popkitchen

freedom loving nation

Posted by popkitchen | Filed under politics

Serbia is indeed a land of wonders. Serbs would be the first to call themselves freedom fighters, due to the centuries fighting foreign invaders, now the influence of the international community. Not to mention civil wars of 1990’s.
But the freedom that everyone wants is not granted to all. National minority groups, people with disabilities, Roma people, gays, among others.

Contradictions abound everywhere you look. Foreigners visiting Serbia are stunned by the warmth and hospitality they encounter. Yes, it is safe to walk the city streets even in the middle of the night. Kids are still playing out in the yards unsupervised. On the other hand, the intolerance towards people of different colour or different national origin is almost institutionalized. It is not the state not doing

anything to help Roma people get their kids to school, find the jobs, get decent housing. “Gypsies prefer to beg and steal. They don’t know any other way”. There are gay clubs in Belgrade. Heavily guarded. The amount of excited dancing and gulping down of alcohol is almost proportional to the anxiety and fear the visitors feel outside of it.
My small contribution to the struggle for universal human rights is the first article I published that has nothing to do with popular culture. Respected East European portal Transitions Online requested a piece on the drama surrounding the adoption of the Law Against Discrimination this March.

Tell me you opinion or ask me a question, I would be happy to respond.

Tags: gay rights, law against discrimination, serbia, transitions online

Permalink | Comments (0) | May 24, 2009

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