"You are not what you were born, but what you have it in yourself to be."
Balian of Ibelin: [to the people of Jerusalem] It has fallen to us, to defend Jerusalem, and we have made our preparations as well as they can be made. None of us took this city from Muslims. No Muslim of the great army now coming against us was born when this city was lost. We fight over an offence we did not give, against those who were not alive to be offended. What is Jerusalem? Your holy places lie over the Jewish temple that the Romans pulled down. The Muslim places of worship lie over yours. Which is more holy?
[pause]
Balian of Ibelin: The wall? The Mosque? The Sepulchre? Who has claim? No one has claim.
[raises his voice]
Balian of Ibelin: All have claim!
Bishop, Patriarch of Jerusalem: That is blasphemy!
Almaric: [to the Patriarch] Be quiet.
Balian of Ibelin: We defend this city, not to protect these stones, but the people living within these walls.
2 comments:
Baitulmaqdis architecture provides a beautiful metaphor for harmonious coexistence among the three great religion. When I was there I was especially awed by the Holy Sepulchre because every morning the door to this Christian place of worship is opened by a Muslim who owned the key to the door. If I am not wrong it is so even up to this day.... :) Beauty.
I could say nothing about this but......wow!
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