| I live in an international student housing complex in | | | | enough for two cars, but the kids were taking up |
| the Jewish French Hill neighborhood on Mount Scopus | | | | the entire width. My jogging path was directed |
| in Jerusalem. When I go out jogging, I try to stay on | | | | straight at the kid with the Uzi and so I adjusted to |
| paved roads and take whichever jogging paths I can | | | | the left side of the road to pass them. |
| find in the neighborhood. Back towards my dorm, the | | | | The entire scene unfolded in slow motion for me. |
| jogging route ends into the sidewalk next to a major | | | | The kids seemed somewhat stunned that a non-Arab |
| highway. It probably ends here because this is also | | | | jogger would be in this alley (as I began to realize it |
| the only Arab part of the all-Jewish French Hill. This | | | | was). Closer. Ten feet. Five. |
| part of the route is very dirty with garbage strewn | | | | I passed them. |
| about the ground. Last time I was here, I | | | | And nothing happened. |
| remembered that it had a left turn right before the | | | | The kid with the pistol seemed to be hurriedly putting |
| highway. | | | | it in his back pocket as I passed. The Uzi went from |
| So today I went jogging, I went left mainly because | | | | the air to waist level to where, I couldn't see. Maybe |
| I did not want to jog on the sidewalk next to noisy | | | | pointed at me? |
| speeding cars. As I turned the corner, I saw that it | | | | Immediately, my mind flashed with possibilities. What |
| appeared to be an unkept access road (with a dead | | | | if they shot me from behind? Or chased me? Or if |
| end however) behind a large complex of some sort | | | | the guns were fake, perhaps they would throw |
| (possibly a school). About three hundred feet in front | | | | rocks at me from behind like my experience with the |
| of me was a group of kids, maybe six or seven | | | | Arab kids in Issawiya (a neighborhood near my |
| total. I was listening to music on my iPod and didn't | | | | university)? I determined that I would not turn |
| think much of the kids until I got closer. | | | | around to look. Come what may, I would keep |
| Guns. | | | | jogging forward. There was nothing I could do about |
| One kid was holding an Uzi in the air. Another kid had | | | | it now. |
| a small pistol in his hand. The kid holding the Uzi | | | | I jogged back to my dorm - a mere football field |
| looked to be the oldest - probably around fourteen. | | | | away - bewildered by the turn of events. But still, |
| The other kids were likely between the ages of nine | | | | nothing substantial had happened. I had seen a group |
| and thirteen. I'm not sure if there were more guns, | | | | of Arab kids possibly with real guns. Nothing |
| but those are the ones I for sure saw. | | | | substantial, right? Though in America, at least in my |
| And I was jogging straight towards them. | | | | hometown, those kids would be immediately |
| I had a decision to make. They would most assuredly | | | | reported by everyone looking out their window. But |
| see me in a few seconds. Every possibility flashed | | | | again, this isn't America. |
| through my mind. Should I turn around? If I did, they | | | | And isn't this all very prejudiced on my part against |
| would know that I was scared. Would letting my fear | | | | Arabs? I'm on a back alley and I see a group of Arab |
| show prove to be a dangerous move? Perhaps they | | | | teenagers with what looks like guns and I |
| would shoot at me since my back would be turned? | | | | automatically assume I'm in danger. How prejudiced, |
| Perhaps the shock of some one jogging right past | | | | right? If I wasn't prejudiced, I wouldn't be afraid at |
| them face-to-face without showing fear would | | | | all, right? But wait, that is silly, because anyone in that |
| actually make them less likely to attack me? Maybe I | | | | situation regardless of the ethnicity of the kids would |
| should talk to them? But that's stupid, I don't know | | | | feel endangered. |
| Arabic and I wouldn't dare speak Hebrew to them. | | | | I don't want to be prejudiced against Arabs. But as |
| Could I be sure that they were real guns? Kids in | | | | an American, I find it difficult not to be since we tend |
| America don't have guns except those that make | | | | to think of Arabs as one giant terrorist bloc. Surely |
| the headlines. But this isn't America. This is Jerusalem. | | | | they aren't though, for I have met many wonderful |
| Specifically, this is less than a mile from the West | | | | Arabs here who have treated me very kindly and |
| Bank, divided Jerusalem. Even if they weren't guns, | | | | equally. Yet, this doesn't assuage my fears. I feel |
| I've already experienced rock throwing from Arab | | | | safer walking through the Jewish parts of town than |
| youths. And as close as I would have to get to pass | | | | the Arab parts. I don't know how politically correct |
| them jogging, the rocks could possibly knock me | | | | that is and I'm not ashamed to admit it because it is |
| unconscious. Could I take that risk? | | | | the truth. That doesn't mean that I am happy or |
| But now it was too late to make a decision. I was | | | | proud of that. But I cannot deny how I feel. |
| already too close. The die was cast. | | | | The longer I am here, the deeper I dig into the |
| Every head turned to me. The road was wide | | | | conflict here and the more personal it becomes. |