Time Changes Everything . . . .

On a discussion today in my World Religions class, my teacher was talking about the Muslim Jihad. He said that this term, in opposition to common beliefs to being "Holy War" is a term that means something else. The point that struck me is that it doesn't matter what is actually means. Time and actions change the meaning of symbols or words. So I want to talk about some symbols that have been changed overtime.

The most commonly known is the symbol of the swastika. After World War I when the Nazi party took power in Germany, Hitler who became Chancellor of Germany used the Swastika as the symbol for his Nazi Germany. So when someone hears the word swastika, they think of Hitler, Racism, Hate, Genocide, World War II. But in reality the symbol of the swastika is one of the most ancient religious symbols of life and good luck. Because of Hitler's actions, the swastika has turned into a symbol that symbolizes the exact opposite.

Another symbol that really hasn't changed in meaning, but has developed a meaning in ignorance is the Battle Flag of the Confederate States of America.

The Battle Flag of the Confederacy was the standard that was used while the Confederate Army was running to battle. It symbolized Southern Pride, Southern Aggression, and beliefs and ideals that the South was fighting for: an agrarian society dominated by the trade of black slaves.

This symbol is significant in modern times because it has become a symbol much like the swastika: a symbol of undying hate and atrocity. This Flag was adopted by peoples such as the Ku Klux Klan and other racist, hate groups. Southern Americans of the United States display this symbol of hate right next to the US Flag, they have it tattooed on their bodies, they wear it on shirts, display it on their trucks. But the whole time all they think it represents is southern pride. They forget to realize that it is a symbol of the hate that was displayed towards the Black citizens of the country, they fail to realize that if not for "The War of Northern Aggression" that Black Americans would still be enslaved in states such as South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, and Texas today. This symbol is exactly the same as the swastika.

Another symbol that has changed it's meaning over time is the cross. Early civilizations and religions held the cross as a symbol of life, or the life elements: fire, water, earth, and air. As time passed, the cross became a mechanism of torture and death, as the Roman Empire used the cross to crucify as a form of execution. This fear inspired by the cross was only heightened by the execution of Jesus Christ. But, when the Emperor Constantine was converted to Christianity, the Cross became a symbol of hope and life again, hope of life through Jesus Christ. This symbol of the cross began as a more paganistic, and death symbol, but has had a positive change. Yes the cross was mistakenly represented in the crusades and became a symbol to be feared. But through the upward living of modern Christians, the cross has become a symbol of love, hope, life, and salvation.

I don't care that the meaning of jihad is really a struggle or to strive to overcome boundaries between the self and God. I refuse to acknowledge it as such. The main reason being, that since Islam was founded until now, the word "jihad" has been used as term for Holy War, for hate and intolerance of other religious beliefs, and as a method of throwing your problems on someone else.

Terrorists have used the word jihad to represent their reasoning for flying planes into buildings, for strapping bombs to the bodies of 4 year old children, for riding bicycles into roving army caravans. All so that they can claim to have eternal life for fighting a war for God. I don't buy it, and it gives a negative connotation to the whole religion of Islam. Jihad means Holy War, War against Non-Believers, Hate of White Christians, Intolerance of the Freedom of Belief held by everyman. Jihad to me, means Not-God.