Anonymous said in a comment to day 310...
I sit here in silence but I do not burn. As an outsider I know that my best contribution to peace is to keep my distance. Hate is contagious and it has smitten you.
SMITTEN - (used in combination) affected by something overwhelming; "conscience-smitten"; "awe-struck"
struck,
stricken combining form - a bound form used only in compounds; "`hemato-' is a combining form in words like `hematology'"
affected - acted upon; influenced
2.
SMITTEN - marked by foolish or unreasoning fondness; "she was crazy about him"; "gaga over the rock group's new album"; "he was infatuated with her"
enamored,
in love,
infatuated,
soft on,
taken with,
gaga,
dotty,
crazy loving - feeling or showing love and affection; "loving parents"; "loving glances"
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You know I have no idea what it is about “foot in mouth syndrome” that has left me so afflicted by it’s symptoms that I can never seem to remove my foot from my mouth. Perhaps I have a suppressed foot fetish and just love the taste of shoe and foot? Who the hell knows!
Once again I have drunk just a little too much and let a few words get in the way my true meaning. Looking back I truly did not mean what I said about wishing those to burn in hell who sit in silence over the current situation in and around Srebrenica. I know it is too late to apologize and apologies are a dime a dozen but…jebiga – I’m sorry! I did not mean that. It was the alcohol talking.
Let me tell you why I feel the way I feel. I feel the way I feel because to me there is a double standard. The Balkans to me is a double edged sword where one edge is razor sharp while the other has been worn dull and ineffective as a result of a “behind the scenes” war currently being fought there. The Bosniaks and the Bosnian Serbs are still at war. All the Dayton Peace Accord did was put a stop to the bullet, mine, knife and tank war. The second that war ended another instantly sprang into place. This time it was a war of emotions, media coverage, and political correctness and, to a degree, propaganda.
The Serbs have been losing this second war from its birth. One word can sum up the reason why they have been loosing it; Srebrenica. It was a horrible event. An event that I pray and pray never occurs again anywhere in this world. The exact numbers of dead are conflicting but, I personally believe there were more than a few thousand Bosniaks murdered by certain Bosnian Serbs and Serbian entities. If you have chosen not to judge me like some judge the cover of a book you know this about me. The blood spilled there, partly, is on the hands of the United Nations and it’s so called peacekeeping force. The United Nations and the commanders of the troops on the ground in Srebrenica should also be held accountable and prosecuted for their failure to act as Portacari was being purged of Bosniak males. Incompetence alone in the form of the United Nations not recognizing the centuries old blood-feud between the two enemies is partly to blame for what happened then and what is happening now. In a sense, what is happening now is wrong based on this blood-feud. Have we learned nothing from history?
What is happening now you ask! I’ll tell you. What is happening now is certain Bosniaks along with certain international elements are trying to wrongly use the events of early July 1995 to their advantage as they promote their cause in this second, cold, Balkan war currently being fought. In a sense, the dead of Srebrenica are being falsely represented by certain individuals whose actions will be directly responsible for the deaths of those citizens killed in the next wave of fighting that will, mark my words, eventually come into play.
How many Bosnian Serb or Serbians are or have been tried and been convicted of crimes in this war? There are a lot. Sure, there are a lot more Serbian individuals still at large who need to be held accountable for their roles in the deaths of Bosniak civilians. I even know one personally but, you know what? There are also a lot of Bosniaks who fall into this same category. Hell, Serbia her self has begun trying and convicting their own of crimes committed in this crazy ass hellish war. In my opinion, what I see today, the Bosniaks will not be fully satisfied until all Serbs pay for the crimes of a few; even those born after the war who did not even exist then. Do you Bosniaks actually believe you can condemn an entire nation of proud, just as proud as you, civilians and citizens for the crimes of a few?
Naser Oric! I would love to meet face to face this Bosniak hero, Mr. Oric. So would my boy. Any of you out there who may be able to set this up please do! We will do everything by his choice: meeting place, his security personnel, his demands, and an advanced prepared question query – what ever he wants I will honor! I will even offer to give him fifty percent of all profits from the book! My 25 percent will go to orphans of this war. My boy is free do with what he wants with his 25 percent.
What the Balkans need is something exactly like this to happen! Both side’s citizens need this. There needs to be a civilized sit down made public for all to see, composed of high profile Serbs and Bosniaks along with each side’s victims. I would encourage the same type of meeting between the “Women of Srebrenica” and who ever they would like to meet with in this same manner. What you have a better idea? Well, lets here it!
If it is one thing we should all agree on it is; tensions are no where near the level they need or should be after more than 10 years of peace. If anything, as the years grow so does the potential for violence. And for what reasons is continued violence necessary? Because both sides refuse to compromise – in my mind Serbia and the Bosnian Serbs have chosen peace over conflict by their acknowledgment of crimes against Bosniaks by their very actions over these past 12 years. Why have the Bosniaks refused to given an inch in return? I do not understand this. And this is the reason I feel certain Bosniaks and international entities are using Srebrenica as an expendable pawn for their cause and agenda to empower their side.
For the record I do sincerely apologize for being crude and rude and a drunken bastard at times. But fuck, given all the variables and circumstances of me being who I have become, I think a few harsh words along with a few dumb and ill chosen statements should be the least of the real worries as far as this whole Balkan war mess is concerned.
I do not know what else to say on this subject. I do not want war. I hate war! If I could I would sacrifice my soul and life for the entire Balkan region and her people. I truly would. But we all know that is fair-tale talk. You show me something better and I’ll be more than happy to support it.
I still want that meeting with Naser Oric! My boy and I sitting down with Naser Oric under his total terms and conditions – surely someone can work this out.
For what it is worth to you, have a good night and I’m sorry for my seemingly one sided view of late. What is one to do though? I hope someone has the answer before it is too late.
So yes, in a way I have become "SMITTEN". Not because of hatred though! Hatred is contagious but I have yet to become addicted. I’m just simply one lonely man lost and caught up among the hate. I forever have a life long vested interest in the Balkans. My son and grandchildren will have to fight if war breaks out again. You actually think I want this!? You tell me what policy by anyone has lead to peace over war here in the Balkans! This policy does not exist yet. I can tell you this though, let something happen where this family of mine is threatened and I will meet force with force, death with death and crime with crime! Understand this and you will start to have a basic understanding of what occurred in the Balkans in the early to mid 1990s!
John