HATRED: Ignorance just repeats itself
Has not everyone on this planet been affected in one way or another from the long-standing Muslim-Christian conflict? Will there be no end to this insanity and chaos that it has caused? Ignorance is always revisited when one does not know history and how it repeats itself.
As a perpetual student of history, it's easy to understand why all the hate. When Saladin recaptured Jerusalem he should have put all Christians under the knife. But Saladin was not that way and he chose mercy.
Unlike when Christian armies seized Jerusalem a hundred years earlier in 1099 and put all Muslims under the knife. It was said of that day that Muslim blood ran knee-deep in the streets of Jerusalem. And for six months after Jerusalem stank of death. Thus denying all those souls a proper burial, according to their beliefs: Big offense No. 1.
Of course Saladin had no way of knowing how his decision would have affected us a thousand years later. When Sept. 11 happened, the horror of the "1099 purge" visited New York as some Muslim extremist cried, "Saladin, Saladin." And they are speaking of his name now.
When Muslims held control of Jerusalem prior to 1099 all faiths were allowed to visit their holy places. When Christian armies seized control of Jerusalem, only Christians were allowed. Unless you were a slave or servant; then "come on in."
Are you kidding me? Jesus was a "Jew," so where is your reasoning for that - you kick Jews out but keep Jesus. Also Jesus was not an Anglo-Saxon as depicted in most portraits. or do Christians not realize this indiscretion? If I was Jesus, I would be a little annoyed that they changed my nationality to fit their criteria. Shame on you Vatican artisans.
Also there is the widely held belief among evangelical Christians that Muslims descended from Cain and Christians descended from Abel. Basically making the statement that Muslims are of the devil and Christians are of God.
And still we wonder why, and walk in the ignorance and intolerance that is destroying our nation financially, and our world as a whole. You say "separation of church and state," but yet our leaders use their faith to make statements. How convenient!
Where is your forgiveness? Where is your sense of wanting to make this right?
So here's the solution. First and foremost people of all faiths need to rise up in a "militant extreme" manner and stop low-life morons like Terry Jones in their tracks. Crush immediately any intolerance toward the Muslim faith to the point that it burdens you exponentially. And no proselytizing while you're doing that.
Then all people calling themselves Christians, whether Catholic or Protestant alike, need to pick a month of international mourning. Then go to every mosque and soak the steps of their holy places with tears of anguish and lament for what was done to them in 1099. Then beg for forgiveness for the transgressions that were done against any Muslim from 1099 to the present.
Or are you all not Christian enough to for once in your life do what is right and needed, instead of what you think God is telling you? For the sake of all the people in the world who have suffered intolerance, and all who will, please will one of you so-called "spiritual leaders" of the Christian faith stand up and admit publicly the mishandling of the Muslim faith?
Catholics, you guys are most guilty and you know it. Yet you hide behind your castles and lofty towers. Come on Pope; you're supposed to be the holy father!
And you televangelists, instead of your telethons to raise money so you can drive nicer cars and have big, expensive homes, how about you do a telethon to raise money and awareness for the need of Qurans in poor Muslim communities so that all Muslims can have the word of Mohammad?
Should not all religions have access to their beliefs that they may grow in wisdom? Or is freedom of religion allowed only when it is convenient? Oh yeah, and did you know that Jesus is spoken of in the Bible as the "son of man," not the "son of Christians?"
DANIEL CONNACHER
Coeur d'Alene