What Vancouverites are thinking about the crisis in Bosnia

Do you care about the situation in Bosnia? What should be done about it?

Sun reporter Oga Nwobosi put those questions to people on Vancouver streets this week.

Here's how they responded:

• Christine Coll, 26, secretary, Vancouver resident:
  "I care because so many innocent people are getting killed and nobody's doing anything about it.
  "They should be doing more than they're doing now. Talking isn't helping. Either arm the Bosnians or go in there and help them with arms ourselves. If the Americans got in there, it would be over real quick. Canada doesn't have the same power."
• Christopher Haagenson, 30, student, White Rock resident.
  "I care mainly because it's the children who die first.
  "The United Nations should take a firm stance instead of being wishy-washy. Whether a right stance or a wrong stance, a stance nonetheless.
  "They have to protect the women and children and the people who don't want to fight, but Canada shouldn't be put in the position of being taken hostage and used as a shield."

• Skip McCarthy, 46, consultant, Vancouver resident.
  "I care deeply. It's a situation that is potentially of consequence to people around the world. The threat of the total withdrawal of the UN peacekeeping forces opens the door for escalation.
  "The hypocrisy of the major western powers has to stop. They are giving token support to the UN, but aren't stopping the production of weapons that ensure the war keeps going on.
  "They should get some of the refugees out. I will be having a Bosnian child coming to stay with me within the next few days. In the interest of preserving the society, the culture and its future, they have to bring people out."

• Gordon Lewis, 72, retired, Vancouver resident:
  "I care because it seems to me that here we are on the verge of the 21st century and we're still acting like we're in the dark ages. It's horrible, the dilly-dallying of the leaders of the world.
  "I think they should pull troops out that can't be supported. If they're going to go into a mission, back it up with some manpower and arms. You can't threaten and not follow through. You have to threaten and mean it."

• Lisa Hughes, 32, sales account manager, Vancouver resident:
  "It's upsetting for me because of all the people dying there. It upsets me when I hear about the children. It's always the innocent people that suffer. I don't believe anything is ever solved by war. It's a political thing. If the political people want to fight it out, they should do it without involving innocent people."

• Rod Anderson, 36, computer-systems consultant, Vancouver resident:
  "I care. I think it's an important issue, but it's a story that goes on and on and nobody's doing anything about it. I think the UN either needs to be involved or they have to get out. Either stay and do something or leave. Hanging around pretending to do stuff isn't helping the situation. If the parties involved aren't interested in solving their differences, then the UN shouldn't be there. There's no point. Having Canadians there as targets isn't good for anybody."

• Sharon Levings, hair stylist, Vancouver resident:
  "I care a great deal, but it's hard for anyone to figure out what's the right thing to do. The UN doesn't seem to be doing anything. I suggest the people fight it out."

• Richard Zeinoun, 27, student, Vancouver resident:
  "I'm from Lebanon and I went through that kind of war already, so when I hear the news of Bosnia I feel the same sadness. When there's religion involved, you can't explain hate."

Death estimates vary

How many people have died in
Bosnia?
The number 200,000 is quoted
in most newspapers, but that [is an]
estimate that originates with the
Bosnian government. The Bosn-
ian Serbs estimate 100,000 dead.
But George Kenney, who
became a hero to the Bosnians
when he quit the U.S. state
department to protest U.S. inac-
tion in the war, wrote in March
that those numbers were greatly
exaggerated.
Citing Red Cross sources and
other international agencies, he
estimated that 25,000 to 60,000
died.

(article accompanied by photographs of the poll respondents, captioned with their names.)

(text of July 22, 1995 Vancouver Sun article)

-THIS IS ANOTHER CASE WHERE THE 'NEIGHBOUR(ING)' (ARTICLE) HAS A RELEVANCE TO UNDERSTANDING WHY CERTAIN ACTIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN IN A RELATED FIELD. TAKE YOUR NEXT FOOTSTEP HERE.