Replies

You have spoken to members of the regular Serb army in Kosovo, I have spoken to some 30 Kosovar refugees (since it seems you've been keeping track of my comments you will likely already know this was as a translator). For a couple of them I translated as they went to regular sessions at the shrink. What I say, I say out of conviction, I do not believe it to be "a steaming pile of horsecrap" as you so elegantly put it.

Whatever opinion you have of "us people", you cannot deny almost 2 million people the chance to have freedom, especially considering what Milosevic put them through... Oh wait, you admire Milosevic... then I'm sorry you feel that way, but the only reason you even have a chance to feel that way is because the Free World (if only Clinton was not involved in this) decided to put a stop to this psychopath. Do you really believe this wa all about Kosovo? I don't think so. Milosevic was attacked for Kosovo as well as Bosnia, and Croatia.

Orthodox Albanians created their own autocephalous church, because both Greeks and the Serbs used their respective churches to establish hegemony over other peoples in the Balkans, this is the same reason Macedonia is trying to form an autocephalous Orthodox Church. I know many other Orthodox Albanians who supported and continue supporting the Kosovars in their struggle for freedom. Look, I'm not stupid, I do not claim or believe that everybody involved with the KLA were angels, but Kosovars waited for a long time to fight for freedom. The only reason the KLA went from a small extremist movement to a major popular uprising, is because things had reached a breaking point, and because Milosevic showed he had no intention of giving even an inch.
Would the expulsion of a million people have been acceptable to you if only 10 000 people were killed, 8 000 people, how about 100 people? Do you believe they would have been allowed back if the KLA had been destroyed and NATO gave up bombing after a couple of weeks?

Everytime I get one of these posts, I get this vibe, that no matter what I do or say, it will not make a lick of difference. The mark of an intelligent person is the ability to reform his/her opinions, if you never find this happenning, there is something wrong. I am not saying you should reform your opinions on Kosovo, just that you should try to keep an open-mind, and make sure that you're not reinforcing your opinions with biased information (I am likely a bit guilty of this one myself).

And finally, a question: do you think the hatred of Albanians is deserved?

Whatever opinion you have of "us people", you cannot deny almost 2 million people the chance to have freedom,

"You people" is in reference to Serbophobes and yes you can deny almost 2 million people freedom. How many Serbs were told to leave Yugoslavia and become new members of new countries Croatia, Bosnia, and Kosova?

especially considering what Milosevic put them through...

Oh boohoo. As dirty and ugly as the more recent wars in the Balkans have been, they were picnics compared to what happened to Serbs in WW2. NOTHING that has EVER happened to Croats, Bosnian Muslims, or Albanians can compare to the suffering of the Serbs in the holocaust at the hands of Croats, Bosnian Muslims, and Albanians. Your pathetic argument of especially considering what Milosevic put them through... would much better be served as an argument why the Serbs should be the ones that are guaranteed their freedom rather than be subjected to waking up one morning reduced to the statis of "minority" in an historicly hostile country, but I'm not going to lower myself to such a lame level as to claim this is or ever was the solution.

Oh wait, you admire Milosevic...

Wrong again. Dead wrong. I told you to stop making me defend Milosevic. I don't admire the man, but I'm as interrorant of lies as I am of bad men

Kosovars waited for a long time to fight for freedom.

Like hell they did. The Albanians went on a blood rampage against Serbs from 1974-89. My family lived there before that time, during that time, and after that time. Something had to be done to stop the attacks against Serb civilians. In 1989, how many Republics in Yugoslavia vetoed an adjustment to Kosovo's autonomy? It may be your wish for the world to forget what happened to the Serbs in WW2 or in Kosovo from 1974-89, but I can assure you the Serbs will not forget.

Everytime I get one of these posts, I get this vibe, that no matter what I do or say, it will not make a lick of difference.

Awww... don't give up hope. I'm sure there's more than a few people out there that will eat up the crap you're dishing out.

The mark of an intelligent person is the ability to reform his/her opinions, if you never find this happenning, there is something wrong. I am not saying you should reform your opinions on Kosovo, just that you should try to keep an open-mind, and make sure that you're not reinforcing your opinions with biased information (I am likely a bit guilty of this one myself).

Each and everyday I wake up I look at the world with a fresh pair of eyes and realise that everything I thought I knew when I went to bed could possibly be wrong. I've changed my mind and opinions damn near every subject related to the Balkans several times over. I've criticized Serbian attrocities in each war and believe they fully mishandled the insurgency in Kosovo (Not that I believe it would have made a difference in the outcome. I'll never foget a meeting I was in in 1996 when I was told Kosovo was already lost).

Screw biased information. I don't believe in the pathetic Serbian propoganda anymore than I do in the pathetic Croat, Bosnian Muslim, or Albanian propoganda.

I didn't fully address your middle paragraph but I could probably write a book detailing the evidense I have that none of your points are valid.

And finally, a question: do you think the hatred of Albanians is deserved?

Not based on the Albanians I know personally. Each of them is a gem of a person. There are many Albanians that I choose NOT to know because they have a reputation of being "Little Arkans". I know of way too many of them and I steer clear of them.