Ku Klux Klan = Al Qaeda?

Too many people think Islam is a violent religion because of the actions of a few.  But one could think the same of Christianity.  Does the Ku Klux Klan or Torquemada represent Christianity?

The Ku Klux Klan terrorized "uppity niggers" for a long list of imagined crimes and terrorized whites from opposing the Ku Klux Klan.  The Klan used the cross as its symbol and even corrupted it by burning crosses in the yards of those who opposed them.  They purported to be defending Christianity, but it wasn't the religion of Jesus.

Al Qaeda and the Taliban terrorize all those who don't agree with them for a long list of imagined crimes.  They have used the Koran as their symbol, but ignore all those parts that don't fit their rigid view.

The Grand Inquisitor Torquemada tortured many people on real or imagined threats to Catholicism.  Jews, Muslims, and Protestants were tortured to get them to confess to not following the "true belief".  Torquemada worked with the blessing of King Phillip of Spain; religious orthodoxy was a means to quell dissent with his policies.

The Iranian government tortures many on real or imagined threats to Islam or its national security.  But isn't it behaving like King Phillip?  Religious orthodoxy is a means to quell dissent with its policies.

There are far too many historical cases of "bad apples" of any major religion; it makes it very easy to argue that any religion is violent.

What doesn't make the news is the multitude of people of all religious faiths who follow the example of the Good Samaritan, offering help to those in need regardless of differences.  On the one hand we have Afghans offering tea to American soldiers who broke down their doors; on the other hand we have Americans sending money to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees for Pakistani flood victims.

Solidarity: An Overused Word

How many times have you heard some people talk of their solidarity with some distant group?  A solidarity that they cannot act on because they really aren't in the distant group's circumstances.

The latest overuse I heard was in a speech in Pakistan by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.  He expressed his sympathy for and solidarity with the victims of the flooding.

Excuse me, how can one have solidarity with people in a disaster area when one can easily fly in and then easily fly out again?  Maybe he would be in solidarity with the victims if he waded through waist-deep water with supplies on his head.

Of course, we do need the people who can fly in and fly out so they can let the rest of us know how desperate the situation is, especially photographers.

The rest of us may not act in solidarity with the victims but we can be more than just sympathetic.  We can donate to aid agencies who are trying to bring supplies to the victims.  One agency to consider is the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.  Visit http://www.unhcr.org to learn some of the problems and to donate what you can.