I know somebody here has a Free Republic Account. Please find a way to post this.

[TalkingDog]

Egypt Muslims to act as "human shields" at Coptic Christmas Eve mass
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/95/3216/Egypt/Attack-on-Egypt-Copts/Egypt-Muslims-to-act-as-human-shields-at-Coptic-Ch.aspx

The Coptic priest was commenting on the now widespread call by Muslim intellectuals and activists upon Egyptian Muslims at large to flock to Coptic churches across the country to attend Coptic Christmas Eve mass, to show solidarity with the nation's Coptic minority, but also to serve as "human shields" against possible attacks by Islamist militants.

I think their head are this close to popping:

[Motown_Johnny]

1. they won't believe it and then it will make them invent paranoid delusions

about some secret Muslim agenda

[derby378]

2. A thousand years ago, Jerusalem was a multi-religious city

Controlled by Muslims, it nevertheless welcomed Jews and Christians. And then the Crusaders came, slaughtered everyone in sight, and fucked up all chance for coexistence over there.

[BklynThirtyThree]

3. derby378

had never heard about that, can you recommend any good articles?

[TalkingDog]

4. Just search: Crusades. Especially the 4th.

and the lovely phrase: "Kill them all and let God sort them out."

[derby378]

5. I think that phrase applies to the purge of the Cathars in what is now France

I can't recall the "Kill 'em all" phrase being applied to the Middle East by any pope, although I'm sure the mindset was definitely there.

[TalkingDog]

6. You are correct. And the mindset thing was more what I was alluding to

in suggesting that phrase.

[canetoad]

7. Coincidentally

The first crusade against the cathars has a similarity to the current situation with Coptic christians and Muslims.

In the siege of Beziers, when the army of the church was sent to supress the Cathars, many catholics remained to fight beside their cathar neighbours. When Arnaud was asked how to tell the catholics from the cathars he replied with. "Kill them all, the Lord will recognise His own."