Middle East: The Biggest Puzzle Ever

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Framed   Mounted

"Middle East countries have been at war forever, and they'll always be at war." But, I cannot buy it. It requires belief in complete insanity - that now well-known idea of doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.

Here are the puzzle Parts -
Jews and the Jewish faith -
Arabs and the faith of Islam -
Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity

Since September 11, 2001, perhaps we should include America among the puzzle parts.
Although the Middle East is distinct from Europeans, Scandinavians, Americans and others generally associated with the West, concern is ratcheted up by terrorist attacks of the past 10 to 20 years. Many average Americans' reaction to the attacks on 9-11 was "What the h...!" That's because conflicts abroad on Western "interests" were just that, "over there." No worry.
Since September 11, 2001, "they who are fighting" now include America and other western countries.

So, the "Middle East: Biggest Puzzle Ever," now includes USA.

Do the assumptions about irreconcilable conflict now include your home and mine? Are we ever to resolve the conflicts where power, land and religion have become reasons for killing?
I prefer to reject the tendency to settle into a view of life that accepts these conflicts just because they have always been.

If there was ever peace, there can be peace again.

Why should the world settle into a view of life that accepts these conflicts just because they have always been. Perhaps, by looking at the bigger picture, there will be personal lessons, too, for everyday life.

Since militant Islam now sees America and other parts of the West as threats, if Arab wars are forever, that would mean this world war over terrorism is forever.

Are we all at war because we are different and want the world all to be the same? Or, are we all basically the same, choosing war to act out the tensions of earthly co-habitation?

For that matter, when did the violence start between Arabs and Jews? Were these ethnic and religious identities ever represented by men and women who enjoyed friendships in spite of their differences? Well, yes. At least in pockets of the world and in historical time frames.

If there was ever peace, there can be peace again.

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Framed   Mounted

Whereas Christianity is supposed to be a religion of love and forgiveness to supplant the angry God of its roots, Wright argues that this evolution from malevolence to benevolence happens in each of the Abrahamic religions.

I read an article recently that says we really aren't destined to shoot each other.

Even though nobody much says anymore that the first world war was, "the war to end all wars." It's become a cliche' to say such commentary was optimistic, at best. Foolish, more likely. But, new voices coming out of human sciences dispute such cynicism.

Ever heard the term "noble savages?" Apparently, somebody got the idea that before communities were formed, humans lived in harmony. But, then what about those pictures of wild chimpanzees seen living in caves and hunting bushbabies with spears? It is the first time an animal has been seen using a tool to hunt a vertebrate.

I don't know how many believe the "5 o'clock news" cliche' - "If it bleeds it leads." But, wait. If that were true, would "the first and second world wars and all the other horrific conflicts of the 20th century (have) resulted in the deaths of fewer than 3 per cent of the global population.?" If mutual killing is not in our DNA, then, do we have it within our capability to create conditions for peace? If so, in principle, it could last forever. Right?

Isn't it more puzzling to ask why "tribes" threaten another's resources in land, water, food and access to other survival necessities? For, one author after another and scientist after scientist, observe this as the cause for why we fight each other.