From: sharon@unixland.natick.ma.us (Sharon Machlis Gartenberg)
Subject: BBC Radio Program about Sarajevo
Organization: Unixland Public Access Unix  (508) 655-3848
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 01:28:15 GMT

The BBC Radio World Service ran a wonderful program today (30 Dec. 0:30 UTC)
about the city of Sarajevo. There was a lot of discussion about what
made the city special -- its culture, its people, its architecture, its
long history of tolerance. They read some poetry (translated into
English), played some music. They interviewed Sarajevans who talked about
how people celebrated each others' holidays, and even worshipped in each
others' churches and mosques. Outsiders who visited the city talked about
its special architecture, the beauty of the old quarter, the friendliness
and openness of the people, the many cafes. 

Of course, there was also discussion about the tragedies and horrors that
have befallen the city now. A BBC correspondent said he was first in the
city when it was flourishing, and "full of the most tolerant people in
Yugoslavia." And now, how heartbreaking it is, to see the destruction, and
all the suffering and death. "Everybody you look at is gaunt, unshaven,
dirty, cold. ..." Still, some people struggle to keep something of what
made the city special. The newspaper keeps publishing, with a staff
of Muslims, Serbs, and Croats (the chief editor is a Muslim; the deputy
editor, a Serb). The journalists there work 7 full days and then have
time off, to reduce the danger of going to and from their jobs; those
who deliver the paper radio in their locations, and if they do not
report back, "they are assumed dead and another team is dispatched."

When asked what "editorial line" the paper takes, a correspondent replied
that there was only one thing to write about in Sarajevo: the struggle
to survive. It is only those who are outside of the city who have the
luxury to talk about the other things, such as politics, and who is right
and who is wrong. 

One director is determined to shoot a feature film about what is
happening in the city "real life -- living under death." 
 
A resident of the city asked why the world has abandoned Sarajevo,
a place that stood for tolerance, to such a hideous fate. History,
he said, would finally judge the world's leaders, that they are 
responsible for allowing the city to suffer and die.    

Sarijevo was, many people said, a place where people knew how to
enjoy life to the fullest. Where lingering over a cup of coffee at
a cafe was an art form. And now ... it is a place of death. 

The piece ended with the reading of a poem about the city from the
16th century -- I'm sorry, I didn't catch the name of the poem or
the author. But I do vividly remember one line:

"Sadness touches my spirit, because I am leaving Sarajevo. ... "

Words cannot describe how my heart aches over all the death and
suffering in the city of Sarajevo, and throughout Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Every day I hope and pray it will end soon, and the peoples of Bosnia
will soon be able to rebuild their land and their lives -- and their beautiful 
capital, Sarajevo.

Sharon 
-- 
Note: My current address (sharon@unixland.natick.ma.us) will be invalid
as of 6 p.m. Dec. 31 because unixland is shutting down. 
--
Sharon Machlis Gartenberg, Framingham MA  USA  
Newsgroups: soc.culture.bosna-herzgvna