...there is something good about Muslims, and something terribly wrong with the people of a faith which tries to make a caricature of other people's faith because it proves only to be a sign of juvenile delinquency when compared with the matureness of Islam.