The population of the Middle East is predominantly Muslim. For each Middle East government, there is no separation of church and state; i.e. each Middle East government is Islamic and operates according to Islamic law. Under Islamic law, there are also no personal freedoms, of which one result is that no criticism of the prophet Mohammed is allowed under penalty of death. The population of each country strongly believes in this and is willing to support it with violent action if necessary. Since each government is on the same wavelength, with its population and the government and populations of other Middle East countries, there is unanimity in belief and action.
Conversely in the United States, we have two differences. The first is that we have separation of church and state, which means that our federal government has no state religion, and therefore no religious rules under which it must operate. The second is that we have a Bill of Rights as part of our Constitution of which the first article specifies freedom of speech. This means that any individual can speak or write anything he desires, including criticism of the government. Since there is also no state religion, any such criticism of government, does not automatically include religious criticism.
The basis of Middle East population demonstrations against the US is that they have never been exposed to individual freedom of speech or writing. They automatically assume that any religiously derogatory comment or article spoken or written by in individual is the opinion of the "collective", which means the population as a whole and the government. If such criticism by a US individual involved Christianity or Hinduism, it would not be significant. However, any criticism of the prophet Mohammed hits them right between the eyes, because they and their governments are Islamic and any criticism thereof is punishable by death; it's serious.
The US government has several possibilities of response to demonstrations against Americans and the US government.
First, it could attempt to explain to or educate Middle East Muslims on the differences between the two types of government, specifying that any derogatory writing by an individual is not the position of the American people or the US government. I consider such an attempt would be futile. Islamic law is so ingrained in the Middle East population that it would be impossible to have that population see an alternative view.
The second possibility is for the US government to change its adherence to the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. This would then allow the US government to prohibit any individual writings derogatory to Islam and the prophet Mohammed. If this action is taken and the information transmitted to Middle East populations, it is likely that demonstrators would be pacified, at least from the religious aspect. However, such action on the part of the US government would solicit serious objections on the part of the US population. The US government has already been weakening its adherence to the Constitution, with considerable objection from a segment of the US population.
The third possibility is to clearly indicate to Middle East governments and populations that the US operates under personal freedoms, which are not necessarily a reflection of the population as a whole or the US government, and that is unchangeable. Whether Muslims understand it, like it or not, it is US government policy and will continue to be followed. The repercussions are that Middle East violence against Americans and various US government installations, such as embassies and consulates, may increase. The State Department and the military will be required to judge which locations should be defended and which should be deserted.
I have also in a previous writing mentioned the use of foreign aid as a tool. All foreign aid to the Middle East should be immediately stopped. In the stopping, an explanation also should be given that aid to individual governments will be made on the basis of cooperation, which means attempts to control their populations in demonstrations against the US and guaranteeing physical security of US embassies, consulates, and Americans generally living in their countries. It is unknown what effect this action will have, but money talks and it is likely that such a program will be at least partially effective.
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