As I unfortunately expected, my views on Islam has provoked the usual throw-backs. Please read my letter carefully and note that I do not put all the Muslims in the same bag as the vile terrorists. What the terrorists have done is 'hijack' a religion and using it to justify their dastardly deeds.

I agree with Arbibi Ashoy that, unfortunately, Muslims 'are forced to bear the brunt of the actions of those men responsible for the Sept 11 attacks'. Some things are not fair in this world, I am sad to note, and that is one example.

I know it is politically incorrect and I do apologise beforehand when I say this: Unfortunately, a religion is defined, at least in some of the public's eye, by the most visible actions - whether good or bad.

Many will disagree, but I do think what I have said is true. I will give you an example. As sex-abuse scandals have tainted the Catholic Church in America, it is now viewed with suspicion despite all the good the Catholic Church has done in the country and elsewhere.

Fair or unfair? Unfair of course. But that's reality because one bad deed is enough to make the whole picture go sour. The church knows this and feels it is unfair but what else can it do but redeem its reputation by ensuring it holds those who are guilty responsible and ensuring it doesn't happen again.

There are still many people, me included, that believe the Catholic Church is still protecting those responsible but I think it is a step in the right direction that they are airing the issue openly in the public domain. And the fact that the church knows it has a public relations problem and is trying to rectify it rather than hide behind silence.

The same goes with Islam in my opinion. Let's not beat around the bushes. Islam has a bad public relations problem. Whether it is the terrorists, the extremists or what not, this is true.

I'm a non-practising Chinese Buddhist, and yes its fair game for Arbibi to ask whether I would like it if I was forced to be viewed with suspicion if let's say, 19 Chinese Buddhists were the ones that flew the planes on Sept 11 or they were the ones that beheaded innocent people while spouting religious lines.

But they weren't. They were Muslims. And how will Muslims remove this unfair taint on their religion? Only by having an open and honest discussion about the problem. After all, you don't see many terrorists going around shouting words of Christianity, Hinduism or Buddhism do you?

I know what I've written may sound to some as Islamo-phobic or racist. Even I wonder whether I'm being fair. Especially since I have good friends who are themselves Muslim.

Yes, maybe it is easy for us from the outside to criticise. After all, it isn't my religion being put over the coals. Unfair? Unfortunately, yes. But is it true? In the real world, also unfortunately yes. Those who disagree are indeed blinding themselves.