While professional propagandists continue their "Johnny-one-note" song of strife and division, it seems that those who are somewhat better informed are taking a serious look at the Human Family of the planet Earth, and its choice of the manner in which it will spend its future. A case in point is the February 11th issue of NEWSWEEK magazine. The cover bears the huge headline, "THE BIBLE AND THE QUR�AN". The subhead reads, "Searching the Holy Books for Roots of Conflict & Seeds of Reconciliation". The background consists of partial pages of both Holy Books.

Serious and honest intent is implied by the simple act of spelling "Qur�an" correctly, rather than the usually contemptuous "Koran". The author, Kenneth L. Woodward, opens with the pull-quote, "The Bible and the Qur�An both reveal the word of God. Both speak of prophets, redemption, heaven and hell. So why the violence?"

The author points out further that "Like the Bible, the Qur�an is a book of divine revelation. Between them, these two books define the will of God for more than half the world�s population. Over centuries, the Bible fashioned the Hebrew tribes into a nation: Israel. But in just a hundred years, the Qur�an created an entire civilization that at its height stretched from northern Africa and southern Europe in the West to the borders of modern India and China in the East."

One widespread misconception that the writer challenges is the projection of Muslims as blood-thirsty warmongers. He points out that "compared with the few and much quoted verses that call for jihad against the infidels, the Qur�an places far more emphasis on acts of justice, mercy and compassion." He also points out that Jesus� mother, Mary, "...Appears much more often than she does in the New Testament, and is the only woman mentioned in the Qur�an by name."

A later edition of Newsweek, March 4, contains a one-page story entitled, "Truth: The Best Propaganda." The subheading reads: "Disinformation has its uses, but it�s not the way to win the Muslim world�s hearts and minds." One of the most potent statements contained therein is: "If we try to hide our lies, we�ll be busted soon enough anyway, somewhere on the Internet, further fueling the conspiracy theories that abound like pita bread in the region. If we admit to lying, that will be the only thing out of our mouths that anyone will believe."

Finally, President Bush is coming under fire from the backwoods brigade for describing Islam, accurately, as "a peaceful religion," for using the term "Holy" to describe the Qur�an and for hosting a Ramadan Dinner at the White House.