Peace...Is it possible?

The Muslim world has for the past 30 years been a defining force in the world, and the glue that holds it together has been Islam. Almost from its beginnings in the 6^th century Islam has been a religion divided by internal strive and tribal animosity. All religions have their procedural divides and sects but Islam’s history is replete with the sectarian violence that followed the death of Mohammed.

If the rioting and turmoil in Egypt is about freedom there is little evidence that the Arab world has any talent or desire for the concept. Iran is a psychiatric prison nation. Syria is ruled by a family of dictators while Hamas rules Gaza with a heavy and corrupt fist. The monarchies that exist in the region are all self centered and unable to act in a democratic fashion. Right now I think I’m seeing a repeat of the 6^th century wars that occurred between the Sunnis and the Shiites over who was holier in the eyes of a god that encouraged killing all nonbelievers as a matter of faith.

The story of that divide is convoluted and but can be reduced to a struggle for control of Islam with the Sunnis believing that Ali (Mohammed’s cousin) was the forth and last of the “rightly guided caliphs” While the Shia believe that Ali should have been the first caliph. In short it was an argument not over discipline but over power and control.

The line of Mohammed’s direct descendants ended in 873 when the last Shia imam disappeared at the age of four. The Shia branch of Islam do not believe he died, but that he had “gone into hiding and would return”. Their version is at the heart of  Iranian (Shia) theology which says that in order for him to return the world must sink into complete chaos with massive loss of life. Something akin to the Christian Armageddon.

It boggles the mind to realize that the core believe of Islam is to live with a conflict that began some 1400 years ago and where all the laws, particularly Shia law is based on seventh century values and diverge with hard won modern values of civilization.

In Egypt President Obama insists that the Muslim Brotherhood play a role in any future government. But ignores the fact that the Brotherhood is sworn to subjugate all who are not Muslim. Their guiding principle 9taken from their own web site) is “Allah is our objective. The Prophet is our leader. Qur’an is our law. Jihad is our way. Dying in the way of Allah is our highest hope”

I hope our government is not intent on advancing the agenda of a collection of 6^th century thugs who would like nothing better than to cleanse the world of all who are not of their faith. Only time will give us an answer to that thought and I have concerns for the future.