Equity

For many people the current war between Israel and Hamas is just the beginning of a much larger war between Muslims and Christians or between the West and the East. It exposes a difference not just in religion but also in culture. The differences are most profound in Muslim countries of the Middle East but are creeping into the largest Muslim country Indonesia. The Arab Muslim countries are not democracies but a mix of Monarchy's, Tribes and Dictatorships while the west is mostly democratic. In the west all religions are welcome but this is not the case in Muslim countries were there is little to no tolerance for other religions. In Saudi Arabia the public practice of any religion other than Islam is prohibited. Women's rights are limited in Muslim countries requiring certain dress codes. There are 12 Muslim countries where homosexuality is punishable by death. Conversion by Muslims to other faiths is forbidden under most interpretations of sharia and converts are considered apostates. Some Muslim clerics equate this apostasy to treason which is punishable by death. This division has been percolating under the surface for a couple of decades. Certain groups who push the concept of equity find themselves caught up in this new idea of equal results.