In the souvenir shops there one can see, all on the same shelf, black veils and yarmulkes and beaded rosaries. I was standing in the middle of one architectually incredible cathedral, listening to a childrens' choir when suddenly over the loudspeaker came the call to prayer for the Moslems. It hit me how deep and urgent and necessary is every person's urge to try to connect with the Almighty. It is as insatiable as the appetite for food and water. Everyone scrambling to hear the voice of God...to be right with God...to be directed by God.
Yet, here in the same land, are the origins of three very distinct branches of religion...the tenets of which have been claimed as the reason for much bloodshed.
To answer the most common question; yes, I always felt safe. In Eygpt we had armed guard driving in front and in back of our convoy of busses on the way to the pyramid. And when we got close the Bethlehem, the Jewish guide had to hop off the bus and a Palestinian hop on to continue through the huge wall built around Jerusalem. And on the way back, Israeli soldiers checked every passport on the bus. But the Jews assured us there have been much fewer suicide bombers since the wall went up 3 years ago and to invite our friends to visit. So consider yourself invited!
In Turkey, we had a cute young blonde guide who was proud to claim Turkey as the most progressive of all Islam countries. She had on a cute little outfit, and went on to tell us what the Koran ACTUALLY says about modest dress. "It says only to cover the sexual parts," she said, "so unless all those women (draped in black) thinking they're smokin' hot all over? Maybe they have Victoria Secret on underneath." It got a laugh, but illustrated the division upon division upon division in ALL religions. Lord have mercy.
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