THE FEEBLE-MINDED BOOZE AND FRIVOL

IZETBEGOVIC vs. SANTA CLAUS

AIM Sarajevo, January 3, 1996

In sad and blood-stained Bosnia hardly anyone was ever joyful about anything in the past three and a half years. A true dash of hope in a happier future called the Dayton Agreement, incited the primordial human desire to laugh, relax, socialize and rejoice. The Bosnians and Herzegovinians, therefore, entered their first post-war New Year with kisses and belief in peace. They rejoiced like millions of Earthlings around the planet. Their joy was recorded by TV cameras. Yet...

Mister Alija Izetbegovic is angry! Mister Alija Izetbegovic is dismayed with the festivities of the Sarajevans, Tuzlans, Mostarans, Zenicans!? Mister Alija Izetbegovuc claims that those were "heartless people who boozed and frivolled in front of cameras"! In these exact words, Mister Alija Izetbegovic addressed in an open letter editors of the state RTV B&H. In a letter which he claims to be his personal view - therefore, not that of the President of the Party of Democratic Action or the President of Presidency of B&H, but a retired man who has become what he is thanks to the votes of the Muslims, the Serbs and the Croats - Izetbegovic also says the following:

"With a feeling of discomfort I watched the Daily News last night and some scenes which you say show the manner in which New Year's eve was celebrated in Bosnia. I believe that majority of our people, especially the combatants, felt this same kind of dismals after that program. They wondered where they actually lived".

But, immediately after his own conclusion that he just "believes" that "large majority" of citizens of B&H shares his contemplation, Mister Izetbegovic obviously remembered that the people were not allowed to think differently than what their leader imagines. In a manner of all totalitarian leaders who always know exactly what their people think (probably by looking at the mirror), Mister Izetbegovic, with apothecary precision quickly figures out how many obedient and how many disobedient subjects there are in his state. And therefore he says:

"That which you show as the national festivity on New Year's eve is in fact a festivity arranged by a minority, in any case, not more than one part in thousand of people in our country. What about the remaining 99.9 per cent of our citizens?"

After this ad hoc calculus of the ruler, a portion of patriotism and patheticalness follows, since noone can have any objections to the one who feels pain because of numberless lives lost on the territory of Bosnia or millions of displaced and banished citizens:

"Even if they did celebrate New Year's eve at all, if they had the opportunity and willingness for anything of the kind, they did it modestly and in a manner which will not hurt the feelings of thousands of people who have lost their dear ones and their homes".

It is hard to believe, though, that anyone among a million of Bosnians and Herzegovinians in mourning would suddenly feel better if Mister Izetbegovic became serious and ordered all his subjects to stop with buffoonery. If that could bring back those who were killed, most of the Bosnians and Herzegovinians would probably agree never to laugh again. But grieved Bosnia cannot be helped by gesticulation. As the President of Presidency of B&H (who is at this post for five long years already), Mister Izetbegovic has completely different and more appropriate possibilities to help the grieved and to return the refugees to their homes. But, instead, he is worried by "the heartless who are frivolling" and editors of RTV (which he was certain until now he had complete control of) who broadcast it:

"Just a small number of insolent and heartless individuals, while wounds and graves are still open, dared booze and frivol in front of cameras, as if nothing has happened. You have shown and accompanied it all with no comment, and the impression was, with approval".

Having established responsibility of journalists, but still without pronouncing a sentence, Mister Izetbegovic passes on to the essence of the matter: alcohol incriminated by Islam. Along with it, the President of the Presidency of B&H mentions other "Western vices" although cameras of state RTV certainly did not register any of them in the merriest night. Nor did they broadcast any such thing, but nevertleless, it should be noted:

"We are a European country, but this does not mean that we need welcome all European vices: alcohol, pornography, narcotics and dissoluteness of all kinds. We will take example of European business efficiency, accuracy, diligence, sense of organization, but we will not follow Europe and America in all their habits with no criteria and limits".

After that, Mister Izetbegovic claims that Santa Claus (that same old merry figure which has for decades brought Nee-Year's presents to youngest Bosnians and Herzegovinians of all nations) is also a stranger to our people!? If the plump good-natured fairy-tale with the red cap and long white beard has never stopped by the house of Izetbegovic's, it means that, therefore, from now on it is a stranger to all of us! Mister Izetbegovic thus rightfully appeals "not to impose on us any 'santa clauses' and other symbols strange to our people", and then generously allows, in the manner of all big leaders, that "everyone keep them for themselves, at their homes, if they cannot do without them".

In the end of his open letter, Mister Izetbegovic reminds RTV employees that "television is a public institution, and our people are not feeble-minded who would let themselves be misled". Although he establishes that "we will not reach out for censorship and bans" (it remains vague what this "we" means in a letter which expresses a personal view), Mister Izetbegovic promises that - therefore certain They - "will see to it that the people reject with indignation various dubious values which certain people are trying to impose on them in the name of culture and freedom, but in fact, in the name of false culture and freedom".

Finally, what else, but wish all the Bosnians and Herzegovinians - both those "good" ones, the "disobedient" ones from among the one part in a thousand, but those with alcohol in their blood too - more luck in the New Year 1996. Whereever they may be...

DRAZENA PERANIC