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Posted December 10, 2001
Sweetly Fascist
Regarding the response by John Spindler [posted December 4] to Nebojsa's article "Republic Day." Here is what Mr. Spindler said:
"Yugoslavia may have been viable if the more-developed ethnic groups had a larger share of the population, or if the Serbs were more developed. The reality of a large underdeveloped ethnic group trying to throw its weight around more-developed ethnic minorities gave Yugoslavia more in common in this sense with Zimbabwe or South Africa (Catalonia vis-à-vis Spain still being an open question) than Italy or Britain."
I would call this sweet. I mean, it is sweetly fascist. At the same time, the author seems to believe that he is a smart humanist while ascribing his own fascism to Nebojsa Malic. And isn't this exactly the weird logic we have lately been reading in much of the western mainstream media? I am a Bulgarian, I don't really remember being irritated by Nebojsa's convictions of superiority over the other "less developed" Balkan nations and ethnic groups. The word "developed" and "undeveloped" was first introduced in the discourse by Mr. Spindler. Let's remember that.
I would add there is an obvious psychological problem here. Because some people feel worried by their own racist convictions, they are looking for someone to take the blame, so that they can appear at least a little bit humane and caring for the fate of their "lesser" fellow-men. You see, it is not us that feel we are bigger than the Serbs, it is the Serbs who think they are bigger than the Albanians and that's why we are bombing them. You see? We are nice guys, we are not fascist. (Salvation coming!) Yet what happens if God can see in your mind? Where will you hide? In Bulgaria we say: the smart man is the first to call himself stupid, while the fool always believes he is smarter than the others.
Invasion from Canada
It seems the militarists have decided to defend the USA from the imminent threat of invasion from Canada. Before you laugh, realize that this just may be a threat. Them pesky Canucks; you can't trust 'em as long as Canadian summer (and that's just an eyeblink)!
Behind Enemy Lines
I believe that Antiwar.com ... would find interesting this review of the new movie, "Behind Enemy Lines," especially since I have a feeling that the rest of the reviewers will be fawning.
Transcript
Regarding the MSNBC transcript of the "interview" by CIA agent Spann of the American Taliban volunteer John Walker (in which Mr. Walker is threatened with death for remaining mum and the CIA agents suggest that the Red Cross will only be allowed to save a few Taliban prisoners) – it was careless of the CIA to release a videotape which adds credence to the claim that the Taliban POWs revolted at the Kala Jangi fortress because they were given reason to believe – i.e., they were told – that they were going to be murdered.
War
[Regarding Mark M.'s letter of December 7, "Not 'At War'":]
Is this a war? Or is it a war?
Please answer Mark M.'s question.
The "Backtalk" editor replies:
This is an undeclared war – like every other US war since World War II.
Required Reading
Excellent column by Alexander Cockburn ... ["Things You Can't Say in America"]. Should be required reading for all students – and adults.
~ Michael Chapman, Cato Institute