Race,Religion and Politics - Politics

What takes precedent Religion,Race or Nationalism ?

I started thinking about this while watching Fareed Zakaria on CNN, interviewing a firebrand British Islamic preacher whose parents probably came from the sub-continent. It was not the first time that this question arose in my mind. Although born and brought up in the United Kingdom, his sympathy lay completely with the Jehadi's. His argument was that as along as any Muslim was being persecuted anywhere, Muslims around the world should unite and fight shoulder to shoulder against the non-Muslims.

This argument is not being made for the first time. After all the Crusaders used the argument to try and conquer the Holy Land from the Muslims.You had the French and the English uniting in a common cause. Yet a few centuries later you had the Spanish Catholics fighting against the English Protestants who had separated from the Vatican. Centuries later you had Germans fighting against the British both Protestants.In Northern Ireland you had the Catholics vs the Protestants. In Asia you had Central Asians warlords and adventurers all Muslims fighting against each other and with the Indian Rulers, all Muslims.The Mughals rulers used Hindu Chieftains to fight the Muslim invaders.The British used the Sikhs and Gukhas to subdue the remnants of the Mughal empire.

Why is it different this time ? To the world the message is that we are fighting for our oppressed brothers, yet the persons making these arguments then resort to killing Muslims within their own countries, because they belong to another sect ( Shia's, Sunni's, Ahmadi's).In Punjab you have the Sikhs and some sub-sects killing each other. What are they fighting for ? Who is the oppressor and who is the oppressed ?

You reluctantly have to come to the conclusion that its not about religion nor is about nationalism, or race.Its all about politics. Politicians in the garb of preachers,priest or the Ku Klux Klan,using religion and race when it suits them to grab power and ultimately amassing wealth.The fires are being stoked by vested interests within their own country or by external parties and using the brain washed believers as the cannon fodder.