“enemy”

a friend updated her status with the following scripture:

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. –Matt 5:44

while i know this was posted with good intentions, i’m not feeling the word enemy – especially today on 9/11.

merriam-webster defines enemy as:

yes – there are a minority of extremists who have caused harm, destruction, and oppression and who definitely fit into this category, but enemy has been used to describe everyone else, too — victims of discrimination, harm, destruction, and oppression in this country and abroad, our brothers and sisters of muslim faith… and the muslim faith itself.

the connotation of enemy suggests someone or entity that is the opposite of your friend. this is problematic because differences of opinion, ideology, religion or worldview doesn’t automatically mean someone is not your friend.  if anything, it means you’d have to be MORE compassionate towards, patient with, understanding of, willing to learn from, and work harder to exist among them … not someone you attack, antagonize or hate.

anyway — my two cents for the day.  what are your thoughts???