Letter: Yassin was a preacher of murder

Dear Mr. Bancroft-Hinchey,

First, let me say that to be able to write to a columnist that is quoted by Pravda is truly a remarkable achievement in this day and age. When I was growing up in the 50's, America was always told that Pravda was simply propaganda used for the purpose of demeaning Americans and bolstering Russians.

Having said that, I read your article regarding the assassination of Yassin. Your conclusion that he was assassinated for his "discourse" is nonsense. If you lived among the Israelis on a daily basis and had your children blown up constantly due to the rhetoric of hatred that has been espoused by Yassin, you might look at this differently. Somewhat like the Brits might feel if the IRA was blowing up their families in the streets of London.

As soon as people figure out that religion is responsible for the majority of the world's bloodiest conflicts, the sooner they might come to grips with the message that has been lost. Love your fellow man, no need to perpetuate hatred. That indeed is what the great religious leaders of the past preached, from Moses to Mohammed, from Jesus to Buddha. Yassin was not a great religious leader, he was a preacher of murder. Making excuses for someone like that is inexcusable.