tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23301331.post321843336488562256..comments2023-10-28T05:02:10.442-04:00Comments on Americans For Bosnia: "Fools' Crusade" Chapter Five [19]Kirk Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879908614214050994noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23301331.post-50612704762275212732007-05-08T16:46:00.000-04:002007-05-08T16:46:00.000-04:00"I have been at pains locally to inform people of ..."I have been at pains locally to inform people of GOOD books to read about the Bosnian war, since in my small circle of local friends I'm the only one who knows much of anything about the war, or about ideological manipulation on the subject."<BR/><BR/>Yakima; do you have any specific titles (written in English preferably) in mind? I've probably read most of the books out there; but in case there is a good book that I've neglected to read; I would like to read it.Shainahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04254890410995215990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23301331.post-57342774122381898412007-05-08T12:17:00.000-04:002007-05-08T12:17:00.000-04:00I'm always weary of Nazi analogies; comparing X di...I'm always weary of Nazi analogies; comparing X dictator to Hiter; or X group to the Nazis. <BR/>First of all the analogies are often sloppily used; and abused without any real substance behind it. <BR/>Secondly, it seems to give the impression that only "Nazisesque" crimes are worthy of our intervention or even concern. That if some dictator isn't attempting for world domination, and the complete extermination of every man, woman, child than the atrocities that are happening are not worthy of our concern.Shainahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04254890410995215990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23301331.post-69918112587934270932007-05-08T12:11:00.000-04:002007-05-08T12:11:00.000-04:00lI am very glad that the Holocaust Museum took the...lI am very glad that the Holocaust Museum took the moral intiative to speak out against the genocide in Bosnia. The Holocaust museum has been instrumental in speaking out against the genocide in Darfur; and it is obviously very appropriate for the Museum dedicated to the memory and historical facts of Holocaust; continue to try to make "never again" more of a reality.Shainahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04254890410995215990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23301331.post-17971555999262344242007-05-07T22:43:00.000-04:002007-05-07T22:43:00.000-04:00@Kirk, thanks for the clarification, you've undert...@Kirk, thanks for the clarification, you've undertaken a huge work to wade through that damned book and I appreciate that too! <BR/><BR/>I have been at pains locally to inform people of GOOD books to read about the Bosnian war, since in my small circle of local friends I'm the only one who knows much of anything about the war, or about ideological manipulation on the subject.Katja R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17813405984067905779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23301331.post-36577396457797132142007-05-07T08:54:00.000-04:002007-05-07T08:54:00.000-04:00Yakima,I didn't express myself very well on that p...Yakima,<BR/><BR/>I didn't express myself very well on that point, so I understand the confusion. <BR/><BR/>I didn't mean that the comments from the Holocaust Memorial were santimonious, or that there was anything wrong about making those comments on behalf of the Holocaust Memorial--anything but, as a matter of fact. What better legacy for that institution than to educate and oppose all genocide at all places and times? I absolutely agree with you.<BR/><BR/>My poorly-phrased point was on that I think it would have been sanctimonious of ME to dismiss Johnstone's criticisms out of hand merely because she had invoked the Holocaust (yet again--notice how often she does this even though she criticizes Bosnian supporters for allegedly doing the same thing!). <BR/><BR/>Sorry for the confusion.Kirk Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06879908614214050994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23301331.post-90971352765056731602007-05-06T11:28:00.000-04:002007-05-06T11:28:00.000-04:00"I don't like sanctimony in any form, so I will co..."I don't like sanctimony in any form, so I will concede Johnstone's right to make the following comparison:<BR/><BR/>"Just as the medieval Crusades were proclaimed from churches, the 1999 crusade against the Serbs was proclaimed from the holiest of contemporary sites, the Holocaust Museum in Washington, by James Hooper, executive director of the Balkan Action Council."<BR/><BR/>I will only ask the reader to ponder that sentence for a moment. Reflect on the true nature of the Crusades. Consider the motivations behind them. Call to mind the disastrous and violent consequences on not only Muslims, but also Eastern Christians and Jews. And then read that sentence again. Ask yourself what sort of person would engage in such grotesque hyperbole."<BR/><BR/>Sorry I'm with Daniel on this one..<BR/>At the time the Serbs were committing genocide, a call for armed action against them at the Holocaust Museum was in my opinion NOT sanctimonious at all, but totally appropriate. <BR/><BR/>I DO however agree that the Crusades should not have been dragged into the comparisons at any point. <BR/><BR/>I also want to get out my scythe or my Kalashnikov every time someone starts in about the so called 'New World Order'. It's become the right wing Anarchist catch-phrase of all time.<BR/><BR/>@Daniel, about your Hercegovinian Serb friend, I think most Bosnians are pretty distinctly Bosnian, whether they are Bosnian Muslim, Bosnian Serbs, or Bosnian Croats, linguistically and culturally the Bosnian Croats and Bosnian Serbs are closer culturally to Bosnia than to either Serbia or Croatia. <BR/>As for liking Bosnian 'country music' Well I like it too, pass the rakija! :)Katja R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17813405984067905779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23301331.post-73964790606614952342007-05-04T20:13:00.000-04:002007-05-04T20:13:00.000-04:00"I disagree that there were no dissidents, althoug..."I disagree that there were no dissidents, although there is no doubt that at least some of the opposition to Milosevic was driven by the fact that he had lost wars, not that he had started them."<BR/><BR/>Well - I am sure there were some dissidents, but there was not a "huge" number of dissidents, you know what I mean bro? Consider the big number of anti-war "dissidents" in the US demonstrating against the war in Iraq, etc. There was no movement on a such a big scale in Serbia during the war(s).<BR/><BR/><BR/>"One book I'm curious to read is "With their Backs to the World," a study of modern Serbian society. I'd like to think there are some moderate Serbs out there willing to read my blog and respond, but I realize this is an unfortunately polarizing issue and that may be too much to hope for."<BR/><BR/>Listen, I met one Serb 2 weeks ago. He is from Herzegovina. We became very good friends. It is trully sad what happened in the Balkans, as we all seem to look the same and share similar culture. In some ways we are "same people" coming from different ethnic backgrounds. But nationalists have been destroying the beauty of multi-cultural society for decades already.<BR/><BR/>He seems to be more Bosnian than me. Hey, the guy even listens to Bosnian country music, *lol*. Anyways, the point is - I wish everyone all the best.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23301331.post-71194243904994712007-05-03T09:18:00.000-04:002007-05-03T09:18:00.000-04:00I disagree that there were no dissidents, although...I disagree that there were no dissidents, although there is no doubt that at least some of the opposition to Milosevic was driven by the fact that he had lost wars, not that he had started them.<BR/><BR/>One book I'm curious to read is "With their Backs to the World," a study of modern Serbian society. I'd like to think there are some moderate Serbs out there willing to read my blog and respond, but I realize this is an unfortunately polarizing issue and that may be too much to hope for.Kirk Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06879908614214050994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23301331.post-71093743089673222832007-05-02T23:10:00.000-04:002007-05-02T23:10:00.000-04:00"I will only ask the reader to ponder that sentenc..."I will only ask the reader to ponder that sentence for a moment. Reflect on the true nature of the Crusades. Consider the motivations behind them. Call to mind the disastrous and violent consequences on not only Muslims, but also Eastern Christians and Jews. And then read that sentence again. Ask yourself what sort of person would engage in such grotesque hyperbole."<BR/><BR/>She is comparing barbarian standards of "Crusaders" (when Jerusalem was captured in 1099) with the standards of modern UN-led society in 1999. I mean, how can anyone with a right mind aply unrelated standards of 1099 to the standards of modern time (1999)? Her statement is so unreasonable; no wonder she is a silly lonely old grandma.<BR/><BR/>"Had Milosevic been a genuine dictator, he would simply have arrested dissidents and stayed in office."<BR/><BR/>What dissidents? During the war, Serbia spoke with "one voice" - both Milosevic and his opposition supported the war in Bosnia. As a result, Serbia got isolated. People got tired of politics that already achieved its objectives (e.g. completion of ethnic cleansing and creation of Republika Srpska) so youth demonstrated in front of the Milosevic' office and finally handed him over to the ICTY.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com