One of the terrible by-products of the rise of Islamic radicalism is the destruction of Christian communities of the Middle East ("Islamic State seizes Christians," Feb. 25).
The eradication of the Chaldean, Aramaean, Assyrian and Syriac communities, the loss of their ancient languages, the elimination of their churches is a tragedy of historic dimensions.
The churches of these communities often predate the Catholic Church of Rome or the Orthodox Church of Byzantium, and their languages approximate the actual language spoke by Jesus. The apparent indifference to their plight among Christian churches in the West is a disgrace.
Jack Tucker, Baltimore