In a country deeply split over whether military action in Iraq is a proper part of the solution to world peace, U.S. residents should look more to their unifying qualities than working to spread the gap of bitter divisions.

It has become a common scene in America's major cities for war protesters to find themselves countered by groups being labeled as "troop supporters." These are sad sights because the situation is not so simple.

Americans rallying behind the anti-war cause are not necessarily unsupportive of U.S. troops abroad.

Like the "troop supporters," war protesters do not wish to see the men and women charged with protecting American freedom to meet death.

Protesting the U.S.-led war in Iraq does not equate being disrespectful of the men and women in the military. Protesters should not be labeled by "troop supporters" as being anti-American.

In fact, people exercising their First Amendment rights to free speech and the freedom of assembly are partaking in very American efforts.

Likewise, those who are rallying to support the U.S. military effort in Iraq are equally promoting and partaking in American idealism.

This is indeed what democracy looks like.

Both war protesters and supporters should take note of their common interests: to see American troops return home safely and to help ensure peace in the world. They merely have different opinions on the right way to achieve those goals.

Scenes such as Chicago on Saturday where anti-war demonstrators chanted "killers, killers, killers," while "troop supporters" yelled "idiots, idiots, idiots" ignorantly trivialize serious world events.

The people of the United States are not unified behind the president's war with Iraq and it would be unrealistic to think otherwise.

But that doesn't mean citizens should childishly divide themselves even further by partaking in trivial disputes.

Anti-war Americans are not anti-American or pro-Saddam any more than "troop supporters" are not warmongers. Both sides simply have different philosophies on how to achieve peace in the world.

We hope the two sides can begin to engage in serious dialogue instead of childish bickering. The events of the world are too important to trivialize by seeing who can chant "USA" or sing peace hymns louder.

Both views in support and against U.S. military action against Iraq are welcome and valuable in the streets of America.

The divisions of this country should not be looked over any more than they should result in rifts of violence. Each side should respect and understand the other in hopes to find the sought-for peace if that is indeed the goal.

Times have changed and most Americans are not willing to go along with the wars of their government as they were in the era of the second world war. And that's OK.

We urge all Americans to avoid petty arguments in the streets in favor of engaging in respectful and productive debate.

Peace is a cause all Americans can rally behind. It's the means of achieving it in which we differ.