It is possible for different religions to thrive together.

Today I was in the library reading and catching up on old news when an article in the Star caught my attention. According to the article, there was this 1,500 year old church in Gaza City which stands next door to a mosque. The Christians and Muslims have no problem living and practising their religion so near to each other for more than a thousand years.

According to the article, 'It is not surprising to see head-scarved Muslim female workers sweeping and cleaning the church.' Even the conservative Islamic group Hamas allowed the church special permission to bring in wine for their Sunday service.

The Christians in Gaza were just as affected by the Isreali occupation of Gaza as the military strike and unemployment bring the same problems to all Gaza residents. So, be they Christians or Muslims, the ordinary folks are the same, loving each other, respecting each other, working with each other, even helping to upkeep places of worship and suffering the same fate.

What is the difference and who brought the difference? The difference is that the majority of the people in Gaza are Muslims but that was not a problem until leaders who craze for power would bring in their extremist thoughts to exterminate the minority. So, majority gives strength in terms of support and might. Percentage is important to leaders and lessening the minority number can increase the percentage of the majority.However, sometimes it is not the government but the extremists within the government or other extremist groups that cause people to change.

The presence of extremist leaders and their anxiety-creating opinions bring fear to the minority, unsettling their feelings of belonging. So, some would migrate, especially the best brains and the more capable.

The article I read strengthen my belief and understanding that all of us are the same, capable of a wonderful life together if not for power-crazy leaders who would cause all kinds of misery to mankind just to achieve their own selfish ends. But it is a fact that such people will never learn for their drug is power and like any drug addict, they would do just about anything to snuff the drug of power.