Listener's Ear

Submitted by Carson Koch (United States), Jun 7, 2002 at 11:43

Just as it is easier to destroy than to create, it is easier to destroy a word's meaning.

If Mother Teresa had declared a crusade, one would assume she meant against world hunger. If a powerful leader says we need a crusade in the Third World, Muslims would be right to fear this, so it's a matter of context and the listener's ear. Due to the horror of jihads' history, as well as the recent jihad declared by Bin Laden, this listener's western ear is not hearing a message of spirituality or peace upon hearing jihad, nor is that likely to change anytime soon.

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