It was felt that the leaders and members of the Muslim community should at least be given an opportunity to speak out against this dastardly act and to join in its condemnation.

Well, we were wrong. The patronizing silence of the Muslim community in this country and worldwide is deafening. Not one Muslim cleric, civic leader or intellectual has come forward.

When comments are timidly solicited by the media, older Muslim respondents offer a meek attempt at assuring us that members of their faith believe in nonviolence. That's it.

Many younger Muslims pliantly profess the same but go a bit further in proclaiming that they would never take up arms against a fellow Muslim, including bin Laden.

Is something wrong here?

Armond "Si" Simmons, Pell City, Ala.