During the ugliness of September 11, 2001, I was in Dubrovnik Croatia for a conference. I have never been treated with such kindness anywhere!

Dubrovnik is a special place. It is a pre-Roman walled city of 50,000. During the war with Bosnia, the Bosnian Serbs placed motars above the city (it is only 3/4 km from the Bosnian Border). Over a period of 2 years, the Bosnian Serbs launched over 250,000 motar rounds into the city, killing 10% of their population. The city has been completely rebuilt.

My wife called me and told me about the attack on my cell phone. All that day, I had people coming up to me, putting their hand on my shoulder, and saying "I am sorry". Russians, Germans, French, Czech, etc, all came up to me and expressed their outrage and sorrow.

Many times I was walking along the bay at Cavtat, I was yelled at by a local, sitting at the many bay side cafes - "American - come here!. Sit! I buy you beer (pivo in Croatian).

On September 11, at midnight, the disc jockey said... "this is for all the Americans ..and he played "the green green Grass of Home"

The next night, the disc jockey played "Born in the USA" by Springsteen. I stood, as did the only other 3 Americans in the place. We got a standing ovation.

Because of the beauty of the city, the people and the country, I will be going back....