Urban Thought Collective

1 Peter 3:11 “He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.”

It was interesting this week, that on the eve of President Obama’s arrival in the Middle East, audio recordings allegedly made by Al Qaeda’s leader Osama bin laden surfaced across the airwaves of Al Jazeera satellite television, accusing our president of sowing hatred.

Like a boxing match between good and evil….Obama vs. Osama, the two duke it out with their words in an attempt to influence the future of US/Muslim relationships.

“Entering in from the West Corner, wearing a sleek tailored Presidential suit, representing the voice of reason and mutual understanding…President of the United States of America, Barack Hussein Obama; And Coming from the East corner, unseen in months and hiding out in distant hills, representing the voice of terror, Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden. Let’s get ready to rumbbbbbbbble!”

If our nations are going to survive and thrive we must seek out peaceful and mutually respectful relationships between our brothers and sisters in those Muslim countries where there has been a history of contempt and discord. Kudos for President Obama for taking these steps; while we may not agree on our concepts of God, religious practice and cultural matters…we can agree that overpriced barrels of oil are NOT good for anyone! And while we don’t want to be a nation that ignores some of the varying human rights issues, in order to achieve big business; we can take the lead to peaceful dialogue and agreements that lend to positive change for people across the board.

There is still much to do and be said, one global trip will not transform the issues at hand, but I appreciate his pursuit to the dialogue toward peace.

While President Obama is actively seeking to bring nations together through his peace talks; Osama, it appears, continues to propagate more division and terror. Today, the average US citizen is somewhat disconnected from the affairs in other nations and countries, however, UTC readers, these foreign relationships are as important to the success of our nation as any relationships.

Najuma Smith is a preacher, world traveler, writer, and proud parent. She currently serves as the full-time Sr. Pastor of St. James AME Church in Los Angeles. Unapologetically saved and full of purpose, she enjoys sharing words of encouragement with anyone who will listen, bringing a fresh look at life in light of the Word of God. Her collection of motivations and observations are exclusive to Urban Thought Collective. Visit her at www.myspace.com/revjuju.