Why not challenge your Yugoslav contributors [regarding the ethnic cleansing?] Silence is complicitous. Their opposition to Milosovic the individual is a meaningless affectation if their underlying ideology can countenence or overlook ethnic cleansing and obscenities like the seige of Serajevo. Or worse, if their soft liberal opposition to Milosovic can include a blindered acceptance of his nationalistic propaganda, with its centuries old sense of grievance and victimhood. We've been down this road before, with Hitler and the Germans.

Yeah, nobody likes Milosovic but he's been free to wreak havoc for over a decade. It's the curse of liberalism; liberal opposition doesn't absolve you, or mark you exempt from the bombs and bullets when they start falling in your neighborhood. Liberal opposition won't keep the Albanians, Bosnian Muslims, or Croatians from killing you when the bill comes due. It's the same here, when our chickens come home to roost, we'll fry along with the real porkers.

What the present conflict represents is the friction between the completely ahistorical, us, versus the prisoners of history, them.


DRAGANA VICANOVIC RESPONDS: About two years ago (winter 1996/1997) all democratic Serbia went out to the streets in all towns to protest against Milosevic's regime, demanding freedom of speech, freedom of press, new elesctions and changes. It was a cold winter. We marched for three months.

I saw broken heads, broken arms, blood on the streets, arrests, I felt police brutality. We were carryng symbols of what we thoughT were democratic fortresses - American flags, British flags, german flags, EU flags and been charged as traitors by the people close to Milosevic. But at that time, Western democracy remain silent. So please, do not call us "soft liberal opposition"!

Last week I received a letter signed by 27 well known journalists, theatrologysts, members of the Serbian Academy of Science and Art, University professors, lawyers.

Here are excerpts from paragraphs 1 and 6: "We strongly condemn the NATO bombings which have hugely excerbated violence in Kosovo and have caused the displacement of people outside and through[out] Yugoslavia.

We strongly condemn the ethnic cleansing of the Albanian population perpetrated by any Yugoslav forces. We strongly condemn the Kosovo Liberation Army's (KLA) violence targeted against the Serbs, moderate Albanians and other ethnic communities in Kosovo.

The humanitarian catastrophe in Kosovo - death, grief and extreme suffering for hundreds of thousands Albanians, Serbs and members of other ethnic communities - has to be ended now......"

"The existing regime has only been reinforced by NATO's attacks in Yugoslavia by way of the natural reaction of people to rally around the flag in times of foreign agression. We continue our opposition to the present anti-democratic and authoritarian regime...."

You can also add my name to the list of these people. I think that the present conflict is partly a result of ignorance of the "ahistorical" people.

Without understanding [of the] long time relations and clashes between Balkan nations no one could start a "limited" conflict and expect to keep it under control and ended it "in 72 hours".

[The] Balkans is a powder cask ready to explode in any time. I don't see myself as a "prisoner of history" nor I believe that we should be, but the history teach[es] us to apprehend.

[The] Famous American philosopher George Santayana said: "They who forget the past are doomed to repeat it!"

Regards,
Dragana


RASTISLAV DURMAN RESPONDS: Ron, I agree that silence is complicity.

Only, it is no silence about Mr. Milosevic in Belgrade and [the] rest of Yugoslavia at whole.

Maybe voices were no[t] loud enough to be heard by you, but I assure you but they [did] exist and ...they were existing since this bloody war began in 1991.

I can't lessen you right to speak about "soft liberal opposition to Milosovic" which includes "a blindered acceptance of his nationalistic propaganda" but I can address to you to try to find on the Internet old sites with key word "B92".

Also, I will address you to try to find documentary MAD PEOPLE directed by Mr. Goran Markovic. Also, please find enclosed statement of "soft liberal opposition" written few weeks ago.

LET CIVILITY PREVAIL
A STATEMENT OF CONCERNED SERBIAN CITIZENS

As long time proponents of and activists for a democratic and anti-nationalist Serbia, who have chosen to remain in Yugoslavia during this moment of crisis and who want to see our country reintegrated into the community of world nations, we state the following:

1. We strongly condemn the NATO bombings which have hugely exacerbated violence in Kosovo and have caused the displacement of people outside and throughout Yugoslavia. We strongly condemn the ethnic cleansing of the Albanian population perpetrated by any Yugoslav forces. We strongly condemn the Kosovo Liberation Army's (KLA) violence targeted against the Serbs, moderate Albanians and other ethnic communities in Kosovo. The humanitarian catastrophe in Kosovo - death, grief and extreme suffering for hundreds of thousands of Albanians, Serbs and members of other ethnic communities - has to be ended now. All refugees from Yugoslavia must immediately and unconditionally be allowed to return to their homes, their security and human rights guaranteed, and aid for reconstruction provided. Perpetrators of crimes against humanity whoever they are must be brought to justice.

2. The fighting between Serbian forces and KLA has to be stopped immediately in order to start a new round of negotiations. All sides must put aside their maximalist demands. There are (as in other numerous similar conflicts such as Northern Ireland) no quick and easy solutions. We all must be prepared for a long and painstaking process of negotiation and normalization.

3. The bombing of Yugoslavia by NATO causes destruction and growing numbers of civilian victims (at least several hundred, maybe a thousand, by now). The final outcome will be the destruction of the economic and cultural foundations of Yugoslav society. It must be stopped immediately.

4. The UN Charter, the Helsinki Final Act, the founding document of NATO, as well as the constitutions of countries such as Germany, Italy, Portugal, have been violated by this aggression. As individuals who have devoted their lives to the defense of basic democratic values, who believe in universal legal norms we are deeply concerned that NATO's violation of these norms will incapacitate all those struggling for the rule of law and human rights in this country and elsewhere in the world.

5. NATO's bombings have further destabilized the southern Balkans. If continued this conflict can escalate beyond Balkan borders and, if turned into land military operations, thousands of NATO and Yugoslav soldiers, as well as Albanian and Serbian civilians, will die in a futile war as in Vietnam. Political negotiations toward a peaceful settlement should be reopened immediately.

6. The existing regime has only been reinforced by NATO's attacks in Yugoslavia by way of the natural reaction of people to rally around the flag in times of foreign aggression. We continue our opposition to the present anti-democratic and authoritarian regime, but we also emphatically oppose NATO's aggression. The democratic forces in Serbia have been weakened and the democratic reformist Government of Montenegro threatened by NATO's attacks and by the regime's subsequent proclamation of the state of war and now find themselves between NATO's hammer and regime's anvil.

7. In dealing with the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia the leaders of the world community have in the past made numerous fatal errors. New errors are leading to an aggravation of the conflict and are removing us from the search for peaceful solutions.

We appeal to all: President Milosevic, the representatives of the Kosovo Albanians, NATO, EU and US leaders to stop all violence and military activities immediately and engage in the search for a political solution.

Belgrade, April 16, 1999

1. Stojan Cerovic, "Vreme" columnist and journalist
2. Jovan Cirilov, Belgrade International Theater Festival (BITEF) selector and former director of the Yugoslav Drama Theater; Theater History Center Director
3. Sima Cirkovic, Member Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Professor, Belgrade University, Dept. of History
4. Mijat Damnjanovic, Former Professor, Belgrade University, Faculty of Political Sciences, Center for Public Administration and Local Government (PALGO) Director
5. Vojin Dimitrijevic, Former head of the Department of International Law, Belgrade Law School; The Belgrade Center for Human Rights Director; UN Human Rights Committee former Vice Chairman
6. Dasa Duhacek, Director Women Studies Center, Board Member of Alternative Academic Educational Network (AAEN)
7. Milutin Garasanin, Member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts; Vice President of The Association for Research of South-Eastern Europe (UNESCO)
8. Zagorka Golubovic, Professor, Belgrade University, Department of Sociology; Chair Social Sciences Department of AAEN
9. Dejan Janca, Professor, Novi Sad University, Law School
10. Ivan Jankovic, Belgrade lawyer, human rights activist, Board President of Center for Anti-War Action
11. Predrag Koraksic, Belgrade caricaturist
12. Mladen Lazic, Professor, Belgrade University, Department of Sociology, AAEN Board member
13. Sonja Licht, President, Fund for an Open Society Executive Board
14. Ljubomir Madzar, Professor Belgrade University, Faculty of Economy, Member Group-17
15. Veran Matic, Editor in Chief, Belgrade Radio B92, President Alternative Network of Electronic Media (ANEM)
16. Jelica Minic, Secretary General, European Movement in Serbia
17. Andrej Mitrovic, Professor, Belgrade University, Department of History
18. Radmila Nakarada, Senior Reserach Fellow, Belgrade Institute for European Studies
19. Milan Nikolic, Director, Center for Policy Studies
20. Vida Ognjenovic, Theater director, playwrite
21. Borka Pavicevic, Director, Center for Cultural Decontamination
22. Jelena Santic, Anti-war 487 group, human rights activist
23. Nikola Tasic, Associate member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Member European Academy
24. Ljubinka Trgovcevic, Senior Research Fellow, Belgrade University, Department of History
25. Srbijanka Turajlic, Professor, Belgrade University, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Board President AAEN
26. Ivan Vejvoda, Fund for an Open Society Executive Director,
27. Branko Vucicevic, translator

I hope that you will judge your statement after that again and explain to yourself how much "liberal opposition" was soft.

By the way, did you know that "soft liberal opposition" almost defeat Mr. Milosevic in elections in 1992?

Did you know that one of the crucial reasons of Mr. Milosevic's narrow election victory was absence of Yugoslav Albanians? They were not disabled to vote, it was their choice.

I do not know execlty how many ballots were donated to Mr. Milosevic [by the Kosovar Albanians,] but not less than 20% of all existing ballots.

One friend of mine (American, by the way), wrote: "I have often thought that Rugova's refusal to participate in Serb elections has been one of the biggest barriers to a democratic Serbia. He bears some of the blame for the situation. He calculated that Kosovo independence would be easier to get with a repressive Serb government than with a humane one".

The second paragraph of your letter does not deserve the [response.]

What does it mean: "Liberal opposition won't keep the Albanians, Bosnian Muslims, or Croatians from killing you when the bill comes due"?

If I had intention to reply you in your style, I would say: "Nice, thank you very much for not helping us! You had helped us enough in [the] last two week[s] --- to[o many] lives are broken, more of [a] million of our compatriot[s] are refugees now and [many] millions [of] dollars [are] gone with fire.

"We would not... survive [with] your help again!"

Only I do not wish to speak in your style.

In my dictionary does not exist [the] words "we" and „ you" (plural) when I am speaking about politics.

In my opinion every act - good one or bad one - is done by individual[s].

If you believe in collective guilt I wouldn't be so happy [to be in] your place.

According to [the] Bible you are [the] progeny of Kain and Abel and you are guilty for murder because of your blood connection with murder or murder's brother.

It is [the] same in the rules of the game named "collective guilt".

I am not sure that [you will] happiness in being ahistorical.

I do not promote the "prison of history," but sometimes history could be useful , at least for those who are not happy in repeating mistakes. Historia est magistra vitae, as old Romans would say.

I do not know if "ahistorical" people like yourself accept [some knowledge of] history. Therefore I will add explanation - old Romans are fellows who 2000 years ago built the [basis] of what we call the civilization in Europe, North America and Australia.

Faithfully
Rastislav Durman


From R.J., San Francisco, USA:

Longtime readers of G21 will puzzle over Ms. Vicanovic's analysis of ethnic Serbian systematic oppression of Kosovar Albanians from 1989-99 as legimated by similar oppressive policies such as the British occupation of Northern Ireland; policies routinely condemned on these pages.

Of course the policy of Serbian enforced apartheidt in Kosovor beginning in 1989 was a reaction to mirror image oppression by the Albanian majority during the Tito era, so the search for blame, if one yields to such parlor games during the bombing raids, provides many and various candidates.

The charge that Albanians are importing "mujahadeen" to fight Orthodox Christians should be compared to the reports of diplomatic overtures by Belgrade to Saddam Hussein, if for no other reason than to see how two governments, one in Belgrade, the other in Washington, find the threat of the Muslim east good fodder for propaganda.

All that aside, I'd like to apologize to Ms Vicanovic for the bombs my tax dollars have purchased. I don't believe in "nations", our "nation" has rationalized the destruction of your "nation" with euphemisms like "humanitarian mission" and "We're not at war with the Serbian people, we're at war with Milosovic." I do believe in cities, which are living organisms, and therefor it's deeply saddening to see beautiful cities like Dubrovnik, Sarajevo, and Belgrade brought to rubble, regardless of the "nationality" of the destroyers.

James Joyce once wrote, apropos of the seemingly eternal Irish Troubles, "History is a nightmare from which I am trying to awaken." The Balkans are our communal nightmare now.

BTW, an excellent site is www.kosovo.com


ROD RESPONDS: R.J., thanks for visiting G21 and for writing. Though I was able to get one response from Dragana Vicanovic to e-mails forwarded on her articles, not this one. G21 has been unable to make contact with her for the last four days. In her last communication she stated that there were power problems in Belgrade. An inevitable result of the bombings. Please join us in praying that she and her family are still safe.


From Felicity Ussher, London, UK:

fantastic issue, Rod.

congrats.
Fliss


"Diamond D." Higganum, CT, USA:

great issue, I want to know what we can do to stop this war... I feel helpless and sad, emptiness inside. THIS SUCKS!!!


From Carma S. [NO CITY PROVIDED,] CA, USA:

Rod, I know you stay as busy as a cat with one shaving but we work more on the local level. I can't help but worry that we will have some fallout from the war in Kosovo.

Carma


ROD RESPONDS: Thank all of you for your votes of confidence on our war coverage. Let us all pray for peace.... AND JUSTICE.

Below you will find one the last communications I received from Dragana Vicanovic. During our few weeks together, I pushed her for copy, cajoled her as I would any other writer --- despite her circumstances.

I argued with her that she was not presenting a "balanced" perspective on this war and that she was endangering me and this publication by being so pro-Serbian.

I cannot share with you her last communication with me from Belgrade. I don't have the heart...

No matter what has happened with her, I shan't forget her efforts here to speak for people we do not know and whose experience we will never understand.

I can only hope that I shall hear from her again, and that she is safe.

Dear Rod,

Your editing job is magnificent and deserves my deepest gratitude. Thank you.

I got some sleep, but awak[en]ing [was] spectacular - 4 bombes at 3:25 a.m. shot the biggest building in this town (23 floors).

It was the largest business center in Belgrade and Serbia, offices of more than 30 business companies --- the Social party, 4 TV stations (TV Pink, TV Kosava, TV S and TV SOS) and 4 radio stations.

I still don't know how many casualties were in TV and radio stations - most of those people are collegues [of mine] in the night shifts.

Now, from [having as many as] 13 TV stations, we can see only 3 local [television stations.] The sadest thing is that those TV and radio stations had nothing to do with politics. Radio & TV Pink broadcasted only films and recreation program[s], radio &TV Kosava only music, SOS only sport, and S a litle bit of everything....

The refugee camp in Djakovica (refugges from Croatia who came in 1995) [was] bombed the same morning - the first report says there are dead and wounded. Among the dead is again a litle child.

I'm so tired, sad and resentful today. But that "Tolstoi" remark [of yours about my article] sound[s like] a good luck - I rememberd that he died in a very old age.

Regards
Dragana

A Solicitation...

Very interesting. Actually, I am a documentary television filmmaker in development on a project that profiles different, active centagenarians.

I was hoping you could refer me to some people who may be interested in sharing their wisdom and passion for life. The film is not about LIVING that long, so much as it is about the challenge of staying interested in what life has to offer as we get older!

Thanks! esperanto@point-net.com

The Bob Powers Fan Mail Location....

Nice site and nice reviews----will bookmark at once!

Luther B.


From Maria L. [NO CITY PROVIDED,] USA:

I'm a literature and ESL student from Argentina and I happened to come across your page with great definitions of what literature is. I was looking for some questions to raise up in my literature class, questions related to the definition of literature so we can get a sort of debate on trying to define the term literature. I would really appreciate if you could help me with some ideas on such questions. Don't worry if you can't. I'll understand.

Thank you in advance:
Maria Ines L.


BOB POWERS RESPONDS: Dear Maria,

To answer your question about literature, let me recommend two books that could prove helpful in your research.

"Merriam Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature" sells for approximately $40. It's a large book, with more than 1,200 pages of material about literature. My copy was published in 1995. I imagine a new edition may have come out by now. A book store would be able to tell you. The book's authors describe it as a "comprehensive and authorative guide to the world of literature--authors, works, terms, and topics--from all era and all parts of the world." I have found it to be a good resource in seeking information for my book review columns that appear in G21: The World's Magazine, Suite101.com, The Columbus Free Press, The Athens Messenger, and The Marietta Times.

I also recommend "The Oxford Companion to English Literature," written by Margaret Drabble. My copy, obtained from a book club, is a trade paperback edition. I think it's also available in a hardcover edition. It is updated every few years.

As to defining literature, that's almost impossible, since many people have their own notions to what's good and what isn't. Probably the only authors who would undisputed as the makers of great literature would be William Shakespeare and the writers of The Bible.


From Norma S., [NO CITY PROVIDED,] USA:

This is my first time visiting G21. I like this magazine. For me it is very interesting and informative. Being a music lover. I really enjoyed it.

My friend; Luther, told me about it in an e-mail I got from him today. I checked it out immediately and found it to be a good site to see about music and what is going on today in that field.

But What Do I Know..?

Hello, Im writing a research paper for my English class on whether or not, satire is still prevelant in American Literature today. If you have any info i can have or any place that u can lead me too would help sooo much. thanks for help

Sincerely,
Sarah


ROD RESPONDS: Sarah,

Thanks for visiting the G21 and for writing. If you go to http://www.g21.net/hlink.html and scroll among our Link Partners you'll find a link to "Satire" magazine's site. They're among the best in the business and the Editor is a friend of mine. Feel free to let him know I recommended you contact him. Send him an e-mail about your project and I'm sure he'll send you a complimentary copy and assist you.

Regards,
Rod

Well, It's Like This & Like That, And like this, and uh...

You have a nice site. I enjoy it. I was just wondering how many first time stories you guys got? They are pretty good.


ROD RESPONDS: Preben, Thanks for visiting G21 and for writing. I'm sorry to say that feature never worked out. Though it gets a very high number of visits (among our highest) most people would prefer to "lurk" there than to make contributions.


From "Trousers," [NO CITY PROVIDED,] USA:

Surely Tesco don't force feed all their Irish customers with English puddings? This is outrageous.

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