Jesus Didn't Kill Muhammad, But Obama Gave Hope

As riots sweep through Iran this week over perceived fraudulent presidential election results, I feel that the Middle East is poised for real change. A confluence of events going on now could lead to a lasting peace, but not without some upheaval in the meantime.

President Obama's recent speech encouraged many Muslims that the West does not condemn them for their religion -- it instead respects them in spite of religious differences, but will not accept intolerance toward Jews and Christians by terrorists and extremists.

In the weeks following Obama's speech, Israel has announced that it is moving toward recognizing a Palestinian state and Iranians are voicing their opinions about what appears to be a corrupt election that reinstated Ahmadinejad as president. Through news reports and now the Internet, their protests are being heard around the world. It was inspiring to see people speaking fearlessly on camera about the election, without masks and without fear.

Contrast these heartening developments with the dark days in Iraq when Christian evangelical elements of our military were taunting Muslims by booming on loudspeakers that "Jesus Killed Mohammed." This, and other efforts to convert Muslims -- not our mission in Iraq -- were enough to stir anger against our country from both Sunnis and Shias. A report in Harper's Magazine about the ongoing incidents makes it clear that no one was reprimanded for this behavior -- in fact officers de facto encouraged it by not banning it.

Since the Commander-in-Chief has set an example of tolerance, we can only hope that things will change on this front as well.

It's instructive to look at how Jesus handled people of different faiths and tribes. He told his disciples that if people did not want to receive their message to shake the dust off their sandals and move on. He didn't mock or taunt or push. People had to come to his message of their own free will. His clear message? Do unto others as you'd have them do unto you; love others -- especially if they don't agree with you.