Salaam,

As an American I naturally used to receive my share of Anti-Arab/Islam/Muslim Junk Emails/Forwards since 9/11.  "Used to" because I seek Peace via commonalities between Brothers not prejudicial application of lynch mob justice.  Sometimes, if I actually liked the sender, I would essentially give them what amounts to lessons in Interfaith.  Most of my Friends & Readers are Hard Rockers-Heavy Metalists so despite some calling themselves "Death Metalists", writing about "Satan" and other demonic type stuff, it's usually a case of them being able to dish it out but not so willing to take it back.

Regardless, I like to start by breaking down the Language Barrier.  Jesus (pbuh) & Isa (pbuh) are the same, just different languages.  Understand, here in America we really don't speak English, we speak American, more of like "pigeon" of all languages with a strong English base.  We can pick up bits of Spanish, German, Russia, Chinese and have even been known to learn a bit of Arabic so as complicated as it may sound, I believe the "light Bulb" goes off in their Heart & Soul.

Directly to Islam & Christianity.  It came to me the other evening as I was explaining to a young soldier (who does not want to be deployed to Iraq) that the WISEMEN from the East who went out of their way to welcome Baby Isa (pbuh) into the World were from Ancient Persia, what he knows today as Islam.

Everytime someone puts a Star on top of their Christmas Tree they are symbolizing the Great Respect Islam actually has for Christians and Christianity.  Even the Wisemen were surprised when the got to town and met with Herod just to find that to Isa's (pbuh) own people his coming was not such a big deal to them, they wouldn't even afford him a room forcing him to be born in the Manger.

So the WISEMEN of what is now Modern Islam, immediately realizing Herod's lethally hostile oppression of Isa's (pbuh) people as well as the fact that their very presence had confirmed the warnings of Herod's advisors, the Birth of the "King of the Jews" was near, the WISEMEN left Herod, still found Isa (pbuh) despite being forced to be born in a Manger, then bestowed Isa (pbuh) with many gifts before heading home along different paths.

I didn't say it to the young soldier whose (Astrology) chart I was reading, yet I can't help but wonder how much Gold the WISEMAN gave Isa (pbuh) hence, in modern terms, how much cash the Islamic Wisemen gave the King of the Jews so he could survive the Murder of the First Born pursuant to fulfilling his obligations as King of the Jews and Father of Christianity.

I don't think even I realized it until I just wrote it how much THANX Modern Christians owe Modern Muslims for such a Historic Deed nor do they realize how significant a role Persia hence Islam really has in the Star on top of their Christmas Trees.

What are your thoughts?