For those of us concerned about the ongoing mayhem in Palestine, these past months have been agonizing. How can one live in security without thinking of others being shelled, shot and tortured? How can one eat a bite of food without thinking of our fellow humans eating grass or watching their babies waste away?

Fortunately, despite the basest among us exerting their will to undermine peace and humanity, our nobler nature has again prevailed with the passage in the UN Security Council of a cease-fire resolution. This time the U.S. didn't veto the motion, as they had before. The reason? Us. Our opposition, our voices, our protest, our power.

It would be naive to think the killing will stop with this step, or that those obsessed with hegemony and militarism will cease their attempts to sabotage peace. However, it is clear that the U.S. would not have allowed this resolution to pass in the absence of our pressure and protest. There remain dark days ahead, but what the recent vote in the UN has demonstrated is that pressure works, and that those of us already out there need to keep it up. And for those still on the sidelines? Come out and join your neighbors in showing the world what Americans are like at our best.

Dave King

Amherst