Well over half the people who walk the face of this earth come from among the three Abrahamic traditions or faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It is no secret that there has been no love lost and little understanding between Islam, the fastest-growing of the three, and the other two.
Now, along came a newly installed civic leader, a President of the United States, generally recognized as the "leader of the free world." Since what is known as "the free world" is predominantly Christian, the new president can also claim to be the most significant leader on the world stage of that Abrahamic faith, Christianity. Among his earliest actions, the new United States President stunned the world by reaching out to Islam -- not from Washington, not by way of TV or the Internet -- no, he traveled to Egypt, put his body and his presidency on the line, and spoke to Islam as he would speak to us. "I know there are many -- Muslim and non-Muslim -- who question whether we can forge a new beginning," he said, emphasizing that, "It is easier to start wars than to end them."
And then, speaking from the epicenter of the Muslim world, to all the world, and to the essence of our humanity, he spoke this truth: "It is easier to blame others than to look inward, to see what is different about someone, than to find the things we share."
And who, for the love of God in three faiths, topped that this year?