Peace in the Middle East...shhhyeah, right!

I got the sense during the recent Presidential election some of the younger, perhaps more naive voters thought that the rest of the world hated the U.S. because of President Bush. I heard rumblings that if Obama was elected President, his worldwide popularity would help save America's ever slipping standing in worldwide opinion. It is understandable that some of the younger generation might have gotten caught up in the mania that followed the charismatic personality of Obama as he traveled the country and the world and foresaw a rosy future where America would climb back to her lofty perch as the darling of the world.



What they failed to realize is that America has never really had as lofty a perch in the worldwide esteem as they were led to believe. As Islam continues its rapid expansion, Muslims have dispersed themselves into the far reaches of the globe. Muslims now make up significant minorities (and in many areas, majorities) in much of Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America. And while by no means am I trying to tie all Muslim people to terrorists groups (that would be absurd), it is a fact that terrorist groups are spreading around the world as well. It was just reported on CNN today how terrorists are actively recruiting AMERICANS even as I write this. While most followers of Islam are not radical terrorists and would never think of stooping to those levels, it is a fact that many Muslims do resent the U.S. government's long standing relationship with and support of the nation of Israel.



Many people lose sight of the real crux of this situation. Believe what you will of the Bible, but don't ever discount the Biblical genesis of this whole Middle Eastern maelstrom. After all is said and done, no matter what politicians try to do to smooth things over, chances are, it ain't gonna happen! There are no feuds like family feuds, just watch a couple episodes of Jerry Springer if you don't believe me. The whole situation in the Middle East boils down simply to a family squabble over the "old home place". Father Abraham is a major patriarch of all of the "big 3" religions and all three see Jeruselem as the epicenter of the universe. Judaism and Christianity sprang from Abraham's son Isaac (who was a product of Abraham and his wife, Sarah), and Islam traces its roots back to Ishmael (a product of Abraham and his concubine, Hagar). When you get the decendants of Isaac and Ishmael (brotha's from a different motha') together, both claiming their homeland, you have the makings of a humdinger of a Jerry Springer episode.



The only way to get terrorists off our back is for America to turn its back on one of our only friends in a very hostile (and economically vital) part of the world. And since that is NOT GOING TO HAPPEN (at least it shouldn't happen), we are going to have to deal with the threat of terrorism and the stigma of large portions of the world not viewing us in a very favorable light for a very long time...no matter who is President.