Mixed Emotions

Today, about four classmates and I took a trip to the market for some tea, coffee, and hooka (I did not take part in the last part, thank you very much). While at the market, one of the brothers I spoke about in my last post dropped by to say hello. Off to the side, two little girls were walking around, and I noticed two Israeli soldiers walking up to them. My classmates and I went back to talking when all of the sudden we hear yelling and see one of the soldiers grabbing at a 14/15 year old boy pulling him down the street by his collar, the other soldier pushing people aside, the two little girls running after them. The cafe-brother ran after the soldiers to find out what was happening. Apparently, one of the soldiers pushed one of the little girls off to the side, reasons unknown. Her brother, the 14/15 year old, began to argue with the soldier about touching his sister. The soldier obviously didn't like what he had to say and began dragging him down the street.

Needless to say, we were all very nervous this being a very quiet and unobtrusive part of the Christian Quarter and left shortly after. We later found out that a special service for soldiers was going on in the Old City this evening and that everyone was on edge (edgier than usual). Soldiers normally stay out of the market, leaving the patrol to police officers stationed in the Old City.

What really got to me was how nasty the situation actually is. Obviously, people have their loyalties, stories get skewed, yada yada. After the boy was being dragged down the street, you could cut the tension with a knife. One of my favorite SAT/GRE words was microcosm: living in one's own little bubble-like world. My view of the conflict up until today obviously leant to one side. Today, I think my bubble may have finally burst, and I don't know what to think.