The Sequel is Never as Good as the Original

Who is "the enemy". Always was, and always will be in Serbia, the poverty. How can you direct your energy against such an enemy. Nowadays protestors may believe that they are gathered for million different reasons, but there is a common denominator for all of their actions ... The third group shares the same destiny, with one little difference. They managed to sell out. For example, try to live in Serbia as a semi or non-talented script writer, as a startup historian or mechanical engineer - good luck. But a young, perspective politician, that is a different, much brighter prospect: "Future, don't wait up. We will meet at the next crossroad, you just wait and see".

is the only answer to all ur questions about the "event" u witnessed. it all looks a lot like a very fat person TRYING to lose weight who doesnt see the results in the first 2 weeks and then stops dieting.

we collected some strength and managed to do something right and then sat back on our asses and we re still waiting for economic prosperity and democracy to fall out of the sky.

everyone is DISAPPOINTED. i guess bcs no one is doing their work for them. its sad and pathetic.

Good subject Lucy.

My belief is that student or any other protests will never gain the passion and support they did in the 1990's - unless the Radicals come to power (either with DSS, SPS or on their own). But this wont happen.

I would caution against the idea that protest has become a useless tool in Serbia. Never underestimate the cowardice of those in government - particularly if you protest close to a general election.

The prisoners almost managed it in Serbian prisons (they didnt back down soon enough on the amnesty issue so they sent in the police to beat the hell out of them). Campaingers in Pancevo received a lot of attention and made pollution an electoral issue. Lastly students caused a real fuss with the Bachelor / Master degree issue.
Results are of course, mixed, but protest is not ineffective.

I read reports of how some students called on Cedo to get lost when he turned up with his wife and child. I'm not unsympathetic to students who admire him but he's a politician now for heavens sake. People should not trust politicians or at least be cynical about their intentions.

I think that you're probably right Lucy(to a certain degree) when you say that protesting has become a useless tool for change in Serbia. The simple truth is-people are tired. I'm tired. I don't have that kind of energy anymore. It's just that, in 1996(I was in a high school)there was no doubt in my mind that Milosevic was-a big evil for Serbia(and Seselj and co.),plus he was caught in a theft, and that he had to go-he was destroying our lives, literally. So that was a big motivation to join protesters. Nowadays we have free elections, people can choose who they want, we have many radio and TV stations. So we have a choice. I don't see what would change in Serbia, if we had large protests-now. Why?
But I do believe that students and other smaller groups(workers..)should fight and protest for something that is important for them. They have to demand their rights if they think they are threatened-not in a way these anarchists do btw. So small but organised protests, that's totally in for the future.

Hi Lucy,

Student politics are potentially hugely important in a Serbia that is facing two very distinct paths for its future.

One the one hand we have liberal democratic forces trying to guide Serbia towards a more future of international normalisation, EU membership and a re-branded economically prosperous Serbia. On the other we have radical forces who utterly reject a pro-European future, who want to cosy up to traditional ally Russia and defy anti-Serbian elements in the International community through open confrontation.

The decisions take by the people of this country in the next few months will be absolutely critical to the future well-being of the nation.

Students, who have always been a progressive force, ought to recognise their critical part in deciding this choice. The choice is stark: national inat and a thumbing the nose at the world or making peace with the injustices heaped onto the country by succeeding and getting on with modernization.

Serbia is on the verge of double digit economic growth. The economy is being artificially suppressed by the political situation on the ground. I know for a fact that there are very large investors waiting to see where this country is going to go politically before they commit to Serbia.

They are not fools. Serbia is a massive opportunity: a country stuffed with talent and hard workers that has been unnaturally held back but soon will be cut loose.

Students should be organizing to throw their power behind the camps they see as best for the country. They should be out on the streets supporting the vision they support.

Additionally, there are huge fights still to be had in Serbia regarding social justice, corruption and reform:

• Who is going to take on the endemic corruption that blights the country?
• Who is going to fight for the rights of gays and other minorities?
• Who will fight for media and legal reform to shore up civil rights and provide a platform for businesses to have recourse through the courts?
• Who will actively restore Serbia's damaged reputation?
• Who will attract investors and trading partners to fund health and education reforms?

It is the young, these very students you fear are passive and unfocussed but who I sincerely hope are saving their energy for next January.

Students, now is the time to get out there and make yourselves heard.

Kind regards

JD
Limbicnutrition.com

When a body catch a body, comin' thro' the rye...

There is a nice jazz cafe just one door to the left of the main entrance of Filozofski (I hope it is still there). Go there and have a drink. There's nothing wrong with the students. They may look phony if you are in wrong mood, but they're fine otherwise. No need for panic :)

Regards,

Vučko

P.S.: I wonder how such a star like Gene Hackman could end up borrowing his name for that sh*t? Must had ran out of money :)

The leaders of students in Serbia mostly look after themselves, and dont care much about anything else. The very good example is Cedomir Jovanovic or Ceda Antic. That was the biggest problem ten years ago.
P.S. I cant wait for Richad Gere movie, where he hunts a serbian war hero, ooooops, kriminal Radovan Karadzic. Heres a sugestion: just watch the beginning of a movie with Benicio Del Toro, a forgot the title, but it is heppening in Kosovo. CIA agent fighting face to face with bad, ugly Serbs. A laughed my ass off. Your people, like any other, should learn from their mistakes. There was a lot of movies about crazy, bloodthirsty muslims. And then...my god, I lost the Twins.
Very good text, BTW. Keep it going.

Who needs american propaganda when we got our 'elite'?
Our 'elite' is quite capable of burning down our little village.

Take this blog for example. After they were compared to "sunken-eyed, heartless Serbian soldiers" and came out a bit less "mindless and bloodthirsty" the only comments they could think of are empty slogans learned from some leaflets. Like good little Tito's pioneers, agitating for their party's cause.

These blogs are becoming more and more polluted with pioneer/psycho/agitating rubbish. That is a sing for me to catapult myself out of here. This time for good.

It was nice practicing English with you. All of you.

Regards

------------------------------------------------------
Would marry a female Australian(!) citizen age between 18-40.
http://isp.b92.net/~beowulf/about.html