Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
At an Internet café in the refugee camp, kids spend a few pennies playing violent shoot-
'em-up games. One cute little boy turned to me, saying, “Shalom.” Another boy, just as
cute, said, “F__k you, rich man.” Part of me was impressed.
In Balata—and throughout the West Bank—I saw Palestinian kids with toy guns
shooting imaginary Jews. It was disturbing to me. But then, in the Israeli settlements, I
also saw Jewish kids with plastic guns gunning down imaginary terrorists. And it occurred
to me that, if we're being honest, what American man today didn't grow up with a toy
gun happily shooting Indians or Soviets in their imagination? Whether it's cowboys and
Indians, Commies and Capitalists, or Jews and Arabs, little boys throughout the world are
raised with a toy gun in their hands to shoot their parents' bad guys.
