[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 137 (Saturday, September 28, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1775]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         OBSERVATIONS ON BOSNIA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HENRY J. HYDE

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 27, 1996

  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, please permit me to share with my colleagues 
the text of a report prepared by high school teacher Pat Feichter.
  Pat, a teacher of American government at Maine South High School in 
Park Ridge, IL, recently returned from a humanitarian mission to 
Bosnia. He and other civics teachers from the United States and Western 
Europe organized and led seminars for Bosnians who teach government and 
civics.
  The seminars, sponsored by the Center for Civic Education, are part 
of the center's ongoing mission--here at home and abroad--to advance 
our collective knowledge about the institutions of western-style 
democracy:

                         Observations on Bosnia

       When the Center for Civic Education asked me to volunteer 
     to teach in Bosnia this summer, I jumped at the opportunity. 
     Many people thought I was crazy, but I knew it would be a 
     unique experience and one in which I could make a positive 
     contribution in promoting democratic values.
       As one enters Bosnia, it does not take long to experience 
     destruction. Our seven hour bus trip to Sarajevo passed 
     through dozens of war ravaged villages and towns. Some were 
     selectively damaged, with only certain areas felled by 
     artillery shells, others were totally leveled. The once 
     beautiful city of Mostar was one of the worst. Everywhere, in 
     this Muslim-Croatian divided city, was evidence of war.
       Sarajevo, once the proud host of the 1984 Winter Olympic 
     Games, is a city of burnt-out hulks. Over 1,300,000 artillery 
     shells have struck Sarajevo. The effects were extensive and 
     devastating. The Holiday Inn, where we stayed while in 
     Sarajevo, is still marked by the effects of war. There are 
     elevators and guest rooms with bullet holes and a stairway 
     being repaired from a direct artillery hit.
       I was assigned to teach in the Canton of Travnik, 60 miles 
     north of Sarajevo. I worked with one other American teacher 
     from Minnesota and two Europeans, one from Germany and the 
     other from Switzerland. This was the first time any of us had 
     worked together. Flexibility and a willingness to compromise 
     was a basic need. We were able to work together well.
       Our class had thirty participants. These were teachers of 
     Muslim, Croatian, and Serbian ancestry. We worked entirely 
     through interpreters. Our facility was a Jesuit founded 
     secondary school 114 years old.
       Apprehension is the best way to describe our feelings going 
     into this two week course. Would the class understand us? 
     Would they like us? Would they be willing to participate in 
     simulations and group projects? The answer to this was a 
     resounding yes!
       The Bosnian teachers, our students, were a joy to work 
     with. They had a great sense of humor and an incredible 
     interest in learning about democracy. Our mock trial and 
     simulated election were two of the most popular activities. 
     We became so close to members of our class that we were 
     frequently invited to their apartments.
       People often ask me if I was frightened being in Bosnia. 
     The answer is no. As long as you use common sense, there was 
     nothing to fear. I walked the streets of both Travnik and 
     Sarajevo in the evenings without a worry. However, you could 
     not plan picnics in the countryside. Landmines, as estimated 
     8 to 11 million, are a danger. You must stay on paved roads 
     and sidewalks.
       One of the saddest effects of the war is the huge number of 
     refugees living in squalor. They have very little food to 
     eat. One man showed me a small plate of goat cheese which was 
     his only allotment of food for the day. These displaced 
     people have in many cases been living in refugee centers for 
     more than two years and often don't know where their loved 
     ones are or even if they are alive. The most we could do for 
     them was to offer clothes, some food, and a small amount of 
     money.
       Ethnic tensions do exist in Bosnia and are usually just 
     below the surface. One evening on the streets of Travnik, I 
     was approached by an irate group of Croatians. They were very 
     upset because the person who selected the Bosnian teachers to 
     attend our program was a Muslim. They were concerned about 
     bias in the selection process. From time to time, we would 
     hear stories about churches and mosques being bombed. Yes, 
     ethnic tensions are a fact of life in Bosnia.
       Would I return? In a heartbeat! Working with the Bosnian 
     teachers was one of the most rewarding experiences of may 
     life. In a small way I feel I may have helped further 
     democracy and peace in this troubled land.

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