Blame, Blame, Blame

The Islamic world is in upheaval again. Once again, Americans look for blame. We look to something we can quantify. Something over which we can wring our hands.

Even after it has become fairly clear the horrific attack on the embassy in Libya were a coordinated effort that led to deaths of four Americans, we are still wringing our hands over the dumb “trailer” that was on YouTube. Something that may have been out for quite some time, that just “happened” to erupt in protests on 9/11… but it’s not about 9/11 or anything else. It’s about that dumb trailer.

The trailer is dumb. I won’t defend it.

There are a lot of dumb things on YouTube and network TV and cable TV.

What we look for are things to blame rather than solutions.

We need to examine that maybe, just maybe, we got this “Arab spring” thing wrong. We need to step back and examine that maybe, just maybe, we didn’t really do the work necessary to this point to win “hearts and minds” in North Africa, and there is a long way to go.

We also need to understand that just like one really stupid YouTube video isn’t representative of American culture or Christianity, there are reports out, finally, that there are SO MANY moderates in North Africa who long for peace.

As believers, we know there is hurt. I wept watching those four caskets coming off that plane at Andrews Air Force Base. I am angered by the taking of American lives who were working for peace in a region that needs peace.

But, as believers, we also pray. We pray for peace. We pray for safety. We pray for truth.

I will not blame my Muslim friends. I will not blame a video. I will not reduce my thoughts to being angry at all Muslims or all Libyans or all Egyptians.

The world is at boiling point and we need a higher spiritual awareness in our lives as to the way forward.