I agree John,
Racial and religious intolerance should have no place in civilised society. Unfortunately, when religion and politics get mixed together, Bigotry and hatred soon follow.
Often it is because the general public are kept ignorant by their priests, of the outer world and it's workings, preferring to demonise the Other, rather than try to educate the general population that whichever faith we follow, when it comes right down to it we are all people, often with families and with the same problems of making a living for ourselves, housing our families and avoiding disease.
For instance, during the Napoleonic wars many British folk truly believed that the French were demons with horns and tails! It seems ridiculous now, but them there was real fear of the unknown.
Even during WW2, we were still encouraged to hate the German people, just as they were in their turn, gulled by propaganda into hating us.
It is these leftover attitudes which cause the intolerance. Unfortunately many Muslims in other countries, such as Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, etc., are taught to believe implicitly in their religious leaders, thus we have the likes of Abu Hamza and the other radical preachers who exert such power over their followers.
Cheers, HG