Yesterday, while at work, my computer died. I think it was infected by that worm that got America, Germany, and other parts of the world. I was so relieved it wasn't my fault when I heard about the worm. Unfortunatley, I didn't get my typical 'surf the news' hour that I am so used to while at work. (Yes, it's true. I surf at work). So, I missed out on the developments in the Gaza Strip.

I took two influential classes in college from Dr. John Calvert, a brilliant man who has traveled the Middle Eastern world with a fondness and intensity hard to find in most folks. The Middle East is this man's passion. From the stories of the Palestinian farmers uprooted in 1967 by the Israelites to the gnostic gospels to myths of Islam, Dr. Calvert brought this muddy, poorly investigated world to college students in Nebraska. I have him to thank for any amount of knowledge I have regarding the Middle East and its conflicts.

In college, after learning about the founding of Israel, I was disgusted with the United States and United Kingdom's policy regarding Jews and the typical Westernization of the East. You see, after World War II and the horrible Holocaust, a group of Jews demanded they be given their own country. For awhile, they were going to set up camp in Brazil. Of course, many Jews, displaced by Hitler, couldn't return to their homelands throughout Europe. But America didn't want them, either, nor Britain. Of course, at this time, the Middle East was divided up like subdivisions in Atlanta. Britain controlled some parts, France others, and a myriad of Western ideals infiltrated the land, assumingly to 'benefit' the natives. Mmm Hmm. Did about as much benefitting as a hole in the head.

So, it was decided: the Jews displaced from WWII, looking for a new Jerusalem, were given the new formed Israel. Sounds great, right?

Wrong. Palestinians lived there. So, the Jews came in force with their British politicians and American support, and said, "Yeah, leave. This is our land, now." To the rest of the world, the Israelites proclaimed there 'weren't that many Palestinians out here'. Wrong again. While a couple of goat herders were wandering around the West Bank and Gaza Strip, it is important to remember that Jerusalem is a holy city to the Islamic world as well as the Christian and Jewish. So now, the Palestinians are told to vamoose, get out, it's not your place anymore.

In short, the development of Israel led to dispossessed people. People who were placed in 'refugee' camps and given pathetic living conditions. People who had nowhere to go. People who couldn't go into Syria or other surrounding lands, because they were just too much of a political liability. We've seen this same treatment in Serbia as well as the current atmosphere practically damning Muslims. No wonder groups such as the Palestinan Liberation Organization sprung forth. The dispossessed were probably wondering how the Jews, or Israelites, could be so cruel after being the victims of a tyrant like Hitler.

But the Israelites did not compromise. And once again, the two people began to fight in earnest, much as they had since Jesus' time. My lifetime has been speckled with events in the Middle East, leading to violence and catastrophe for both Palestinans and Israelites.

Now, finally, Israel's P.M. Sharon has opted to 'give over' the Gaza Strip to the Palestinians. The Strip is a small patch of land originally settled by the Philistines, the ancestors to the Palestinians. The Gaza Strip has always been a seat of controversey for both Israel and Palestinians.

I read the news about the soldiers coming to force the Jewish settlers off the Strip. Of course, the Palestinians must be rejoicing, at least a little. Some step has been made. Some land has been regained. But, there again, I cannot help but feel immense sadness for those Jews forced to leave their homes.

You see, I never liked the carving of the Middle East by Westeners. I never liked the motive behind Israel (keep the Jews out of the West). I never liked the blindness of Israel to its neighbors' strife. But now, I am so sad for them.

I would ask Dr. Calvert, is it completely ridiculous to wonder why these people cannot live next door to one another in peace, or has the history of the world contorted and disfigured a hope for tolerance?