that Christians have been as guilty of barbarism as the current day Islam jihadists, one only has to read this heartbreaking story by Bill Moyers: Black Men Burned Alive
(Library of Congress)
In this horrible picture, one must remember that this happened in America in the twentieth century. Burning people alive goes back as far as one can research Christianity. Sadly, this one took place in my home state of Texas.
The current practice by GOP politicians of condemning all of Islam and presuming that every Muslim is capable of such barbarity as we are seeing practiced by ISIS and Al Qaeda, thus hoping to win votes from the ignorant, is reprehensible at best. Criminal at its worst. It is meant to inflame, but can only do damage to more innocents. It makes as much sense as blaming all Christians for the acts of our ancestors. And it perhaps will cause more young people to join in the movement, thinking they are defending their religion.
Surely, there are enough folks in the United States who can speak up and say they do not want to hear this from their politicians. Nor will they vote for anyone espousing such beliefs.
Peace,
Marilyn
ADDENDUM: I recently read an article by Marianne Williamson that contains the following quote, which I find so true for today's world: "Terrorism is hatred turned into a political force, and the only thing powerful enough to fundamentally override it is to turn love into a political force. But that, we will not be able to do until we are willing to make love more important than money, and others more important than ourselves."
