Communication- July - August 2005

Communication

Contributions from readers who didn't object to having their email published in Vagabond Pages.

Sometimes I don't receive an answer to my request to publish a letter and I don't know how to interpret it. So I've decided to simplify things and not oblige readers to answer. The most recent letters are at the top of the page. WM

Flawed Story of the Yugoslav Conflict ..., Proposition ..., Mihailovic Medal on Internet ..., Same Sex Marriage ...

Flawed Story of the Yugoslav Conflict

This week's press was flooded with stories and editorials moralizing about Srebrenica as the site of 'the greatest massacre since WW2." I have never been able to believe that such a massacre happened. Why? Simply because the story of the whole conflict in Yugoslavia is so flawed, so twisted, has been written as a black and white story of evil Serbs against innocent, accommodating Muslim victims. The press is now in the process of using its own flawed "reports" as a source for current stories, thus perpetuating this view. The Guardian Weekly speaks about the "systematic massacre of 8,000 Muslims." Up to this moment there is no convincing proof of a systematic murder, just statements from compromised witnesses. Two thousand bodies have been identified as 'Srebrenica victims.' - executed or killed in battle? Are there any dead Serbs? Probably not. If there are, they must have deserved it …!

Nikole
nikole@idirect.ca

..." a grandfather forced to eat the liver of his own grandson." (Guardian Weekly July 15-21 2005)

The proof of the Holocaust is based mostly on evidence, the story of Srebrenica, like other stories of the conflict in exYugoslavia is based mostly on testimonies from one-sided not-objective witnesses. Most of the reporters faithfully repeat what the witnesses tell them automatically giving those statements the value of evidence. If this is not criminal misinformation then what is?

I give myself freedom not to believe the story of the grandfather forced to eat his grandchild's liver; it sounds like the product of sick imagination directly inspired by the Hannibal/Cannibal movie. Why does cheap propaganda presented as information work so well on a global scale, why is there no way for the opposite side to express their own point? Because History now unfolds as a bastard of the union between political cretins and political hoodlums. WM

Proposition

I am looking to you with a proposition of publishing my book: "Aphorisms" in English language-and others. I hope that it is designed to appeal to you. ... < >.... I am enclosing a copy of it. I look forward hearing from you and wait for your possible offers.

Yours thankfully,
Eugene Kolda
dyplomy@dyplomy.ne

Eugene -- we are in the same boat, meaning that I wouldn't mind if somebody published collection, "Extracts of Existence -- new version" which is found here at Vagabond Pages. I don't quote any samples of your aphorisms because you didn't ask me to. All the best on your trek. WM

Mihailovic Medal on Internet

A few years ago I wrote to the Communication Page about the Medal that was awarded secretly and posthumously to Serbian General Draza Mihailovic by the U.S. Government. The medal was secret because the US did not want to offend Tito. This medal ranks as the highest honour that can be given to a foreigner. It was given because Mihailovic and his men, at great risk to themselves rescued and returned 500 downed American airmen in the middle of the war. Mihailovic was executed by Tito right after the war and the whole world bought the story that this great general had collaborated with the Germans. Some collaborator! As a matter of fact those of us who believed he was a hero have been ridiculed for years and years -- even before these wars began in Yugoslavia.. It's been heartbreaking, I don't mind saying it. The medal was relegated to the category of a rumour because a medal for a heroic Serb does not fit the propaganda that the has been dished out since 1990. The free press never even hinted that the Serbs were among the heroes of the Second World War. Why? And who remembers reading any article about Bosnian Muslim SS Divisions or Kosovo Albanian SS divisions? I can't say that I've ever seen it. So, sorry it's taking me awhile to get to my point. Which is this:

The award was finally made "public." That is, an American delegation went to Belgrade in May and presented the medal to General Mihailovic's daughter. Big deal. Did you read about it anywhere but on the internet? Was it not at least a human interest story? Is it not at least interesting that the largest behind-the-lines rescue in American history was carried out by a Serb general and his men helped by brave Serb civilians?

Whenever I hear comments about internet news reporting not being reputable or reliable I have to laugh -- one week of stories about the Runaway Bride, not even 10 minutes for this one and the media barely blushes at how low it has fallen. I had to find it on the internet.

Nikole
nikole@idirect.ca

Same Sex Marriage

Vagabond -- what do you think about same sex marriage?

name withheld by request

Vagabond is for freedom; it is none of my business whom you marry. As far as I'm concerned, one can marry his own pipe if he wishes. I see four reasons for marrying your own pipe: 1) Warm 2) Aromatic 3) Doesn't fool around 4) Not talkative :) WM

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William Markiewicz