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  • Jill Starr
    May 6, 2012

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Can A White Person Really Understand What It Is Like Being A Black Minority Group Member Living In Middle Class America (?)

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But standing in front of the Chinese embassy that was bombed by the NATO in 1999 taught me the definition of a “smart bomb.” By Jill Starr

 

But standing in front of the Chinese embassy that was bombed by the NATO in 1999 taught me the definition of a “smart bomb.” By Jill Starr


 

For additional information contact Darko Trifunovic or Jill Starr, The Law Projects Center (New York and/or Beograd Serbia) for a formal interview. @ All Rights Reserved 2002 LPC.

 

 


 

The next morning we all got into Darko’s blue Audi (car) and left for his Father’s house.  I remember arguing with Darko about wanting to bring lots of luggage with me and he replied I didn’t need all that stuff and I could only bring one normal sized bag with me and I had to leave the rest of my things at his apartment; I did. On the way to his father’s, Darko made a few important stops for the purpose of giving me the grand tour. 


    We only stopped briefly at some military installations; we didn’t get out of the car.  We drove up to the gates and Darko pointed out, “look Jill, this is an important military facility.”  Darko always sarcastically smirked as he pointed out these places to me.  The only place we got out was in front of the bombed out Chinese embassy in Beograd.  There were Serbian military officers in front of the embassy.  I was amazed owing to I always had thought bombed out buildings were totally demolished.  But standing in front of the Chinese embassy that was bombed by the NATO in 1999 taught me the definition of a “smart bomb.”

    Only the portion of the building hosting the embassy employees on the upper level of the building itself was demolished and in particular the window where the Chinese embassy officials worked.  I could see in the window and I even got a sad glimpse of the Victorian styled chair (It was light pink in color) sitting there empty in the bombed out window.  I wondered who used to sit there and if they were dead or alive. No other parts of the building was seriously damaged.  There were even flowers and trees still growing untouched in front of the building.  I strongly believe that NATO knew exactly what they aimed at when they bombed the building. 

    I brought a digital camera with me on my trip but upon returning to the United States, all the film Darko claimed to snap for me was returned by my local film developer as blank.  I wondered if Darko told me the truth about snapping photos for me at all.  Throughout my trip he insisted on taking all the photos I wanted claiming I take poor pictures. 

    It since crossed my mind he may have removed the film from my camera prior my departing Serbia so I could not take it back with me.  One thing I am sure of  is both Darko and Bojana refused having any photos taken of them throughout my entire stay.  After leaving the scene at the Chinese embassy, we made our way to the home of Darko’s father driving through a beautiful park not dissimilar to Central Park in Manhattan along the way.  I can’t be certain what park it was because I didn’t know the geographical area; we soon arrived at our destination.