At the most basic level, coexist can be broken into two parts: co- and -exist. The prefix "co-" means "together", and we all know that "exist" simply means "to be or to live". Therefore, coexistence means being or living together. Coexistence also has another connotation -- peaceful coexistence. This means more than just being in the same place at the same time -- it means actually getting along. So when you see bumper stickers that say "COEXIST" in various religious and ethnic symbols, it is a call for people of all religious and ethnic backgrounds to exist peacefully, in harmony