Reading Response: Solidarity

Reading Karen Armstrong's "Jerusalem: One City, Three Faiths" has been nothing if not a whirlwind. While the first several chapters were dense with unfamiliar details and difficult to read, I understood their importance upon reaching the end of the book, where everything came together. I don't think I would have appreciated the recent history (about which I did not previously know very much) without a more comprehensive view of the entire background of the city.

However, these last few chapters have certainly been the most interesting to me. It was heartbreaking to watch the deterioration from the relative peace and coexistence under Suleiman to the passionate hatred not uncommon among those of all three faiths. I was, though, surprised to read of the depth of the schisms within each religion. No wonder peace is so far off-- not only are the Israelis and the Palestinians unable to find a solution, the Israelis and Palestinians individually are not even united fronts.

Throughout the history of the strife-ridden region, I found the most hope in instances where different people found a common cause and and were able to united under one front. The reasons weren't always pleasant-- like when the Jews and Muslims were equally persecuted by the Crusaders, or, in these chapters, when competitive missionary Christians tried to outdo each other caring for the Jewish poor-- but, for a brief moment, two peoples were able to either see someone otherwise so different as the same or accomplish some good. No matter the circumstances, the feelings caused by these events are real, and to know such an emotion even for a moment can change one's outlook on life.

It is my hope that sometime soon, Israelis and Palestinians will find some common ground. I could imagine their shared devotion to their homeland that has caused the conflict in the first place would also be the first steps towards a resolution, but no matter the circumstances, should they feel united, I believe the emotion involved could be enough to catalyze massive change. People everywhere have stakes in the outcome of this ongoing struggle, but only the inhabitants of Jerusalem live the stakes on a daily basis. It might well be that the cause of this issue is also its solution.