Us Versus Them

Submitted by darkflighter100 (United States), Mar 24, 2007 at 22:52

I think a phrase that is known too well in my neighbourhood (my block is very much interested in World Issues) regarding the matter of Jerusalem's fate is "who cares?" As a Muslim, I believe that Jerusalem is a sacred city and the Al-Aqsa Mosque to be a very holy place of worship. But I also believe in the idea that this city is just as holy to a Muslim (as the Prophet Muhammed (Peace Be Upon Him) ascended and descended from Heaven there) as it is for a Christian (Christians believe Jesus Christ (PBUH) was crucified in Jerusalem) or a Jew (the very Foundation Stone on the Temple Mount is where Jews believe Abraham passed God's test to see if he'd sacrifice his son (Peace Be Upon Them Both)). Since this dispute's gone long out of hand as to who truly owns this Holy piece of land, it is safe to say in my opinion that the United Nations is doing a good job of regulating the situation, although I think that they should re-consider the idea of Jerualem being "internationalized"; everyone - Jews, Christians, and Muslims - would get a piece of the Holy pie, but would not exclusive to them.

There's another point that I have been dying to make lately; Everytime I look through blogs and responses like these throughout the Internet that involves an issue between Muslims and Jews, Muslims and Christians, Christians and Jews, and everything in between, it always has the SAME theme to them: "It is Us Versus Them". It is 2007 and we STILL have issues about religious tolerance even though throughout World History, we've overcome things from the Crusades to the Holocaust. People need to grow up and accept that the world is mixing and there's nothing anyone can do about it. This "Us Vs. Them" additude needs to stop because that argument won't work for long. I realize that my faith has been misconstrued in most of the Media lately, and that Islam is just the flavour of the decade (I really belive that after the occurance of 9/11, Most American non-Muslims woke up and "suddenly" became Islamic scholars and had something to say about Islam even though most of what is being said is blatently taken out of context. For Muslims reading this, they'll definitely know what I mean), like Christianity in its first three centuries and Judaism for the longest time. Interfaith dialogue needs to be used more often. For those reading this article, I encourage you to learn more about other faiths not like your own; it will broaden your mind and sharpen your opinions. If you're a Christian, go to your local Mosque and talk to the Imam or the Synagogue and to its local rabbi and learn more of their faiths, and vise-versa-versa. I go to a Catholic university and as a non-Christian, it has really strengthened my faith as a Muslim. As Jews, Christians and Muslims, I think we can all safely say that although we have our own rooms, we're all on the same monotheistic Abrahamic boat and we should all learn to deal with it 'cause it'll be one heck of a ride...

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