Ever since the first day of bombing, I have been worried about the effects it would have on Kosovo and the world. It seems that everything will be drastically changed by this, and I'm not convinced the changes will be good. My parents immigrated to the United States from Yugoslavia, so I feel very unsettled about this war. I have always made my claims of being an American first, Serbian second, but once the bombings started, my Serbian heritage became threatened and a shift in my identity took place. I have never felt more Serbian than I do now.

Much of my family lives in Beograd and my mother grew up in and has relatives living near Novi Sad. Seeing NATO tear this country to shreds has not been easy. Not only because I fear my family's safety, but I wonder what will happen to all of the citizens of Yugoslavia. It seems so counterproductive to destroy a country and a people's ability to live and prosper because the leader is a tyrant. It seems unfair that the US/NATO thinks that they can step in and use force to settle a conflict which is rooted in hundreds of years of tensions and violence inflicted by both sides. In fact, the hypocrisy is very difficult to take. How can NATO condemn Milosovic for acts of violence and destruction and then demand it come to an end by inflicting greater violence and destruction?

As an American, I hear people accept the media's message that the Serbs are an evil people. Because they are so uneducated on the history of the conflict and the Balkan region, and because the information given through the media is incomplete and biased, they support the bombings (those who are more informed seem to be against it, or at least undecided). I hear Albanians applauding the efforts of NATO as well. Of course, with the refugee crisis being as it is, I understand their allegence to NATO. But on the flip side, I hear frustrated Serbians talk about how the U.S. should be bombed and how the Albanians are getting what they deserve. I just can't align myself with either group. I believe that most people are the same -- they have the same hopes and dreams. I don't want to see anyone hurt, nor do I want to see one's potential for a good life severely diminished.

Obviously the bombings have escalated tensions and have not proven to resolve anything. Albanians are left homeless and hungry. Yugoslavia's infrastructure is being destroyed and people don't have enough money to live. And if they do, supplies are extremely limited. Even if this all ends with the refugees returning, what will they be returning to? Will the country be able to support itself and rebuild?

If any "peace" comes from this, it will not be one of understanding, but one which has been forced, thus the issues which fueled the conflict will rise again in the future. I strongly feel that NATO needs to be more willing to work out a peace plan with Milosovic. Their hard stance on what must be included in the peace plan is not helping achieve peace, but is prolonging the agony of all people involved. Milosovic has indicated that he is willing to negotiate a peace settlement. Why won't Clinton travel to Yugoslavia and meet with Milosovic? Why isn't the U.S. willing to stop the bombing and talk?...

...My hope is that all of this will come to an end very soon and people can return to their homes and put their lives back together again. The initial conflict in Kosovo was awful, but wrong doings were being committed by both sides. Since then, NATO has been commiting the greatest "wrong" of all by setting foot inside a civil war taking place within the boundaries of a sovereign country and bombing it to pieces. It must stop!

Alex Rabrenovic, California, USA .

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