Wednesday, May 26st, 1999

    This event took place on May 5th at around 11:30 AM in a city bus No 53 Belgrade, Yugoslavia.

"Our Army Is the Strongest Army in the World"

    While I stood on the bus stop, a young mother with her little daughter stood close to me. The girl was not more then 5 years old. Before the bus arrived, a woman, probably a friend, came upon them and started to talk with the mother. During the conversation, the friend mentioned the horrible bombing of a bus full of civilians, which happened a few days earlier. The friend left and the rest of us went into a bus. The child was very upset

    I witnessed the conversation, which happened afterwards.

Child: Mum, why are they bombing the buses?

Mother: I don't know, dear. Maybe they didn't see it well.

Child: And the people in the bus, were they bad?

Mother: No, they were just ordinary people.

Child: (With her voice down) Are they dead now, mum?...Mum?

Mother: (After a short pause) Well, yes...They're... dead. But what can we do? It's sad... But it is over now (A pause). Are you worried, honey? Don't be worried. That was far away from here.

[ The girl was quiet for some time. She looked through the window. Soon, the bus passed next the one of the demolished buildings in Kneza Milosa Street. People in the bus started to react, they made comments. The little girl looked at the people around, and then she looked at the demolished building again. She turned to her mother, suddenly.]

Child: Mum, are they going to throw a bomb on this bus?

Mother: No, dear. They won't. Don't worry. (Kisses her)

[The girl was still upset. After some time she asked again]

Child: Mum, in the plane, the one that throws bombs, are there people inside?

Mother: Yes.

Child: Why are they throwing bombs?

Mother: Those are naughty people.

Child: But, do they want to bomb this bus? Mum?

[Before the mother said anything an elderly woman standing next to me joined the conversation]

Woman: They can't honey, don't you worry about that thought. They are afraid of the Army. Our Army guards us.

[The child looked at the woman. The mother looked at her, too.]

Woman: Our Army won't let them touch the children.

[People around made some comments. The girl was quiet. She watched the situation carefully, and then she turned to her mother.]

Child: Is our Army the strongest? [The mother seemed a little surprised. The elderly lady reacted again.]

Woman: Yes, it is. The strongest in the world. Don't you worry about that thought, honey, children shouldn't be worried!

[It seemed that the last words were meant for the mother. The little girl turned to her mother again.]

Child: Mum, is it the strongest in the world?

Mother: (Decides to accept the "game".) Yes, dear, it is. You see, the lady says so.

[After a few seconds, the woman turned to me. She whispered.]

Woman: Better this way than to worry a child and frighten her. Right?

[I nodded my head. The woman got off the bus on the next stop. The little girl was looking through a window. She was quiet for some time. Later she started an another conversation with her mum, about chocolate candy- bars.]

    It seems that children are faced with the same fears like the rest of us, in Yugoslavia today.

Nada Surbanovska
biology student