Turkey? Sorry I am not Hungary.

Hagia Sophia
Istanbul, Turkey

     Turkey is one of the most culturally enriched places that I have visited being that its capital Istanbul lies in two continents, Europe and Asia. The Grand Bazaar is full of trinkets. However, it truly is the land of magic carpets. I felt like almost every other store sold hand stitched carpets, some of which take years to make. Each one told its own story, a story passed on through families. 

     Aside from all of the aesthetics, its hard to see why Muslims and Christians have failed to get along for millenia. I never realized how similar our beliefs were until I went to Turkey, a country that is about %95 Islamic and %5 other. Our paths diverged when Abraham had his first son Ishmael with his wife's servant Hagar. He slept with Hagar because Sarah, his wife, was not bearing him any children and she was growing old. Though she was old she eventually gave birth to Isaac. Since Isaac was born from Abraham's wife he was the one to whom his legacy was given. being first born, Ishmael and his mother had a difference of opinion and from then on there was controversy between these two blood lines. Christians/Jews take their beliefs from Isaac, and Muslims take their beliefs from Ishmael. Though the two are thought of as different, their core beliefs are both  in God/Allah and the teachings of Moses.

    The two fought over Jerusalem for many centuries. also, during the dark ages of Christianity, Muslims had a long and fruitful Golden Age--They were prosperous tradesmen and created a steel for swords that is presently known as Damascus Steel. The steel has many favorable attributes which have yet to be recreated even with modern technologies. visiting Istanbul and much of Turkey has revealed history to my superficial eyes. There are radicals in both religions; however, they are fighting a war that has long been dead.

Salaam Alaikum,

Jeremy Lanier