Graphic credit: RetSignman
I’m reading a Thomas Chaloner novel. He is an “intelligencer” during Restoration England. The books always revolve around religious fervor and excess. In Chaloner’s time, everything is anti-Catholic, or Papist. I’m struck by the nonsensical religious hatred in the books, because it reminds me so much of modern Islam.
Yes, Reform brought about a lot of hostility between Christians, and yes they fought ugly battles for years afterwards; the Civil Wars of Cromwell’s time, persecution of and by French Hugenots, up to recent times in the struggle over Northern Ireland. But in the end, both sides said enough is enough and moved on. Islam has no intention or inclination to learn from history. They thrive on hatred and emotion, bloodshed and fear.
The bloodied wall in Benghazi is a symbol to me of foolish religious intolerance not unlike the empty and barren churches, devoid of anything deemed “papist” (stained glass, statues, vestments, etc) of Chaloner’s time.
Even in a historical fiction novel history is there to be learned from; or repeated..
If you or someone has the photoshop skills to add the word "Islam" or "The Five Pillars of Islam" to the black hand, that would make a GREAT bumper sticker ...