Why Belgrade?

It’s nice if you can see more than a history of conflict and I hope so it’s nothing but a history. Good luck Lucy, enjoy Belgrade:)

we've always had a bunch of outstanding individuals. Unfortunately 'the other personality type' is more frequent arround here. There's some charm in all these differences so close...
The language is rather complicated one, even for natives, but once you get it right you'll really enjoy speaking it.

Yeah, I see now why you got your own blog...

**Take your place in history and prey you don't repeat it**

Yes, Belgrade is a great place.

Also, one of the most lucrative businesses here today is to be a non-government activist. That may explain a sudden rush of persistence in that field of work (western wages in Belgrade, not a small thing).

But, please, beware. Not all of those activists you admire were always so free minded and openhearted. Most, but really most, of them are former very highly ranked communists or at least prominent members of communist youth movement.

Dear Lucy,

I find it interesting that you've decided to come to Serbia to admire the local anti-war vigil group at the time when your country is in the middle of a genocidal War and directly responsible for the deaths of some 600,000+ people.

If you're so interested in peace activism shouldn't you have stayed home and organized vigils there - after all 600,000 dead just so you can keep on ridin' the SUVs, is far worse that anything the Serbs have ever done (combined).

And as for the emotional/aesthetic trauma inflicted upon you by having to watch the garbage-ladden Sava river... hey, I just spent a week in Newark, NJ. Wow, talk about clean...

to get used to living in a foreign country. But don't worry: even polar bears in the streets of Longyearbyen (on Spitzbergen) would just feel"normal" once you'd lived there a while.

Without meaning to sound high handed (a habit of mine apparantly) life in Serbia is more complex than some within the NGO world might have you believe. They do represent the educated, middle class youth and minorities (to generalise) and those people deserve a hearing but so do thousands of other Serbian citizens - many of whom are the so called losers in transition. Who represents them?

Yes there are many problems and yes WIB have my admiration. But you cant base predictions of Serbia's future on the word of a pretty narrow section of society - well meaning and well informed though most are.

You have to understand that some in the NGO world are desperate and they actually need things like the Serbian constitution to oppose. Without something to motivate they would feel lost. This masks or is indicative of a very pessimistic outlook on Serbian society - I dont feel that desperation or rather I use a broader barometer to decide how I feel about Serbia's future - above all by looking at the direction of the Serbian economy.

Their (NGO) truth is right but if for example you spent a weekend with a family of refugees from Croatia who were so kind you couldnt get over it, who told you of the injustice (and goodness knows what else) they experienced I suspect you would completely empathise even if you heard the odd intolerant statement about Croats. The truth of these refugees is rejected by the truth of some (not all) NGO'ists and vice versa.

Which is the truth?

Being a Serb, I was so obsessed finding out how you ended up in Belgrade, that I googled out your other blog going back to 2005. Absolutely loved it! Spent most of my hooky time at work today reading it.
I think you might just have what it takes to really benefit from your Balkan experience (or, for that matter, any other weird place like that ). Maybe a place like former Yu is a good socio-political vantage point right now. Aftermath of a war / dictatorship, transition, but still peaceful enough for civil and open discussion (sometimes), all in such turbulent times on a global level. And sooooo far out weird. I mean, where else do you have a bunch of middleage feminist ladies dressed in black waving rainbow flags that actually seem more mainstream than an average university student?
Have a good time, and good luck putting our kafana's onto the web map of the world. Won't be long before Rachel Ray does $40/day in Belgrade. Chevapi s kajmakom - absolutely delish' ! Maybe not.

As you write this blog you will find that there are lots of very frustrated and primitive individuals out there who will criticise you no matter what you say. If you say "hello" they will find something about it to criticise. And they will often make it ad hominem.

But don't get discouraged by it. Enjoy Belgrade and life in Serbia and continue to express your opinions freely.

Do you hear about NGO Dveri?
They fight for cultural and spiritual renew in serbian people.
You can visit them in Belgrade in Resavska street 11 to exchange experience.

You could find more positive energy in Belgrade than only in NGOs.
You are lucky to live here. And we are happy to have you here. Would you be so kind to name the range of opposition. I do not think that living here is masochistic streak in you. This is more colourful life with less work and more pleasure. Also you feel nice energies as well as bad, but generaly speaking heart kinded people are not rare here.

"Without dreaming there would be no learning, nor would there be memory. "

It is very noble that you came to our humble country. However,if you really want to be a part of this movement for change, which I fully support, you should not take such a patronizing stance toward the people, and culture here. It is rather offencive and it will not go well. One on the mistakes that Women in Black make is that they alienize themselves and make enemies in people, which not only doesnt help their cause, but hearts it. Women in Black should be more diplomatic in their approach, and consider their strategies, and pick their battles.

Also I did not understand what you ment by that reference to abortion? Please do not try to impose any of the Christian fundamentalism here. We are already fully stocked on all kinds of fundamentalisms, and do not need more.

Regards,

Hi Lucy. I just want to say that I think I understand how you feel. That, in spite of all the bad things that are happening in Serbia, including xenophobia, there are some great people in this town and country, that give you strenght and hope for a brighter future for all of us here. Well, actually that's how I feel. I'm glad that you met them, and it seems to me that you understand the situation in this country pretty well. Everything that you wrote is pretty much true, including the uncertain future of this country. It's very refreshing when somebody says that aloud. So keep up writing in this style!

US Army Announces Readiness for Total Military Takeover of America

Sorcha Faal October 21 2006

Russian Intelligence Analysts are reporting today that final steps towards a full Military Dictatorship of the United States have been taken with the US Army announcing USARNORTH has now reached 'full operational capacity' and is now ready to:

"Execute homeland defense and defense support of civil authorities missions", and "Conduct the Army-to-Army portion of the theater cooperation mission with Canada and Mexico".

According to these reports, the first of the USANORTH plans for the total military takeover of the United States, from its few remaining civilian overseers, rest with a new series of draconian laws recently enacted by their top Military Leaders and which, among other things, suspends the right of habeas corpus for Americans, and which the American Military Leaders have ordered their courts to disallow, and as we can read as reported by the Washington Post News Service in their article titled "Court Told It Lacks Power in Detainee Cases", and which says:

"Moving quickly to implement the bill signed by President Bush this week that authorizes military trials of enemy combatants, the administration has formally notified the U.S. District Court here that it no longer has jurisdiction to consider hundreds of habeas corpus petitions filed by inmates at the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba.

Beyond those already imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay or elsewhere, the law applies to all non-U.S. citizens, including permanent U.S. residents. Habeas corpus, a Latin term meaning "you have the body," is one of the oldest principles of English and American law. It requires the government to show a legal basis for holding a prisoner."

Not being fully explained to the American people, however, are that these new draconian laws do in fact have a direct impact upon each of them, and as explained by an American dissident group called The Future of Freedom Foundation, and which in their article titled "Jose Padilla and the Military Commissions Act", states:

"Anyone who hoped that U.S. military detention of Americans accused of terrorism expired with the transfer of American citizen Jose Padilla from military custody to Justice Department custody have seen their hopes dashed by the Military Commissions Act that the president signed into law yesterday. Although the act limits to foreign citizens the use of military tribunals and the denial of habeas corpus, any person, including American citizens, can still be labeled and treated as an "unlawful enemy combatant" in the war on terrorism.

What does that mean for the American people? It means the same thing it did for Jose Padilla. You'll recall that Padilla was arrested in Chicago for terrorism and transferred to military custody, where, according to Padilla, he was tortured and involuntarily injected with drugs.

The government's position is that since the entire world is a battlefield in which the war on terrorism is being waged, U.S. officials now have the power to arrest any American suspected of terrorism, place him in military custody, and subject him to the same "unlawful enemy combatant" treatment that Padilla received, until the war on terrorism has finally been won, no matter how long that takes."

More ominously for the American people is their future culpability in these actions being done in their name by their Military Leaders, and as articulated by one of the United States most celebrated reporters, Helen Thomas, and who has said about these horrific new laws:

"President Bush on Tuesday signed the law that legalizes the administration's shameful treatment of detainees suspected of terrorism. The same measure also empowers the president to define torture. It's a sad legacy for America and its already-tarnished world image.

The far-reaching legislation gives Bush the right to decide what constitutes torture. The president has often said "we do not torture," despite evidence to the contrary - and photographs from the infamous Abu Ghraib prison as well. The president also can set guidelines for interrogation of prisoners. White House spokesman Tony Snow declined to say whether "waterboarding" - in which detainees are made to feel they are drowning - would be permissible.

Under the new law, the president also has extraordinary powers to designate who is an illegal enemy combatant, which potentially subjects U.S. citizens and foreigners to indefinite detention with no power to appeal. Bush is also allowed to interpret the Geneva Conventions on Humane Treatment of Prisoners of War.

One of the reasons Bush sought a green light from the lawmakers is "to have Congress stand with him in the dock," Malinowski added. The military commissions act is law. And all Americans will be tainted by it."

Helen Thomas' reference to American Military Leaders standing in the 'dock', which means standing trial for War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity, rings ever truer with the decision of the International Committee of the Red Cross issuing only its second ever in history "concern" regarding the actions of a warring Nation [the first "concern" issued by the ICRC was in 1944 over the Nazi German treatment of concentration camp detainees], and which we can read as reported by the SwissInfo News Service in their article titled "ICRC "concerned" over US anti-terrorism law", and which says:

"The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) expressed concern on Thursday at the United States' tough new anti-terrorism law. The president of Swiss-run humanitarian body, Jakob Kellenberger, said that there were questions over its compliance with the Geneva Conventions on the conduct of war."

To the second part of the USANORTH plan for the unsuspecting American people, Conduct the Army-to-Army portion of the theater cooperation mission with Canada and Mexico", we can read from the Council on Foreign Relations report that first outlined the merger of the independent Nations of the United States, Canada and Mexico into a North American Union, and which says:

"Sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations in association with the Canadian Council of Chief Executives and the Consejo Mexicano de Asuntos Internacionales.

North America is vulnerable on several fronts: the region faces terrorist and criminal security threats, increased economic competition from abroad, and uneven economic development at home. In response to these challenges, a trinational, Independent Task Force on the Future of North America has developed a roadmap to promote North American security and advance the well-being of citizens of all three countries.

When the leaders of Canada, Mexico, and the United States met in Texas recently they underscored the deep ties and shared principles of the three countries. The Council-sponsored Task Force applauds the announced "Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America," but proposes a more ambitious vision of a new community by 2010 and specific recommendations on how to achieve it."

Also not being understood by the American people are how their young children are currently being trained to be administrators of this North American Union, and as we can read as reported by the World Net Daily News Service in their article titled "N[orth] American students trained for 'merger', and which says:

"In another example of the way the three nations of North America are being drawn into a federation, or "merger," students from 10 universities in the U.S., Mexico and Canada are participating annually in a simulated "model Parliament."

Under the sponsorship of the Canadian based North American Forum on Integration, students met in the Mexican Senate for five days in May in an event dubbed "Triumvirate," with organizers declaring "A North American Parliament is born." A similar event took place in the Canadian Senate in 2005.

The intentions of organizers are clear. "The creation of a North American parliament, such as the one being simulated by these young people, should be considered," explained Raymond Chretien, the president of the Triumvirate and the former Canadian ambassador to both Mexico and the U.S. Participants discuss draft bills on trade corridors, immigration, provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement and produce a daily newspaper called "The TrilatHerald."

To those dwindling numbers of Americans aware of the total destruction of their Nation, and way of life, ever harsher measures to destroy all dissent were outlined to them this past week by their Military Leaders, and as we can read as reported by these various sources:

As reported by the Reuters News Service in their October 17th article titled "Web could be terror training camp: Chertoff", and which says, "Disaffected people living in the United States may develop radical ideologies and potentially violent skills over the Internet and that could present the next major U.S. security threat, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said on Monday. "We now have a capability of someone to radicalize themselves over the Internet," Chertoff said on the sidelines of a meeting of International Association of the Chiefs of Police."

As reported by the CNET News Service in their October 17th article titled "FBI director wants ISPs to track users", and which says, "FBI Director Robert Mueller on Tuesday called on Internet service providers to record their customers' online activities, a move that anticipates a fierce debate over privacy and law enforcement in Washington next year."

As reported by an American dissident writer, Chris Floyd, in his October 17th report titled "Sentimental Education: Academia Signs Up for Tracking Down Dissent", and which says, "Why is the United States government spending millions of dollars to track down critics of George W. Bush in the press? And why have major American universities agreed to put this technology of tyranny into the state's hands?

The Bush administration already has spyware devouring reams of private information in every direction. It is now paying top universities millions of dollars to refine this data into actionable intelligence - including the automated discernment and tracking of dissent against administration policies and criticism of the president. Bush has openly declared that he has no intention of obeying privacy laws - or any other laws safeguarding the Constitutional rights of American citizens - if he doesn't want to."

More interesting, perhaps, than the simultaneous flooding of the American media this past week with 'frightening' reports on the 'dangers' of the Internet by the US Military Leaders, was the sensationalist reporting revolving around an American man posting on the Internet a hoax threat, and which has resulted in his arrest, and as we can read as reported by the KWTX News Service in their article titled "Store Clerk Arrested In Stadium Threat Hoax", and which says:

"A Wisconsin grocery store clerk is under arrest on charges he's behind the hoax that claimed there would be dirty bomb attacks during this weekend's NFL games. Jake Brahm surrendered to federal authorities Friday morning, and was due in a Milwaukee court later in the day. The US Attorney in Newark, N.J., says Brahm is charged in a sealed criminal complaint."

Russian Intelligence reports on this American 'hoax incident', in our opinion, have correctly stated that these events are a false flag operation intended to bring the ever growing American dissident community to heel by 'reminding' them that even a 20-year-old store clerk is not beyond their reach. We can rightly imagine the fear these events have caused among the American dissidents as what they are experiencing now we have lived with our entire lives.

To the greater of these issues, though, remains the fact that the total destruction of America today has long been planned, and is even now in its final stages. To the many warning signs put before these American people there have also been many, and, perhaps, none more chilling then a simple letter sent from a former US Congressman, Bill Hefner, to a constituent of his in North Carolina written in 1997, and which says:

"Enclosed is the information you requested pertaining to the Army's policy and guidance for establishing civilian inmate labor program and civilian prison camps on Army installations.

This information has not yet been published (it is currently at the printers), however, it has been funded, staffed, and does reflect current Army policy. I hope you find this information useful."

As the storm clouds continue to gather over these once great American people, one cannot wonder at their continued insistence to not look up, see what is coming, and prepare

"Without dreaming there would be no learning, nor would there be memory. "

So you travelled all the way from USA just so you could admire Women in black demonstrating.

Geez, and I thought that our educational system has gone to hell.

My offer for guiding you through these dungeons still stands. Only this time the price is much higher.

(One more blog entry such as this and there will be no money/foood/english classes or books/ in the world that could motivate me to guide you. :)

Cheers!

__________________________________________________
"Now that we are poor, we are free. No white man controls our footsteps. If we must die, we'll die defending our rights."
Chief Sitting Bull (Tatanka Iyotake), Hunkpapa Sioux (1831-1890)
http://isp.b92.net/~beowulf/

Dear Lucy
enjoy your experience in Serbia.
Everytime I can I go there, even if I wasn't able yet to get a job or an internhip there (maybe for my english ;)
Try to hear all the voices, and to understand the complexity of this beautiful region and its beatiful people.
Have a good time!
beppe, italy
www.balkaland.blogspot.com