(189-90)It is clear that Hadewijch did not adopt the same positive view of the holy war that many of his contemporaries seem to favor. Its lyrics allude to the tensions between Christianity and Islam in the Latin East, particularly during the Second and Third Crusades. If humans cannot live together in peace, she fears, there will be constant bloodshed. Ironically, Hadewijch's advice, largely ignored, illuminates truths in the fight to reclaim the Holy Cities across the Mediterranean. Other letters written by Hadewijch appear to both directly respond to and refute the appeal made by Bernard of Clairvaux in the 12th century. In his letters In Praise of the New Chivalry, Bernard openly praises the killing of "the Other", justifying actions such as defending the faith: "But this does not mean that pagans must be massacred when he there are other ways to prevent them from harassing and persecuting the faithful; but only that it now seems better to destroy them than to allow the rod of sinners to continue to be raised” (129). From Bernard's point of view, the Crusaders have no choice but to destroy