The Importance Of Jerusalem For The Different Religions - Essay Example

The Importance Of Jerusalem For The Different Religions Any report done on Jerusalem must be reacted to with skepticism. All three of the major religious groups, Christian, Jewish, and Islam, have different agendas to portray. When watching or reading a report from the media on Jerusalem several issues must be taken under consideration. What religion is the reporter? What country does the reporter come from? Is one religious identity being promoted or downgraded? All of these questions must be answered when considering Jerusalem. The conflict between Christian, Jew, and Muslim has raged for centuries. There are no simple solutions for the conflict in the past or today. That is what makes the history of Jerusalem conflicting depending on the teacher. This paper will be a reaction to The Turning Point: Jerusalem Diaries with Peter Jennings. Peter Jennings is an American reporter. He is a Christian. Jennings works with ABC. Although Jennings has reported on the Middle East for ABC in the past, he is still American. Since Jennings is from America and a Christian his take on Jerusalem will be different from a native’s perspective. During this program Jennings interviewed all three religious groups in Jerusalem’s old city. However, Jennings portrayed Christians and Muslims in a more sympathetic light than the Jews living in the older part of Jerusalem. By only taking several examples of Christian, Jew, and Muslim, Jennings portrayed a limited view of Jerusalem’s inhabitants today. Americans do not hold land as a religious symbol like Jerusalem’s residents. For the Christians, Jews, and Muslims living in Jerusalem, the city is not just an ordinary place, but a Holy City. Jerusalem’s 4000 year history is one of conflict and strife. In the ancient world Jerusalem was coveted by all the nations surrounding it. During King David and Solomon’s times Jews ruled Jerusalem. At Jesus’ birth the Jews were ruled by a governor from the Roman Empire in Jerusalem. The city was still considered a Holy place when Mohammad visited in the 7th century. Crusades were undertaken to free the Holy Land from Muslims in the Middle Ages. Arabs, predominately Muslims, had settled in the city under British rule at the first of the 21st century. After World War II, the British turned over parts of Jerusalem and Palestine to a new Jewish state called Israel. Jerusalem, today, is the capital of Israel. Although Israel claims Jerusalem as their capital due to the conflict between Arab Palestinians and Israeli Jews most countries have embassies in Tel Aviv. This is to keep conflict down with both sides. Jerusalem is still a coveted city by all three religious groups. The Christians, Jews, and Muslims have maintained a strong presence in the region in order not to lose their claim on Jerusalem. Jennings showed aspects of all three groups today in Jerusalem. He chose first generation or immigrant Jews to Jerusalem, Christians, and well established Muslims that had been in Jerusalem for generations. One first generation Jewish family was from an affluent background. They owned a home in the Jewish quarter. This family from Europe was excavating an ancient home underneath their present home. Like the other Jews interviewed this family spoke of the Jewish history in the land and their connections to this history as Jews. When interviewing the Jews only the historic roots of their claim to Jerusalem were discussed. No mention was made of legitimate reasons the Jews were in Jerusalem. Every instance in history that the Jews were not a presence in Jerusalem was due to exile by the ruling faction over the city. Even when Jews did not rule Jerusalem, a Jewish presence was there. Only exile kept the Jews from Jerusalem. When the British overtook half of the Jerusalem Jews began returning and buying property. Only half of Jerusalem was given to Israel by the British Mandate. The Six Day War allowed Israel to capture all of Jerusalem. No mention was made of Israel’s legal occupation of Jerusalem. Israel has been pushing the limits of Jerusalem past the green line, or the border decided upon after the war. However, the majority of Jerusalem’s old city is inside the green line. Jews have fought and bought their way into Jerusalem. Unlike the popular belief in many Western countries, Jews were not given Israel or Jerusalem. Jennings could have explored the Jews that had been in Jerusalem for generations. That might have been a little better or fairer to the Jews of Jerusalem. Jennings treated the Muslims a little better than he did the Jews of Jerusalem. This documentary was filmed pre-9/11. If Jennings did the film today, it probably would not be as favorable to the Muslims. Jennings interviewed and portrayed the Muslims as victims. Jews were pushing Muslims out of their Holy places. Muslims were portrayed as modest families only wanting peace. The scene of Muslims on Easter shows a fun loving family. Jennings alludes to a strong Muslim presence in Jerusalem throughout its history, overlooking the fact that Muslims did not move to Jerusalem until the 7th century. Arabs lived in the region since the beginning of Jerusalem, but they were not identified as Muslims until after the Prophet Mohammad had his revelations in the 7th century. Muslims, especially the ones portrayed in this film, are sympathetic figures. This is their homeland and city. Christians were treated in the best light. Jennings seemed to treat the priest he interviewed with the most respect. The importance of Jerusalem to the Christians was heavily emphasized. Jerusalem was the birthplace of Christianity. As a Christian, Jennings had a biased look at Jerusalem. He portrayed the history and current affairs through the eyes of a Christian. While the Jews were called out about their oppression of Christians and Muslims in Jerusalem, nothing was said about Christian tyranny during the city’s history. Jennings also got a few things wrong with the history of Jerusalem. The Western Wall is not the most Holy site in Jerusalem. The Temple Mount, the site of the original temple, is the most Holy site in Jerusalem to all three religions. The Muslims control the Temple Mount. Jews control the Western Wall. The modern Jewish quarter is modern due to the fact that Jordon burned and expelled all the Jews during their reign of half the city. The Jewish quarter had to be rebuilt. Also Jennings showed the city as being segregated into three separate factions. Jerusalem is a blend of all three religions. Jennings just did not show this diversity mixture well. Jennings showed that all three Abrahamic religions have a significant history in Jerusalem. He just was a little too biased. The importance of the city to the Jews was dismissed by the film. Muslims had a more significant history in Jerusalem according to Jennings. Of course, Christians had the most significant history in Jerusalem. Jennings might have dismissed the Jews, because of their rejection of his Messiah. This was evident when he asked an American Rabbi about his belief in a Messiah. Muslims believe Jesus was a prophet. This belief might have impressed Jennings. Whatever the reason, a bias about the significant history of Jerusalem was evident. Religion does play a huge roll in politics in Jerusalem and the Middle East as a whole. Holy places become battle grounds. It is no longer just politics, but a Holy War, Jihad, or fight for God. Israel is smaller than the state of New Jersey, but millions fight to live on this small parcel of land. Instead of what is good for the people, the politicians start thinking ‘what is good for my people’. The intense need not to be pushed out of Jerusalem make each faction ruthless in politics. Policy is based on the fear of being driven out of the region. It must be noted that all three religions have a role in politics in the region. Jews are the majority, Muslims and Christians are the minority. However, one group or another is not totally excluded from the politics. Jerusalem’s city government is no exception. Jews, Christians, and Muslims all hold positions in the government. The agenda for all of the factions is stopping the encroachment of the others on their perceived territory. The promotion of buildings, or fighting against buildings and other structures depending on the individuals building are always present at these political sections. Who has the right to build in the Jewish quarters? Who did not have the right to build there? These are the politics being waged in Jerusalem and all over Israel. ABC and other media outlets have not been helpful in understanding the region. Americans do not have the same attachments to land and religious symbols as the people in the Middle East. Most Americans feel religion is a personal experience not related to symbolic places. Americans have crosses, pictures, churches, and so forth, but since these places have not been threatened do not understand the fear and conflict in Jerusalem. Americans also have a sense of right and wrong. One side must be right and one side must be wrong. In Jerusalem and Israel, the conflict between Palestinian and Israeli is not a right or wrong issue. Both sides have points that are right and points that are wrong. When Americans come in and take sides it only makes the conflict worse. Americans are also a little hypocritical about the Jewish presence in Jerusalem. Jews bought land in Jerusalem or won parts of the city during the Six Day War. Israelis do not decry Americans unfair treatment of Native Americans. The great myth is the Western powers gave Israel the Palestinian State due to their guilt over the Holocaust. Half of what is Israel today was given to the Jews, but the other half was won in wars that Israel’s Arab neighbors started. Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, Iran, and Syria gave Israel just as much territory as the West did. The displaced Muslims of this expansions that fled during the wars want to come back home. The problem is the war was 40 years ago. How do people come back after 40 years? Nothing in the Middle East is easy. The fight for land has been going on for 4,000 years. The Palestinians and Israelis are the current participants in this fight. History has shown that participants change, but the battle continues. That is just the way life goes in Jerusalem. The media, especially in the West, has fueled the fire in the Palestinian/Israeli conflict. The suicide bombers and terrorists would not be effective without media exposure. Without the fear of terrorism, the conflict might not be as intense. If terrorism did not exist, maybe a conventional war would have broken out. A conventional war might have been won or lost. As it stands now terrorism has created a vicious cycle in Jerusalem and the Middle East. Terrorism would not be a fear factor without media exposure. ABC, CBS, and NBC report of every suicide bombing, military invasion or action, and act of violence in Israel. Most of the coverage shows a mighty Israeli Army fighting Arabs that are sparsely armed. The media just incites the violence in the Middle East. After watching this film with skepticism, I would not recommend this film. Jennings was biased toward the Christian and Muslim faction. He portrayed the Jews as arrogant conquers of Jerusalem. The truth is at one time or another Christian, Jew, and Muslim have all been conquers of Jerusalem. No one party is totally innocent or guilty. All three factions have made mistakes. Jennings as a reporter should have made this clearer in his reporting. The bottom line is fighting has been a way of life in Jerusalem for 4,000 years. Peace has never been in this region. The rulers of Jerusalem have had to defend their city, or lose it to the next rulers. Israel is the current ruler. Will their rule last? Only the future will tell. However, it is unrealistic to believe a solution will be easily found in a battle waged so long. Christian, Jew, or Muslim is not going to change their minds, or suddenly give up their position. Jerusalem is an enigma that will remain a battleground for many years to come. For a film to come and try to explain the history and current events in an hour is impossible. Read More