In the latest news that buries the needle of my irony meter, Muslims across Europe are engaging in a "Day of Rage" to protest the characterization of Mohammed in a Danish newspaper as a terrorist. The offensive cartoon in question shows Mohammed wearing a turban that looks like a bomb with a fuse. Well, this didn't sit well with Muslims, and they took to the streets to protest the characterization of their religious leader as a violent man.

This is where the irony comes into play. Muslims swear up and down that Islam is a religion of peace, and their signs prove it. Here is a list of some of the signs proclaiming how peaceful they are.

"Behead Those Who Say Islam Is Violent"

"Annihilate Those Who Insult Islam!!!"

"As Muslims, We Unite & We Are Prepared to Fight" "Europe You Will Pay. Your 9/11 Is On Its Way!!"

"Be Prepared for the Real Holocaust!"

You get the picture.

I've sat on the sidelines on the Muslim issue mainly because I happen to believe Islam can be a religion of peace and I still do. But it's not going to happen without a major transformative event within Islam. I wish I could take credit for this line of thinking, but I'm simply not that bright. Instead, it came from talk radio show host Glenn Beck, who has visited Israel and saw the tensions in the Holy Land firsthand. He advanced this notion on his show, saying that Islam needs a Martin Luther.

And this "Day of Rage" provides a great opportunity for such a person to stand up.

One of the great knocks conservatives bring up against Muslims in this country is the lack of religious leaders who stand up and condemn the actions of the terrorists. This is a legitimate concern, but it's not completely based in reality. Many leaders have not spoken up about the atrocities being committed in the name of Islam, but some have. After 9/11, a mosque in Des Moines opened its doors to anyone who wanted to come in and learn about Islam and to help heal the emotional wounds arising from 9/11. This shows me that there are some Muslims out there who don't agree with the actions that are getting the attention.

This is an opportunity for someone to take the lead. The problem is that diversity of thought is not exactly welcomed within Islamic circles. Much like Luther faced when he defied the Catholic Church, the Muslims who want to live in peace with other religions face assaults to their character and their livelihoods. But with Islam, there is also the additional threat of assaults to their lives. This adds a whole new dimension to the argument that Muslim leaders don't stand up to the Muslim terrorists. It's hard to be a leader when you're dead.

But eventually, there comes a time when you have to risk everything to gain something greater. This is something Americans can inspire Muslims to do in this country and abroad because we're a living, breathing example that defying the odds is possible. Our Founding Fathers took great risks to establish this more perfect union, and even with all the faults we still have, we've managed to hold things together and inspire the world. That should not be overlooked as we try to sort out the Middle East situation. Sure, war is all fine and good when dealing with those who don't respond well to reason, but it should not be the only tool in our toolbelt. We can bring about a revolution in the Middle East with an open hand instead of a clenched fist by working with moderate Muslims (and, yes, they do exist) and giving them our support to change their conditions.

Without that support, though, we're giving moderate Muslims an excuse to sit on their hands.

But the moderate Muslims also have a responsibility. If we lend you our support and help you, you must be willing to stand up to the radical elements of your religion and offer a new way. It's going to be a long road and it's going to suck, but it has to be done. By letting the Muslims who participate in the "Day of Rage" be the only images we see of your religion, you're not making the case that Islam is a religion of peace. You must start leading by example by being examples, and that requires you to be willing to take center stage.

The Muslim "Day of Rage" in Europe is a crossroads for the future of Islam. The moderates cannot let this opportunity pass by without comment, or else they run the risk of being lumped together with those who do not share the same goal. If they take up the mantle of leadership and overcome their fear of reprisals from the bullies in their midsts, they can turn the "Day of Rage" into the "Day the Rage Ended."

Copyright by Thomas Lindaman

Thomas Lindaman is a Staff Writer for the New Media Alliance, Inc. The New Media Alliance is a non-profit (501c3) national coalition of writers, journalists and grass-roots media outlets. He is also Publisher of CommonConservative.com.