(189-90) It is clear that Hadewijch did not adopt the same positive view of the Holy War that many of his contemporaries appear to favor. His words allude to the tensions between Christianity and Islam in the Latin East, particularly during the Second and Third Crusades. If humans cannot live together peacefully, he fears, there will be continued bloodshed. Ironically, Hadewijch's largely ignored advice sheds light on the truth in the fight to retake the Holy Cities across the Mediterranean. Other letters written by Hadewijch appear to directly respond to and refute the appeal made by Bernard of Clairvaux in the 12th century. In his letters In Praise of the New Knighthood, Bernard openly praises the murder of the “Other,” justifying actions as defense of the faith: “However this does not mean that pagans should be massacred when there is some other way to prevent them from harass and persecute the faithful; but only that now it seems better to destroy them than to allow the rod of sinners to continue to be raised” (129). From Bernard's perspective, the Crusaders have no choice but to destroy