Religious Discord – 2) Christians and Islam

Monday 6th February

I have been sorting out books at Walton.  Goodness, how many I have read over the years.  Now I read on kindle; I know, and I too love the beauty of books but it is far more convenient and the words are the same – and it is and always has been the words which matter.  Anyway, I have just come across “The Plot Against America” by Philip Roth.  The premise of the book is that Charles Lindbergh of aviation fame actually succeeded in the 1940 US election (in reality he lost) and what happened then.  He was a rabid anti-semite and, in the book, he makes a pact with Hitler and persecutes American Jews.  Anyway, it reminded me instantly of Trump.  Different time, and a different hatred – or maybe not even a hatred but a playing on people’s fears rather.

I have a few work colleagues and friends who are Muslim.  And they see the current situation rather differently than our news media reports it.  They feel that the West, and specifically America is embarked on a crusade against Islam.  Well, if you simply look at the facts – Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Yemen, and now possibly Iran; there is one common thread, these countries are all Muslim and we are bombing, or threatening to bomb, the hell out of them.

The West blames radical Islam, Al Queda, Isis, Daesh – call it what you will, while continuing to insist that the majority of Muslims are okay.  Well, that was until Trump’s latest travel ban, where he seems to have lumped all Muslims and potential terrorists together.  So what is the truth?  Or is the truth the first victim in this Religious conflict.  America is a far more Religious nation than the U.K.  it was the Pilgrim Fathers who first tried to ‘colonise’ the place and so-called “Christian Beliefs” which have dominated.  Strange really when you think about Slavery, Segregation and the brutal nature of Capitalism that these are in any way consistent with Christian beliefs – but there you go.  And the Republican Party is staunchly Christian.  It is almost impossible for anyone standing to be President to also profess to be an Atheist, or maybe worse still – a Muslim.  And Americans, and I have met a few, are so isolated on their continent anyway that they see the whole world through American eyes.  They struggle to understand other cultures, and even more so now that Trump is in power, see their role as the ‘Greatest Nation On Earth’.  And anyone who questions that….?

Trump can no longer be laughed off as an idiot, uncouth, and all the rest.  He and the Right-wing cabal he has assembled are hell-bent on their mission to re-assert American Supremacy.  The biggest flashpoints?  Ukraine, but he wants to be best buddies with Putin so that may be ignored.  China and Taiwan – even Trump must be wary of China.  Israel can sleep easier now that he is on their side too.  But it may be Iran where the real danger lies.  If things keep getting worse and he starts to bomb Iran then who knows where this may lead….

Back to sorting the books, far too many to save – in reality, I want to keep them all.  I know I won’t re-read many at all, but they are all beautiful; if only they didn’t take up so much space.  But at least it will save someone else the trip to the charity shop one day….hahaha