Pro-America demonstrations regretting the attack on the consulate have been held all over Libya.
It is time to replace anger with understanding, fear with compassion.
It is time for insight not insanity to reign.
There are unforeseen forces that have a hand on what is going on in the middle east. Forces that profit and benefit politically from the unrest. It is helpful to understand the difference between the Muslim faith and Christianity. To a Christian the Bible is the "divinely inspired" word of God. To a Muslim their Koran "is literally the word of God". To them it is an abomination to speak against it. I'm not saying that anything that takes the lives of innocent people is justified. I'm just trying to demonstrate a cultural difference, and maybe something someone could exploit like the guy who made the film.
Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan's preaching about "American Exceptionalism" isn't helping either. I think the current Tea Party Republicans benefit when war is on the table.
They are already using it to oppose any of the automatic cuts to defense spending.
I gained some insight into how the Egyptians feel about the United States right now.
The Muslim Brotherhood has taken power but the election was as clouded with influence and suspicion as our own counties 2010 elections which sweep in the Tea Party. Later finding out it was funded by the Koch brothers millions in a network of organizations.
The people of Egypt, hungry for democracy, were not that happy when the Muslim Brotherhood dominated the election. The country is divided. With 40 years of dictatorship there is fear and suspicion among it's people. They have been deceived into believing that the United States had some part in the results of the elections. I suspect they would fear that regardless of the outcome.
But there are forces outside Egypt contributing to the anti-American sentiment. In this country I can trace that antagonism to some of the Tea Party's actions like their witch hunt for Muslim spies and socialists in Congress.
Just remember we not only influence countries around the world but we send a message by our own actions and words.
One of the ways I determine who might have played a hand in something is to figure out who is directly benefiting right now by the consequences. I call this "cause and effect reality".
So who is out there right now trying to exploit the situation in the middle east for political gain?
It will take time and much understanding to bring peoples with different ideologies together. The first step is to acknowledge and understand that the views and values of extremists are not the values of all their people no more than the views and values of the Tea Party represent most Americans.
Don't let the few speak for the many.