Until CNN, ABC, CNBC, BBC or even our own local dailies report news in a fair and balanced manner, people like SAB in the letter Muslims can help reduce western paranoia will always be deluded into seeing victims as aggressors and the aggressors as humble, peace-loving saints, instead of the racist and violent establishments they are.

Why doesn't SAB ask all news networks to come up with documentaries on the destruction and killings perpetrated by the Israelis - something from the Palestinian's point of view for a change?

Alas, we know they can't, as it is not in line with US government policies. Muslims don't hate Jews, but we are against the racist Zionist state called Israel. We do differentiate between the two.

Allow me to illustrate a scenario. What if a foreign country - let's say China - with the backing of a superpower nation, were to invade and claim Malaysia as its own for whatever reason (let's say they claim their right to the land was written in ancient history).

After just seven days of intense battle, the Malaysian army is all but wiped out. China then forcefully evicts the local residents in cities at gunpoint and other methods of terror, whilst bringing in Chinese immigrants from the world over to occupy Malaysia.

Would it be fair to label as terrorists, Malaysians (including Malaysian Chinese) who fight back to regain their homeland?

And how could stone throwing boys like Abu, Samy and Ah Kow defeat almighty China, especially when it is being supplied with sophisticated weapons by a superpower?

Occasionally a frustrated Malaysian - seeing all his siblings, wife and children killed - resorts to a suicide bombing. This Malaysian manages to blow himself up, with two other Chinese off-duty officers in Perak and maybe a small toddler in the process.

Headlines around the world read: 'Suicide bomber kills two women and baby, China vows to retaliate'.

Chinese military then go on a rampage and carry out an offensive for two weeks, killing

163 people, 54 of them children (including women and old folks). They also bulldoze 117 houses in the refugee camps in parts of Malacca and Perlis in what they call the 'days of penitence operation'.

That superpower, the US, will say China has the right to protect itself from terrorists and tells the world they must 'be with them or against them. When asked to comment on the many civilian casualities, China will claim that 'We never target civilians intentionally. China is at war, and in a war there is always collateral damage that cannot be avoided'.

This scenario goes on year after year.

Then along comes a letter-writer who writes that '... these violent Malaysian are shaming Malaysians the world over'. He then continues to label Malaysians as a 'race' that does not want peace, but wants to see the complete annihilation of China.

He writes that the Malaysians he knew were peace-loving people, not merciless terrorists. But how could an average American believe this when the actions of these militant Malaysians is greeted with silence by the Malaysian diaspora?

He urges Malaysians the world over abroad to reduce 'the paranoia' and not to silently cheer their fellow Malaysian 'terrorists' through their silence. Condemn these Malaysians, he says.

Sure, right.

Nevertheless, a line must be drawn between the Palestinian fighters and the Iraqi insurgents. The latter are to create havoc and chaos, to kill as many US soldiers and oust the present regime there.

These insurgents just fierce individuals and have no connection with Islam whatsoever.