I have not commented on this issue yet, mainly due to the fear that I might not be understood (or misunderstood) by the non-muslims on this forum. But this issue has been troubling me for the past days, and the more I watch the news I get more and more ambivalent. On one part I feel proud that the Muslims are united in defending their prophet, and on the other part I feel appalled by the escalation of violence and the killing and beheading threats I see on TV. This violence has alarmed me that I should speak up, I feel it is my duty to say what I am about to say right now. But before I start I am want to lay down some ground rules:
1-I cannot emphasize on this enough, but any violence that has occured in the past week is totally unacceptable in Islam, and certainly not by me. The incedents in Al-Ashrafiya in Lebanon, the burning of embassies in Syria and Iran, the death threats...etc, all of this I am pretty sure that if Prophet Muhammad was here, he would be never approve any of it. "Namely, that no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another" 53:38, is one of the instances in the Quran.
2-Muslims act as if they are not to be blamed. On the contrary, I believe that Muslims failed on two fronts. They failed on in conveying the greatness of the prophet, either by their day to day acts or simply not educating the West about him. And by the terrorist attacks done in the name of Islam.
Ok let's cut to the chase. The thing that I believe most non-muslims don't comprehend how revered Mohammad to Muslims. I am willing bet my bottom dollar that any Muslim, no matter how old he/she is and no matter how pious or heedless he/she may be, that he/she loves Mohammed more than his mother, father, family, and himself/herself. Ask any Muslim whether in Indonesia, Eygpt, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, or any Muslim nation, you will undoubtly get the same answer. "I give my soul, my childeren, and everything I hold dear in my heart for him" that would be the answer. Ask any Egyptian "Who is dearer, the Prophet or Egypt?", any Saudi "Who is dearer, the Prophet or Saudi Arabia?", any Pakistani "Who is dearer, the Prophet or Pakistan?", they will all answer you in one voice "the Prophet Mohammad". I hope this just brings you closer to understand how he is respected by Muslims.
Now I am sure that all of you do not condone racism in any sort, most of you would be appalled by any anti-Semitic comments. Yet, it seems to me that there lies a contradiction between resisting racism and anti-Semitism on one hand, while humilating 1.5 billion Muslims around the world. If you only comprehended what the Prophet meant to Muslims, only then you will understand how grave belittling him would be. Don't rebutle saying its satire, comedy, or carcuitares, trust me its even worse that way. As such veihcles of speech do not really hold opinion or arguments that one could prove wrong.
Now I am not against freedom of speech, on the contrary I am totally fascinated by it. Even the Quran has encouraged the use of the mind and thinking critically. But also respect is a must! I believe if the cartoons were just drawings with no dregatory hints in them, none of all this happened. The lack of respect is what caused this, there was no opinion, no argument no nothing just sheer lack of respect. Remember how Robert Kilroy-Silk was fired because his anti-arab rants? Well the cartoons are like that just multiplied by a 1000.
One last thing that I would like to note, Muslims and I consider Mohammed as the greatest human being that ever walked on earth. Now I don't want to impose him on you guys, but I think it is pretty safe that he is ONE of the greatest. I advise anyone doubting that, he/she should look it up. And I don't mean google it (since there are lots of shit out there), but go back to real books, read about him don't read books about Islam, just read credible history books about Mohammed and his life. Read what Ghandi or Sir George Bernard Shaw had to say about him.
This offence was not a slap on the face of Muslims only, it was a slap in the face of civilisation, humankind, and all the good in this world. Mohammed was great in all aspects of his life. He was a great prophet, father, husband, politician, warrior, and diplomat. He was great morally, he was great in forgiveness, he was great in voluntary renunciation of worldly luxeries, he was great in every possible way. I could give you ample examples, but you have been patient enough to read this much and I should not abuse that

. But I am going to give you one example that is relevant to our world today, and both Muslims and non-Muslims could learn a lesson or two from it:
World greats are and should be respected by all, and Mohammed is one of them, if not on the top. The world should be all proud of him, whether Muslim, Jew, Christian, Hindu, or any other religion (yes that includes Athiests).