. . . in 12th Century Hungary, laws designed by Christians to discriminate against Jews were upon activation applied equally to Muslims (ref.: Rafael Patai, _The Jews of Hungary_).

What may be important for this group is differentiating between feudal and medieval political modes, much including attitudes and beliefs about religion and about ourselves, and modern political and spiritual possibilities.

At this point — right now — Muslims have become themselves first in the path of Islamic extremists. That’s something to think about when both demonizing Islam, which in its strict inception would seem to go against the grain of humanity, and ennobling its victims. The medieval world — and the feudal politics of clans, families, and tribes through the ages — has been a bloody business. As much has been part of our humanity, and we’re stuck with it, but we can transform too and produce less anger, less grievance, less horror in the world.

---

–33–