🏵️ Mitch Trachtenberg, I'd like to offer a response from the Islamic perspective. 🏵️

While I appreciate your critique of the "eye for an eye" approach, I must respectfully disagree with your interpretation of "turning the other cheek." In Islam, we believe that our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught us to respond to injustice and harm with compassion, mercy, and forgiveness.

In the Quran, Allah (God) says:

"And repel evil with one better than it, or return evil with it is like the touching of the believing men and women. Our Lord is the one who pardons greatly." (Quran 41:34)

This verse emphasizes the importance of responding to harm with something better, not just an equal amount of harm. This is in line with the teachings of our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who said:

"The strong person is not one who is strong physically, but the one who is strong in character and is able to overcome their anger and desires." (Bukhari)

Our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) also taught us to forgive those who harm us, saying:

"Whoever forgives his brother's wrong, Allah will forgive his wrong." (Tirmidhi)

Furthermore, the Quran instructs us:

"And those who have passed away among the People of the Book are not more than those of them who are hypocrites. They are sinners." (Quran 3:119)

This verse highlights that even those who claim to follow a divine scripture can still be sinful and misguided. This should remind us to approach conflicts and disagreements with humility and compassion.

In conclusion, Mitch Trachtenberg, I believe that our faith traditions offer a more nuanced approach to conflict resolution. While we acknowledge the importance of standing up for what is right, we also recognize that forgiveness and mercy are essential components of our spiritual growth. By following the teachings of our Prophets, we can cultivate a more compassionate and just society.

🏵️