" It is difficult to be optimistic about either the future of the Middle East peace process or the future of the Holy City." It is incredibly hard to be optimistic, however it is possible. It is possible to be optimistic when everyone around you is incredibly pessimistic. But if I have learned anything in this book, it is the optimism and hope of the people that has lead to the great times of Jerusalem. It is the small amount of people with optimism that keep the struggle going. A goal of peace is probably irrational to most people, but I do believe there can be an end to violence.
While it is endearing that Karen continues to make remarks about her own faith "Christian Jerusalem offers a particularly striking instance of the dangers of leaving compassion and absolute respect for the rights of others out of the picture", I think she mainly does it to present herself as more biased towards her own faith and less towards the others, especially Islam.
Ultimately what this book has shown me is that there are a lot of sides to the story, and Armstrong presents all the rulers and all the religious sacrifices particularly well. She tries to not miss a beat when it comes to how much the city has been through. However the side she yields to present is the human perspective. Leaving out the religion could have given her a spin on the city so that in fact we don't decide at the end of the book who the city should belong to, but instead that it belongs to all people because of all of it's important history and landmarks.
I believe she believes there is a possibility for coexistence, but in order to do that I think that it is important to factor in to do that, we must look beyond our differences to see our neighbors as people with love in their hearts for all. It doesn't matter what faith you have, where you have been, but all that matters is that you are trying to provide for your family, the best way you know how.
I agree completely that what I really got out of Armstrong's book was a different side to every story. I think that this was something Armstrong did brilliantly, especially for someone who was once a catholic nun! she has no allegiance to any particular faith or people. I think religion and Jerusalem is a tricky subject, maybe her devotion to describing each faith equally is showing her desire for Jerusalem to also be shared equally. I cannot speak for her, but its possible.
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