Being someone who has lived in America my whole life, I am used to living in peace – with a few exceptions here and there. What I am not used to – and could never get used to – is living with violence, anarchy, and constant fighting on a daily basis right in my own backyard – like those who live in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank in the Middle East.

To be honest, I do not fully understand the reason for the conflict in the Middle East between Israel and the Palestinians. I do however, understand that hundreds of people die every month from either bombings, gunfire – or even just being an innocent person in the wrong place at the wrong time. Just in the last few months, I have heard news reports of dozens of children – some as young as a year old – being shot to death, scores of teenagers and young adults dying in a bomb blast at a nightclub – and countless pictures of people in mourning over the loss of a loved one. Despite the reasons for the conflict and the arguments of both sides – how long is this going to continue?

How long can two countries remain at a twenty-four hour, seven-day-a-week war? How many times are people from each country going to join their respective armies and wage war against one another? How many more nights will pass where gunfire echoes through the war ridden streets? And most important – how many more innocent people are going to die for “the cause”?

I am not by any means taking the side of Israel or the Palestinians. To do so would be unfair on my part as I do not know the whole story. I am however, taking the side of the innocent people on both sides of the fence who have to try and live their lives smack dab in the middle of a war zone. Those who have to wonder if they are going to make it through the night – or be the victim of either a shelling or a suicide bombing. And those who have already lost loved ones – and wonder if they are going to lose any more.

I realize that both President Clinton and President Bush, as well as other world leaders are trying their best to help initiate a peace process – but a peace initiative can’t work if there are people that are opposed to any peace at all. If world leaders are at the White House signing a peace treaty and there are terrorists, leaders of militant movements – and even some of the leaders themselves that ignore what they just signed – how can there be peace at all?

Again, not knowing the full story about the origin of the conflict, I refuse to take sides, condone – or condemn either side in this war. So the only side I will take is the side of peace.