2004-12-19 - 7:34 p.m.

Journal excerpt dated December 8th, 2004:

ISLAM also means "Selaam" which is translated into the English word "PEACE" - how ironic...

Ironic because the world at large seems to have, unfortunately, quite a distorted understanding of this religion and way of life. Muslims and non-Muslims alike are often lead to think of this religion in quite fundamentalist and fanatic terms leading to aggressiveness, fear, mistrust, hatred and disrespect for each other.

It's amazing how powerful religion can be in both uniting and dividing people, quite striking indeed...

Even more striking and refreshing is being able to learn first-hand what Islam, this often feared religion, is all about... from a non-extremist perspective and people such as that of the welcoming Mauritanians. If only more people in the Western world could start disassociating Islam with terrorism, violence and extremism and learn not to generalize... if only!

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