Exactly what is it going to take for the world to care about the people of the former Republic of Yugoslavia? Since the early 90's, the U.N. has managed to destroy a beautiful corner of the world. If you want a model of how not to break up a nation by allowing former republics to reestablish themselves, simply turn to the past 15 years of Balkan history. I have been to Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia. I have witnessed the deception of the U.N. firsthand. I have seen the horrors of Srebrenica. I have toured the ruins of Vukovar. I have heard the cries of desperate women and children. I have mourned for the families of the victims on all sides of this tragedy.
Taking sides was a huge mistake, which has yet to be corrected. The U.S. was not smart enough to stay out of this U.N. disaster. What remains a mystery is why the world leaders have not cleaned up their mess in the Balkans. When is the U.N. going to be held accountable for their part in this heartbreaking disaster?
As have I, Big Al. I recall talking to a Croat woman on the phone here in the US when the war in Croatia was raging. We didn't know each other and never met face to face (even after that call); the phone call was for business reasons. The Croat woman --named Marica --had noticed that I pronounced her name correctly when no American did, and she asked me about my background. I apprehesively volunteered it and she said that her husband was also a Serb. We eventually talked about what was going on over in Yugo -- her family, why they left (because her husband had to) and the about the part of my family who were still there, including my ancient Aunt and some cousins in Zadar (Croatia) -- and by the end of that conversation, we were both sobbing inconsolably on the phone to one another. Two strangers crying on each other's shoulders because no one else around them understood -- but they understood each other.
Few real humans on all sides of those wars have had a chance to grieve, just grieve, for what was lost -- without political triumphalism or being perpetually humiliated as "the agressors". And sooner or later, they will have to grieve together, or forever be embittered by life
I have always believed that that Yugoslavia was "a family of peoples" -- an incredibly dysfunctional family, but a family none the less. Yes, Big Al, there were those on the outside who exploited that "familial dysfunction". The UN certainly did it's part, but they weren't alone. Germany, the UN, NATO, the EU, the OSCE and the US did their part, too. And Milosevic was an idiot without scruples, easily manipulated by his malignant narcissism. But if I were to blame any one outside force for the greatest damage, it would be Germany, whose ambitions -- where it had no busisness being -- started it all.
Have you ever read actress Mira Furlan's "A Letter to my Co-Citizens"?
Mira Furlan is a Croat actress who performed in Belgrade during the beginning of the war with Croatia, and was (like Handke) vilified for it. She was fired and threatened, even by friends. She left Croatia to come to the US, where she starred in the TV show "Babylon Five" and is currently on the TV show "Lost" Her letter broke my heart: http://www.zlatna.com/celebration/mpismo.html