Other Views of Crusades

Re “Blame the Crusades,” editorial, May 14: Whatever else you may want to think about the Crusades, remember this: Jerusalem and the area around the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea are not Islam’s native territory. This area and the city, holy to both Christians and Jews, were conquered -- that is, by means of fighting and killing -- by Arabs of the Islamic faith in the 600s. Not until the then-ruler began to interfere with Christian pilgrims did the church mount crusades.

In its early days, the Islamic empire was a paradigm of expansionist energy and thought, as Rome had been before, and Alexander before that, and the Persians, too. If you like that sort of thing.

Ruth Silveira

Los Angeles

*

It is hard to sympathize with an editorial’s conclusion when the underlying historical facts are completely wrong.

The editorial lays out a completely erroneous reason for the First Crusade by stating that it set out to defend Byzantine lands and added on Jerusalem as an afterthought. In fact, history tells us quite clearly that the Byzantine Empire had lost that city to the Muslims back in AD 614.

The First Crusade was preached by Pope Urban in 1095, over 400 years later, and included the direct statement: “Christians, hasten to help your brothers in the East, for they are being attacked. Arm for the rescue of Jerusalem under your captain, Christ. Wear his cross as your badge. If you are killed your sins will be pardoned.”

The pope had one eye on aiding the Byzantine Empire, but also on stopping the internecine warfare among the European knights.

In answering the appeal from the empire, his statement is clear that the crusaders’ ultimate destination from the get-go was Jerusalem.

It is true that Nicaea and Antioch were also retaken; however, these cities were merely stops on the way to the ultimate prize, Jerusalem. It was not an add-on or unrelated option, as your editorial states.

Michael Saint-Just

Cathedral City

*

It’s somewhat naive to focus on the Crusades as the “crux” of the matter in the Middle East. Islamist propaganda certainly emphasizes this era, as do some Arab nationalists. But for historical accuracy, the period of 300 years prior to the Crusades was an epoch when Arab Muslim warriors invaded, conquered, occupied and forcibly converted millions of people in the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. They spread their religion with the sword ... yet Islamic descendants now remember only the era after this when Muslims were pushed back from Europe and gradually lost territory, prestige and empire. Selective recall of history can be dangerous for all concerned, especially in the West.

David Schechter

Los Angeles

*

I was surprised and disappointed as I read the May 14 editorial page. All three editorials referred to the Crusades, with two referring directly to the recently released movie “Kingdom of Heaven.”

Though I can understand mentioning the movie and invoking the Crusades in today’s political climate, I felt that directing all three editorials toward that subject seemed excessive, if not downright condescending to your readers.

If I want to read movie marketing material, I can easily go to your movie section. Please keep the editorial page devoted to real issues, not movie hype.

Charles Pollard

Canton, Ga.

*

As we observe world events, it becomes clearer and clearer that ancient wars still drive people to seek revenge. Some examples include Slobodan Milosevic’s aggression against Muslims for massacres that occurred 400 years ago and, as The Times has pointed out, the Crusades, which are still fresh in the hearts of Muslims.

Let me add my people’s story to this list. We are still smarting over events that happened 3.18 million years ago. My family lived in the next county to the clan associated with “Lucy,” the so-called hominid whose bones were discovered in Africa. Both clans laid claim to dung piles that were thought to have magic properties. Lucy’s family lorded it over us because they claimed that they were the first hominids and we were just retrograde baboons.

Accordingly, Lucy’s clan seized the dung piles and we, bereft of supernatural inspiration, lost our courage and were driven away. We have long memories and will never rest until Lucy’s descendants make restitution.

We only hope that the World Court will agree to hear our case and return the dung piles to their rightful owners.

Larry Shapiro

Rancho Mirage