A Personal View of the Kosovo Conflict

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Virtual Christian Magazine Editorial
A Personal View of the Kosovo Conflict
By Victor Kubik

hat is happening in Yugoslavia is a humanitarian disaster with tens of thousands of human beings left homeless and uncertain about their future.

What is happening in Yugoslavia is a tragedy because so much of the blame for the conflict rests with the leader of Serbia, Slobodan Milosevic, even though he represents many others sharing his long-standing and deeply rooted nationalistic views.

What is happening in Yugoslavia is a tragedy because countries calling themselves Christian countries are bombing another country where professing Christians live. But, it seems that this is the only course of action the United States, as part of NATO, can take to stop the ethnic cleansing of Albanians in Kosovo.

I just spoke with friends who came from Ukraine and they commented that they have family and friends living throughout Yugoslavia. These are people who were "fortunate" to migrate from the Soviet Union to the more prosperous areas of Europe a decade ago. They live in cities like Novi Sad which had all three of its bridges across the Danube River destroyed in the operation "Allied Force." This slows down commerce to the Black Sea. There are others living in strategic areas where bombing will likely take place in the days ahead. They are in danger.

While traveling in Ukraine and the Baltic Republics this past January and February, I found prevailing support towards Serbs and Slavic interests. The Slavs and even some of the Balts could not understand why the United States has been siding with Moslem interests both in Europe and Afghanistan and now getting involved in the internal affairs of the Balkan Peninsula. Some of the comments were quite heated and racist.

During the period of this war I've seen reports from people close to the conflict and from those who have acquaintances in the war region. Some of the reports are emotional and present points of view that are not orthodox, conventional, politically correct or even credible. But, they are the feelings and perceptions of those victimized and who go to sleep (if they can sleep) every night knowing that this may be the last day of their life.

My parents lived through World War II in Germany as slave workers after they were forced from their homes in Ukraine. They endured weeks and weeks of bombing day and night (the British by night and the Americans by day). Bombs would hit bunkers and casualties would be brought out--fellow teenage workers killed by friendly liberating bombs. In my growing-up years at home I witnessed life-long psychological and health consequences in my parents from what they experienced in the war.

The war in Kosovo is another chapter in the tragedy of human beings being unable to resolve conflict. When people choose sides they lose the full Truth.

I do not champion any side in this conflict except the victims'. Thy Kingdom Come.

Copyright 1999 by United Church of God, an International Association All rights reserved.

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				Virtual Christian Magazine Editorial A Personal View of the Kosovo Conflict By Victor Kubik hat is happening in Yugoslavia is a humanitarian disaster with tens of thousands of human beings left homeless and uncertain about their future. What is happening in Yugoslavia is a tragedy because so much of the blame for the conflict rests with the leader of Serbia, Slobodan Milosevic, even though he represents many others sharing his long-standing and deeply rooted nationalistic views. What is happening in Yugoslavia is a tragedy because countries calling themselves Christian countries are bombing another country where professing Christians live. But, it seems that this is the only course of action the United States, as part of NATO, can take to stop the ethnic cleansing of Albanians in Kosovo. I just spoke with friends who came from Ukraine and they commented that they have family and friends living throughout Yugoslavia. These are people who were "fortunate" to migrate from the Soviet Union to the more prosperous areas of Europe a decade ago. They live in cities like Novi Sad which had all three of its bridges across the Danube River destroyed in the operation "Allied Force." This slows down commerce to the Black Sea. There are others living in strategic areas where bombing will likely take place in the days ahead. They are in danger. While traveling in Ukraine and the Baltic Republics this past January and February, I found prevailing support towards Serbs and Slavic interests. The Slavs and even some of the Balts could not understand why the United States has been siding with Moslem interests both in Europe and Afghanistan and now getting involved in the internal affairs of the Balkan Peninsula. Some of the comments were quite heated and racist. During the period of this war I've seen reports from people close to the conflict and from those who have acquaintances in the war region. Some of the reports are emotional and present points of view that are not orthodox, conventional, politically correct or even credible. But, they are the feelings and perceptions of those victimized and who go to sleep (if they can sleep) every night knowing that this may be the last day of their life. My parents lived through World War II in Germany as slave workers after they were forced from their homes in Ukraine. They endured weeks and weeks of bombing day and night (the British by night and the Americans by day). Bombs would hit bunkers and casualties would be brought out--fellow teenage workers killed by friendly liberating bombs. In my growing-up years at home I witnessed life-long psychological and health consequences in my parents from what they experienced in the war. The war in Kosovo is another chapter in the tragedy of human beings being unable to resolve conflict. When people choose sides they lose the full Truth. I do not champion any side in this conflict except the victims'. Thy Kingdom Come. Copyright 1999 by United Church of God, an International Association All rights reserved.