Serbia: Traveling Without Moving

Ivan Tasovac director of Belgrade Philharmonic Orcherstra

2011-09-21T00:28:00.000+02:00

Crisis of Capitalism

2010-07-10T11:39:00.001+02:00

Recommended by Michael Lassiter.

Tošo Borković

2010-05-15T00:19:00.001+02:00

Public Announcement

2010-04-22T17:38:00.004+02:00

First of all we would like to extend our deepest sympathies to all of our season tickets holders, not just the one that was unfortunate enough to get shot while attending the football game. We sympathize with everyone because, just like our fine members of the parliament some weeks ago, we do not discriminate people on account of ethnicity, religion, type of admission or amount of pain they have suffered during our team's matches. We are All overwhelmed by the severity of the punishment that the club faces, and five games without the presence of the supporters is, to say the least, unjust, and just goes to show that the State really is hell bent on destroying football in this country. Although it hasn't, this kind of accident could have happened anywhere in the world and is in no way extraordinary.

Concerning the liability for the unfortunate event that happened during the thursday Cup game, we are in no way responsible for the actions of criminals and repeated offenders who, at the same time, are our fan groups leaders and managing board members. During the managing board meetings they have not exhibited any signs of violence that is out of the ordinary and this display of agitation comes as much to ours as everyone else's surprise. Our monitor service has done everything within the confines of the law to ensure the safety of everyone on the stadium. The absence of usual supporter's requisites such as fire crackers, torches, brass knuckles, crowbars, knives and cleavers is a statement to our organizational professionalism. Also, the object associated with the incident is a hand gun, and in no way does it falls under the jurisdiction of the monitor service. It is clearly a domain of the Police.

FC Red Star will appeal to this draconian sentence whose only goal, clearly, is the continuance of the negative campaign towards the Club and domestic football in general. Although we do not expect for the appeal to change anything, since all the levers of control are in the hands of the sworn enemies of our great Family, we are exercising our right in accordance to the statute of the League to which we always have and ever will adhere. Previous thirteen incidents are clearly isolated events and in no way reflect our beloved Club.

Sincerely and Respectfully,
FC Red Star.

Ash nazg thrakatulûk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul.

2010-04-10T13:57:00.003+02:00

Serbia is one of the few countries of the world whose politicians use magic as a legitimate means to an end. In addition to regular, everyday magician tricks, that is usually reserved for the field of political marketing, a lot of effort is being invested into practicing Magic. Namely homeopathic or imitative magic. This particular occurrence is most clearly shown in Serbian political elite's attitude towards the problem of Kosovo. The particular spell that is used in resolving Serbia's burning issue of Kosovo, is comprised of a simple vocal component that is being repeated over and over in hope of a favorable outcome. It reads "Kosovo is Serbia". Now I would emphasize "in hope" of a favorable outcome because this, in fact, is the essence and differentia specifica of Serbian political magic.

It was J.G.Frazer that, more than a hundred years ago, wrote about primitive people and their practicing of magic, calling them and their primitive customs irrational and prelogical. However, he was wrong because, in fact, irrational and prelogical is the kind of magic that is practiced by Serbian political sorcerers, not "primitive shamans". The answer is in the attitude towards the magic system. In Serbia they Hope the spell will have an effect, the savages Know it will.

Now this kind of explanation of Serbian political magic might be enough in case we believe that the “Kosovo spell” is really directed towards a defense of Kosovo. Serbian political sorcerers are way too clever for that. The spell is actually directed towards the Serbian people whose stupidity and naiveté are those secret ingredients that every respectable sorcerer jealously keeps to himself. The actual defense of Kosovo (what ever that really means) is just an added bonus that everyone hopes for but no one really expects. Meanwhile, the entire country is intoxicated and desensitized to almost everything but the prospects of a glorious return to our sacred lands.

Another occurrence within the Serbian political and public spectrum in general, which can be subsumed under the category of "applied sorcery", explains the nature of Serbian political magic. Serbian political sorcerers belong to a school of magic called Goetia, with a hint of modern necromancy and even Demonolatry. As we all know ceremonial magic include regular blood sacrifices, elaborate occult rituals and the old school selling of the soul to the devil. Following the example of ill-fated Dorian Grey, Serbian political sorcerers sold their soul in return for the everlasting vitality and youth, thus striping themselves of the enormous burden of greed, ruthlessness and remorselessness that encumbers and prematurely ruins the body and soul. Life without a soul and conscience is a comfortable life, especially if you are staying in the politics until the end of your life. Now, I presume that you are wondering isn't there a Portrait of their own the likes of Dorian Grey's, a portrait that would constantly remind them of the kind of monsters they have become? The answer is (and here we can fully comprehend the ingenuity of Serbian Necromancers) the Serbian people itself. Hunched over, miserable and blemished and aged before its time, Serbian people are a much better choice than a portrait or a single individual. You can't destroy seven million people the way Grey destroyed his painting thus ending his wretched life. We are inextricably locked within this circle whose vicious revolution's cessation is nowhere in sight. However, a Revolution is something one can only hope for. Until then They are probably not decomposing even after death. Their country decomposes for them.

Tošo Borković

2010-03-13T14:39:00.001+01:00

Superwall - M-City

2010-02-01T12:47:00.002+01:00

All Dogs Go To Heaven (?)

2010-01-24T23:16:00.005+01:00

The carcass has been there for 27 days. It was just moved a few feet away so it doesn't inconvenience the people who are waiting for the buss. Now it's easier to pretend it's not there. Kinda like living in Serbia - just pretend you're not there.

Day 35: Dog is still there. Covered almost entirely with snow. Even more convenient.

Day 50: Still stubbornly refusing to decompose into the ground. These last couple of days have been very cold.

Day 67: Sunny at last! Melt away little dog. Just you melt away.

Facing the Demon

2010-01-19T16:16:00.006+01:00

In one of the numerous texts that concern the impending Srebrenica genocide resolution of Serbian parliament, politician and a professor of psychology at the University of Belgrade, Žarko Korać, talks about things that the resolution will bring about and that are mutually exclusive. He says that "it is impossible to think good of Ratko Mladić (commander in chief of Serbian forces in Srebrenica) and condemn the events as genocide, and it is also impossible to justify the war in Bosnia and to have compassion for the 8.000 victims of Srebrenica". Reading these lines, again, I am faced with a dilemma: If, from a perspective of international law, i think that categorizing a crime in Srebrenica as a genocide is more of a political than a judicial decision, can i truly be in favor of such a resolution? Can i, in some way, reconcile these two seemingly opposite positions?
Reflecting on it now, it was more of a soul searching than a simple dilemma. For a while now i have been considering the events from Srebrenica within the confines of the international law. A genocide is a legal category and should be deliberated as such. By doing so i wasn't entirely convinced, beyond any doubt, that the Srebrenica massacre was a genocide. I was convinced, and in some part still am, that the decision of the International Court of Justice was stretched by the politicians just enough to justify the involvement of the international community in the Balkan war.
However logical and correct, this kind of deliberation is essentially flawed when used by the Serbian nationals (to whom i accidentally belong). I know that now. For years now virtually all of the prominent political factors in Serbia have, one way or another, condemned the crimes committed during the war. Some sincerely, some quite sanctimoniously. And what the majority of them had in common is the absence of the word Genocide. Massacre yes, war crime definitely, but not Genocide. And Genocide is the key here. Only by calling Srebrenica event a Genocide, and condemning it through a resolution proclaimed by the highest governing body of our country can we truly begin to face our demons. To acknowledge the crimes and the victims doesn't seem to be a problem at all, but to admit that there has been a Genocide on part of the Serbian armed forces, is one hell of a dread. It's time to put the legal semantics aside and truly begin the process of healing for this whole region. Only by admitting to genocide are we going to oblige ourselves, morally and institutionally, never to let anyone again kill 8.000 people in our name. Or one, for that matter.

Tošo Borković

2009-12-26T23:15:00.002+01:00

"Thank You!"

2009-12-25T13:10:00.003+01:00

Well they did it. We applied for a full membership of the European Union, but, to get to the point straight away, one can not but wonder why just now. Before i get on someone's nerves for raining on our parade, i want to say that i am very happy that this has happened. Now, at least, our priorities and path into the future have been clearly paved. However, impact of the formal application into the EU transcends mere prospects of a better life for a half-dozen million tired people. It reminds me of a new marketing campaign that several Banks have been using around here lately. With every transaction you make with your pay card a percentage goes to the fund for the prevention of cancer or AIDS. A noble endeavor but, none the less, a marketing campaign made to boost the profits. The good thing is that, in the end, someone other than the Bank has some use of it. This is what happened to our EU application. It brings a nice PR facelift and political profit to a seriously shaken coalition of ruling parties while in return starts a long overdue healing treatment for the cancerous population. Now all they have to make sure is that the patient does not die on the operating table.
The buzzards are circling, and they want their carcass.

Economic Patriotism

2009-11-10T22:32:00.001+01:00

It is only recently that i have heard the phrase economic patriotism being tossed around the Serbian media. Interesting is who is doing the aforementioned tossing. The answer is: employers union of Serbia. And, basically, what this unity of well-off individuals, super powerful tycoons, corporate dirt bags and your everyday slave drivers are saying is ask not what your company can do for you, but what you can do for her.

After the worst economic crisis in modern history, Serbia, among other countries, is, allegedly, starting to feel the slow restoration of its economic system. The employers have fired or forcibly retired enough of their workers to once again start threading the familiar paths of unlimited growth. However, once again we are faced with an obstacle. The one that threatens to, once again, destroy the fragile economic system such as Serbia’s. This new enemy is called H1N1, or better known for its more sinister name, Swine Flu. Now, in the eyes of the employers union of Serbia this swine flu is just another obstacle on the road to projected profit. And it is physically attacking and incapacitating the resource they so adamantly protect and enshrine. Their workers. And they didn’t sit idly by and watch as their workers are being swept away from their workplaces. No, they decided to appeal to the very core of our solidarity. Our Patriotism. But, they are talking about a very specialized kind of patriotism. The one committed to the welfare of your company, thus, indirectly, to the welfare of your country.

Of course this appeal has been made in the truest Serbian tradition. statements such as "...those that get sick should stay home and get better, but there will be a number of people that are taking sick leave out of fear. Then we will see who is the true economic patriot and who is not" are infused with the sense of inescapable ancestral scorn for those that betray the god and country. The failure to answer the call of duty has a price that we will all pay. The price of 10.5 million Euros per month.

So, fellow countrymen, This is what we can do for our country. And corporation.

Tošo Borković

2009-10-18T18:37:00.000+02:00

Whatever Works

2009-10-17T20:04:00.004+02:00

In the light of the recent unsettling events that took place on the streets of Belgrade (the cancellation of Belgrade pride parade and the murder of a French football supporter) one cannot but admire the tremendous skill of dodging any kind of political damage and bad publicity that Serbian politicians have exercised. The way their non-corporeal, political and corporeal, human bodies wormed their way around every moral and political trap that was laid before them during these incidents is something to be respected.

Unsettling events

Belgrade LGBT pride parade was canceled due to high security risks and the inability of Serbian police forces to guarantee safety of all the participants and bystanders. A number (all of them) of ultra - nationalist, traditionalist, fascist and religious (as well as some of the highest ranking officials of the Serbian Orthodox Church) groups threatened to attack members of the parade in order to stop the shameful exhibition of sexual deviancy and perversity. The parade was canceled one day before it was supposed to take place.
The murder of a French young man, Brice Taton, took place shortly after. One group of football supporters intercepted the other in downtown Belgrade. The man was beaten up with crowbars, and several days later he died in the hospital due to the severe trauma to his head and heart.

Tergiversation

Serbian politician's reactions ranged from true shock and condemnation through passive noninterference to silent approval. But what they all had in common was the shifting of blame and avoidance of any kind of responsibility for the things that are happening in the country they lead. It is remarkable how Serbian politicians can avoid being blamed for anything. To be a politician here, means to master a special kind of speech. The kind that would allow you to talk for hours on end but to say virtually nothing. That way, if anything goes wrong, you are not the one who gets to be blamed. And things go wrong more often than not. Because the ability (and often lack of will) of the average politician here to predict the unfolding of the events is limited to "...i'm sure that sun will rise tomorrow". The only "big picture" they know of is measured in inches and it represents the size of their television sets. In such climate it is dangerous to be responsible.
In these instances, they spent huge amounts of energy to differentiate themselves from the problem, instead of solving it. And they didn't solve it. They just managed to show to the people that they do not "share the values that homosexual people do, but they believe that any person can exercise its right to free speech and sexual orientation". But they didn't do anything to enable a chance for those peoples to do that. So the extremists have won. They have beaten the government and the parade is canceled. But the politicians didn't even flinch. Like nothing has happened.
One other reason for such a behavior is the importance of the ideals that these extremist groups represent and the extent to which they are rooted in peoples minds. Peoples that are registered voters. Direct attack on these groups results in a proportional loss of a significant number of votes. That is why they have operated without any problems for nearly two decades. Again, politicians deal with the situation as it arises, and its always in the way that would benefit their current image.
Today, Serbia really is traveling without moving.

Superwall - Blu

2009-09-03T17:06:00.007+02:00

Tošo Borković

2009-07-31T18:54:00.004+02:00

Superwall

2009-07-31T17:54:00.003+02:00

Finally someone in Belgrade realized that all those bleak walls would be a lot better if they had murals on them. Artists that contributed are "world renowned street artists" M-City, Blu (im especially pleased with him doing work here) and Valerio Berruti.

Check out more at BELEF.

Limits of Human Dignity and Decency

2009-07-31T17:03:00.004+02:00

Recently appointed prime minister of Croatia, Jadranka Kosor, urged one of the local branches of RTL television network to fire one of their cameraman for wearing highly insulting t-shirt while recording the latest parliament session. The prime minister said that "all of the representatives are democratically elected to represent the people of Croatia, that they are performing very responsible and selfless public work and that she will not allow individuals to insult them". The TV station promptly fired their cameraman, in spite of the critiques and protests of journalist associations and other organizations. The cameraman tried to explain himself by stating that this was the only clean shirt he had and that he bought it at the stand in USA. It figures.
By the way, prime minister Kosor, when she was appointed a few weeks ago due to the resignation of the officially elected prime minister, was "accused" of having Serbian descent, so leave it to the Serbs to be the everlasting keepers of tradition, morality and human decency.

Tošo Borković

2009-07-18T10:27:00.005+02:00

Budget

Breaking the Silence

2009-07-17T17:49:00.004+02:00

According to the report by Breaking the Silence, Hamas's cynical conduct of war can no longer be solely blamed for the large number of civilian casualties. The Islamists deployed their fighters in densely populated areas, making it difficult for the Israelis to distinguish between Hamas soldiers and civilians. Many of the wounded and dead are clearly the result of a lesson Israel learned in the Lebanon war of 2006: no hesitation, no scruples...

Some veterans also confirm that the army sent local residents into houses where Hamas fighters were holed up, as a kind of vanguard. This method, known as the "neighbor procedure," is expressly banned in Israel. According to one soldier, his unit placed a gun barrel on the shoulder of a Palestinian and forced him to walk ahead of them into a suspicious building. If this is true, Hamas fighters were not the only ones who misused civilians as human shields...

More at BBC news

Srebrenica

2009-07-13T14:04:00.001+02:00

I’ve been meaning to write something about the events following Srebrenica massacre for some time now, and this looks like the time to do it. At once i am faced with a dilemma: what is the right way to tackle such a sensitive topic, because the last thing i want to do is to negate the horrible crime that has happened there on July 11, 1995. There are two dimensions of the Srebrenica events – one is the immeasurable amount of human suffering caused by the fact that almost 8.000 people, young and old, were killed by the cowardly men in uniforms in the name of “god and country”. The other is a dimension of international justice and political aftermath of the massacre. I am going to talk about the latter.
In the years following the massacre, the majority of victim’s families, their political representatives and the international community, called for the categorization of the events as genocide – “the intent to destroy in whole or in part a national, ethnical, racial or religious group…”, the strongest argument (of the victims families and a range of NGOs) being the universal human morality that we all must adhere to, and anyone who challenges this is committing another genocide; this time over the memories of the victims and the justice they deserve. Now, the concepts of justice and morality are relational and culturally infused so the concepts of universal human rights and (concerning this text) genocide were developed to supersede these particularistic loyalties. However, it is my opinion that in case of Srebrenica, the 2007 judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that the Srebrenica massacre constitutes a genocide is a highly politicized decision. In order to contextualize the events in Srebrenica, we must take into account other similar incidents and the way they are referred to by the advocates for the Srebrenica genocide. The most eye-catching is the mentioning of the Srebrenica “genocide” along with the Rwandan genocide that officially counts 500.000 (800.000 – 1.000.000 unofficially) victims in just 100 days of fighting. In Srebrenica there were 8.000 deaths out of the 35.000 – 40.000 Muslims that lived within 203.5 sq miles of Srebrenica municipality. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s territory totals approximately 20.000 sq miles. Another incident is the Operation Storm that brought the civil war in former Yugoslavia to an end. At the end of the operation, which lasted for 84 hours, 150.000 – 200.000 Serbs left their homes in fear of the aggression by the Croatian army that sized the territories Serbs previously inhabited. The number of Serbian refugees during the Yugoslav civil war thus totals around 350.000. Today these events and the dates they took place, are celebrated in Croatia as a national holiday, Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day. Also, during the US intervention in Iraq, 1.000.000 people lost their lives and who knows how many were forced to leave their homes and live scattered around the deserts of Middle East.
So why then are the events of Srebrenica a genocide? I think that it is because the genocide can much more effectively legitimate the international communities involvement in the Yugoslav civil war. The genocide bestowed upon the NATO forces the role of savior and protector of human rights and punisher of all who desire to terrorize, enslave and exterminate. However, situational and relational character of justice and morality is far too alluring for their proponents to be dismissed in favor of the universal law and humanity which become a mere front for the political and strategicall relations of power between world’s superpowers. By insisting on calling the Srebrenica massacre a genocide, we are transforming the victims in artifacts of political dominance and power play, which is a method so often used by politicians and other agents of human governance. The victims would not be completely forgotten and erased from history if we would not call it a genocide.

An der schönen blauen Donau

2009-07-10T13:34:00.002+02:00

First, to make things clear i am really excited about the notion that Belgrade could get, not one, not two, but four (4) new bridges over the Danube. However, the huge amount of money (118 and 190 million euros just for the first and the second bridge) and the possibility that something like this is going to be built in Serbia, a country that builds all its mid-range projects for up to thirty (thats 30) years, sounds like something straight out of the pen of Hans Christian Andersen. Until that day comes, we will have to do with this.

Tošo Borković

2009-07-10T10:40:00.000+02:00

5 (five) billion euros scam recipe

2009-07-09T23:50:00.004+02:00

Ingredients:

- one rundown public company (we used Belgrade harbor)
- few local multi millionaires hidden behind a foreign company
- one foreign company
- 50 million euros
- lots of corrupt politicians and city officials
Preparation:
Buy one rundown public company with 200 acres of land, less than a mile from the city core. Do it over the anonymous foreign company so that real owners/buyers stay hidden. Pay the land 50 instead of between 500 million and 1 billion euros. Bribe to taste. Let rise for few months, than wait for the urban general plan to change, so that the purpose of your land is changed from industrial to commercial/residential. Again, bribe to taste. Tear down old outdated machinery and warehouses, build 22.000.000 square feet of shopping malls, residential buildings, office spaces, recreation spaces and sell it all for 5 billion euros. Serve with chilled champagne.

http://www.daniel-libeskind.com/projects/show-all/belgrade-danube-waterfront/