Posted on 06/29/2012 4:25:04 AM PDT by kronos77
B ELGRADE -- It is likely no accident that Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic chose June 28 to nominate nationalist Ivica Dacic as his prime minister.
The controversial choice of a longtime ally of the late Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic came on one of the most important days on the calendar for Serbian nationalists. Not only is June 28 celebrated as St. Vitus Day by Orthodox Christians, it is also the date of one of the most momentous events in the country's history: the Battle of Kosovo Polje in 1389, when Serbian forces battled and were defeated by an invading army of Ottoman Turks.
That event has formed the core of Serbian national identity ever since. The Kosovo narrative has morphed into a morality play of patriotism, betrayal, self-sacrifice, and the need for national unity in the face of ruthless outside enemies.
And it was on the same date in 1989 when Milosevic delivered a fiery and provocative speech marking the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Kosovo Polje to a crowd of about 1 million people, an event widely seen as a key spark that ignited the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s.
Milosevic made the speech in the shadow of a memorial to the battle that bears a legendary curse, supposedly uttered by Prince Lazar, who led the Serbian forces at the Battle of Kosovo Polje and died there.
Whoever is a Serb and of Serb birth And of Serb blood and heritage, And comes not to the Battle of Kosovo, May he never have the progeny his heart desires, Neither son nor daughter! May nothing grow that his hand sows Neither red wine nor white wheat! And let him be cursed from all ages to all ages.
(Excerpt) Read more at rferl.org ...
Doesn't sound like much has changed since 1389. The Ottoman Turks should have used political correctness and multi-cultural sensitivity back then...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.