Lessons for Muslims and Christians from Alamo Day

Today, March 6th, is Alamo Day. Texans young and old take this day as an opportunity to shout "REMEMBER THE ALAMO!!!" as loudly and triumphantly as possible. During my several years of Texas history in middle and high school, I learned that today is the anniversary of the slaughter of Texans at the Alamo fort in 1836. The Alamo was held by about 150 volunteers including Davy Crockett, James Bowie and William Travis (a relative of mine). For almost two weeks they were besieged by thousands of Santa Anna's soldiers (i.e., the Mexican Army) who eventually overwhelmed the fort, sparing only 15 women, children, and servants.

When I remember the Alamo, palpable feelings of pride and affinity automatically well up within me. Though I know that there is another side to the story (i.e., Texans were essentially taking Mexico's land by violent means), those contrasting points of reference rarely impact my consciousness with any kind of emotional force. I grew up "playing Alamo" and proudly wore a Davy Crockett raccoon fur cap. I think of Davy Crockett like I think of Santa Claus. Intellectually I know that my favorable characterization of the freedom fighter from Tennessee is essentially false, but I cannot help but have a positive emotional response when I hear his name uttered.

Similarly, while I know that wholly negative characterizations of Santa Anna are overly simplistic and historically incorrect, his name still bears a sinister connotation in my mind, like the Rat King in the Nutcracker or the Wicked Witch of the West.

Now to my main point: It is often said that "hard-line" Muslims and "fundamentalist" Christians need to rethink their overly narrow interpretations of the Koran or the Bible. While rethinking is important and necessary, "re-feeling" may actually be the real challenge.

The tragic recent beheading of Aasiya Zubair Hassan by her husband Muzzammil Hassan has spawned shock and outrage from everyone from imams to college-age Muslims throughout the country. Of the several articles I have read, the vast majority have presented passages from the Koran which condemn such acts. While I am glad to see these kinds of articles in circulation, they miss the bigger problem. Even if a panel of the most well-respected imams had convinced Mr. Hassan that the Koran does in fact condemn domestic abuse and violence, their successful persuasion would still be in vain unless the new interpretation of Scripture significantly impacted Mr. Hassan's deepest feelings, desires and passions.

Consciously or not, all of us have experienced the frustration that results when we attempt to align our emotions and passions with what we know to be true. As far as I can tell, this very human inability to re-orient our feelings is what Jesus is talking about when he says to his disciples: "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." Re-thinking everything from our view of Santa Anna to our understanding of the Koran may not come with great difficulty; however, "re-feeling" them just might require an act of God.

Luncheon featuring Imam Hendi and Rabbi White from Georgetown University