Last week TFK received a powerful letter from reader Simon Zekic, 10, of Shohola, Pennsylvania. The fourth-grader was born in the U.S., but his father is Serbian. Simon has relatives in Yugoslavia, where NATO bombs are falling.
"Even though I am American," Simon writes, "I care for Yugoslavia because I have family there. Bojana Kovacevic is my cousin. She is 14 and lives in Futog, a suburb of Novi Sad. I interviewed her by phone."
Simon: How has your life changed since the bombing began?
Bojana: The schools are closed, and we have to go into the basement when sirens go on. (Air-raid sirens sound before an attack starts.) We are stuck here. Buses and trains don't work, few people have cars, and it is difficult to get gas.
Simon: Are you scared?
Bojana: Yes, I am scared, especially at night. But I'm also mad at Mr. Milosevic and Mr. Clinton.
Simon: Can you still buy food?
Bojana: Yes, but the prices have almost doubled. Also the stores don't accept U.S. dollars. That is bad for us, because we can't use the money your father gave us.
Simon: When the sirens go on at night, where do you sleep?
Bojana: We sleep in the basement, even though it's freezing there. The first night we didn't sleep at all!
Simon: How do you feel about Kosovo?
Bojana: We don't want to give up Kosovo because it is a historical place in Yugoslavia.
Simon: Do you respect Mr. Milosevic as your leader?
Bojana: Not at all! I have wanted him out for a long time because our country is suffering, but bombing us will not help get him out.
Simon: If you could get a message to President Clinton, what would it be?
Bojana: I would tell him to use his money to send food, medicine and clothing to us and all the refugees instead of using it to bomb us.
Simon: Thank you, Bojana. Good luck, and be careful!