Friday February 24, 2006

I've Been Thinking:

The current wave of violence pounding Iraq is misunderstood by Western minds and hearts.

Tensions, violence, even persecution and mass murder are all part of the long-standing history of Shiite/Sunni relations.
This latest round is not new and it will certainly not end just because of a governmental agreement in Iraq.
This is not the first flare-up since the US invaded Iraq. What is truly amazing is that there have not been a greater number of violent outbreaks these last years.

Westerners think that Muslims are Muslims and they all share religious values and principles, that they are united. They do not.
Shiites and Sunnis have killed one another for centuries specifically because of the differences between them.
Shiites believe that Sunnis are heretics and have abused and destroyed Islam. Sunnis believe that Shiites have bastardized the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad.

Shiites and Sunnis will not live together in peace.
They cannot.
Their doctrines will not allow for peace without mutual benefit.
If the West wants to bring about change the West must create a scenario that is mutually beneficial to both Muslim sects.