Conclusion

//How can the two sects better understand each other so that there will be less conflict?//

For the most part, these sects are the very much the same. There are differences with dress, prayer, food, and belief as to who should have been the successor to Prophet Muhammad - but that is pretty much the extent of it. I think that either one thinks that they are better than the other, but their views are mainly the same. The biggest difference by far is that of who they worship. Sunnis look to Muhammad, and Allah. While Shi’ites worship Ali in addition to Allah and Muhammad. These two sects are so sure that one is better than the other, I think they can only make peace if one really tries to understand the other. As in, trying to see that that one thing 1,400 years ago is not a big part of today's world. They should see that they can exist peacefully. Even when Sh’ites want more of a say in the Bahrainian government - are their views really that different? I do believe that they should be more of a part of it, since their population is more than twice of the Sunni’s - but what will they make different? Many political disputes are about which sect is right and which one is wrong regarding dress, prayer, and worship. Not which will do better for the nation's economy and government. Daily life views are different, but politically, it is mostly “our beliefs are better than yours.” I think that most of them are so blinded by this, that they can’t accept that the both are different but neither is better. the other part is human nature. Hasn’t everyone at one point in their life or another said, “I am better than you?” They do fight with each other, but I think that if they thought about the way each other live, they would be able to solve the majority of their problems. This is a nice thought, but the chance that it will actually happen is extremely slim. They are set in their ways, and getting each sect to “see the other for who they are” is probably not going to happen with all that has transpired between these two groups of people.

 //How can Westerners more fully understand Islam and the two major Islamic sects?//

I think Westerners do understand the difference between Islamic sets to an extent, but what they don’t understand is Islam as a whole. People have all of these preconceived notions about what these people are like, and they aren’t willing to see past this wall they have put up. Sort of like how Sunnis and Shi’ites regard each other. Take 9.11 for an example. People in the Unites States thought all Muslims were terrorists. Or what about the Christmas Day bombing a few years ago? The person who tried to execute that task was a Muslim. Even the man who was interrogated about being related to the Time Square bombing last year. He lived in Watertown, and was a Muslim. Now ask yourself - why was he questioned? Because they had lots of proof and evidence against him - or because they had a bit of speculation and he was Muslim? I would love to be able to choose the first, but in reality - would be forced to choose the second option. If people can manage to look past these //four// bad Muslims, they can see all the rest of the population for who they are. Look past the haze, and see what kind of people they are. Can you really base the intents of 1.4 //billion// people on that of //four// ? It is completely irrational, yet more than 50 percent of Americans do it. I am not saying that every Muslim is perfect. I am simply stating that there are bad men and women in every religion. Christians, Jews - and all of the others in the world. If Westerners could meet some of these people, or expose themselves to the culture in the Middle East, I am sure they would find their ideas about Muslims. If we can get past that, seeing Sunnis and Shi’ites, and how they are different will be nothing at all to do. But what is the chance that this will happen? As much as I would like it to - when you talk to some people about this they all but start singing with their fingers in their ears. Though over time, if Sunnis and Shi’ites work out their problems, and violence dies down, if our fighting with them in a bloody war ends - maybe each group will see each other for who they are. Not as what we think they are.