Croatian presidential candidate
Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic
on “Sunday at 2” TV program 21 September 2014
Photo: Screen shot
Rushed, half-baked backroom deals that are doomed to wither away into economic impact nothingness, slow chipping away at corruption by processing “top dogs” instead of building anti-corruption monitoring in all places of public office, or measures of nationalistic pride will not save Croatia from economic bankruptcy and social disintegration. Leadership will!
Presidential Candidate Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic is a leader; she has proven that and she commands respect as such. What’s more important is that she is a champion of democratic thought and action – something Croatian society needs.
The fact that she is widely perceived as a leader is reflected in the campaign of smears against her, evidently waged, either directly or indirectly through the control of the media by the current president Ivo Josipovic’s camp. A campaign of smears is usually associated with the distribution of negative labels intended to slander a prominent political figure or categorise him/her into a less valuable or unwelcome ‘category’ of people.
Some months ago when the possibility of Kolida Grabar-Kitarovic becoming a candidate at the coming presidential elections the smear campaign against her focused on sexist remarks such as “she is a good looking woman but”, “she is a pretty, blonde woman who knows what she wants”, “she has advanced in her career with the ease of ‘knife sliding through soft butter’”. As her candidacy became more and more likely she was labeled ‘Barbie’! She stood her ground as her attackers realised that sexist smears, which had the goal of portraying the idea that a blonde, good looking woman could not have what it takes to be a president, suddenly stopped with such innuendos and introduced the ‘Masonic boogeyman’ into the smear campaign, painting her maliciously as a personally devoted member of Masonic associations that have nothing good to bring to Croatia, or the world for that matter.
The sexist and Masonic smears seemed not to work, palpably withered into ridiculous portrayals, Kolinda’s leadership qualities prevailed as the qualities she most ardently and ably represents.
And so the smear campaign against Grabar-Kitarovic moved up a notch or two: she is to be portrayed by the opposition as a candidate who has no opinion of her own on any issues currently perceived as important for the Croatian public!
She was interviewed on the widely watched “Sunday at 2” TV program on Sunday 21 September 2014 and wouldn’t you know it, the majority of mainstream media outlets in Croatia published commentaries that are either lies or half-truths regarding her answers to some of these ‘important’ questions, evidently intentionally omitting to point out that Grabar-Kitarovic has strong personal views on issues but that she puts her duty as politician in a democracy above her personal views. This of course would be a positive characteristic in any strong democracy but it seems not to be the case in Croatia where democracy is defined by the socially isolated and personal career driven political elites who are, as opposed to Grabar-Kitarovic, not inclusive politicians – to whom the variety of opinions in society and how to achieve a sustainable consensus do not matter and public debates or submissions have no merit.
At the beginning of her interview in “Sunday at 2” Grabar-Kitarovic stated: “…I have travelled the whole world and nobody can tell me that, with all the potentials it has, Croatia has to be in the state it is. We need strong leadership, we need people who have the knowledge, who have courage and I believe that I am that.”
When it comes to her answers to the ‘important’ questions put to her (from about the 40 minute mark of the televised interview) most the mainstream media acted atrociously, failing to relay the actual punch lines of her answers and thus portraying a person who does not have a personal opinion but wants to consult with the public/people on everything – as if that is a bad characteristic. When in fact, that is what true democracy is made of!
Serbian Cyrillic in Vukovar
To the question: “(Serbian) Cyrillic signs on public buildings in Vukovar, yes or no, what do you think (?), she replied: “I am not against those signs … but I am against raising them in places where they cause unrest.”
Communist crimes
To the questions regarding public divisions stemming from WWII and post WWII communist and Ustashe crimes that are constantly being regurgitated in Croatia she replied: “…that is the past, a new generation is coming in Croatia, many people have suffered during communism, I had neighbours who went to jail for singing a Croatian song, my uncle ended up on Goli Otok because he was dating a young girl in whom a certain man was interested … we need to move away from this chapter, I was born much after WWII … we need to unite, reconcile … It’s a fact that there has been no satisfaction reached in Croatia for those who had in any way suffered during communist regime … a victim is a victim … we must ensure that, at least, those who had offended during the former regime, who are suspected of having committed criminal acts and in other ways breached the penal code, are not occupying high government positions…”.
Zagreb City Square named after Josip Broz Tito
To the question as to whether Croatia’s capital needs a square named after Marshall Tito her reply was: “…that is a good question but I would leave the matter to the local community, as the president I would not on my own change the names of city squares and streets, I would leave that to public debate, but given that we are talking about that, time has come for Zagreb to have a city square or a main street named after the first president of Croatia, dr Franjo Tudjman, which we still do not have.” After the interviewer said that Zagreb does have a square named after Franjo Tudjman she said: “Yes but something representative and big in the city’s centre!”. Asked about her opinion on Marshal Tito and naming city squares she affirmed: “Personally I would not name city squares after him but I respect that there are people who value him.”
“I do not divide people into left and right, I am entering these elections with clarity, with modern conservatism, which is inclusive, tolerant and respectful of other people’s opinions. I’m counting on the voters in Croatia and I count on our programs being evaluated and that which can move Croatia forward, that which can enhance life in Croatia, that which can take us out of poverty.”
The commentary or articles that appeared in most Croatian mainstream media in relation to this interview given by Grabar-Kitarovic make it clear that many journalists in Croatia were more involved in moderating, rather than leading in factual reporting of the event; indeed their reporting can be considered as attempting to shape public opinion against Grabar-Kitarovic rather than reporting ‘verbatim’ of who said what. To understand the specific role journalism plays is to create an information environment that builds upon democracy. In democracies, people need to be properly informed and it breaks my heart to see how the many of mainstream journalists in Croatia reporting on this TV interview failed so miserably at informing the public fully about such an important matter as the opinions of a presidential candidate are; failed miserably to state that Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic excels in democratic considerations and evidently counts on the Croatian public to help with the wealth of its knowledge and opinion shape Croatia under her leadership. Ina Vukic, Prof. (Zgb); B.A., M.A.Ps. (Syd)
This post has been translated into the Croatian language (click to link to the article)
Ovaj članak na hrvatskom jeziku (OVDJE)
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Reblogged this on idealisticrebel.
Thank you for the reblog, Barbara – much appreciated 🙂
Powerful article,that is what the failures do to hurt the others.Regards.
As long as we know it, jalal, all is a OK 🙂
Your favorite has slammed her the best,dnevno.hr and if you think it supports josipovic you are wrong,Croatia is a country of laws so you can’t leave all the issues to local communities,I would like next president to have a stand ,opinion on issues instead of leaving it up to locals.
Well Alija, you are wrong because two of the issues mentioned – Cyrillic in Vukovar and Tito Square in Zagreb – are issues that are, in accordance with the law, regulated or decided upon by local community. Indeed, even the High court has recently ruled that Vukovar needs to decide on bilingual signs etc I guess because the law does actually refer to “local communities” i.e. that signs should not be put where they cause unrest (instead of reconciliation etc)… My point is, and I’m far away from being alone in this is that public debate on important issues including proposed legislation etc is actually welcomed by Grabar-Kitarovic and not ignored as it is by others…indeed she has an opinion only she does not seem to think her opinion is more important than somebody else’s – that is what raises her above many others. You choose not to see or hear her opinion – a falsity akin to her opponents. You of course have a right to an opinion but you or anyone cannot say she has no opinion, for she expresses is loud and clear
Laws, Alija Derzelez, arise from local community needs, they reflect community needs in real democracies. Proposed laws are discussed within communities and communities submit proposals or commentaries in submissions to parliaments, etc. It seems that this reality is a stranger to the struggling democracy in Croatia.
Right,if so why all the hoopla about cirilica when locals passed the law isn’t karamarko going around trashing Tito ,saying he would rename all carrying titos name while Kolinda would leave it up to locals.isn’t she coming from criminal enterprise known here as HDZ so there for she can’t tell us anything .
Alija, you know as well as I do that HDZ is no criminal organisation albeit it has been said to that effect in connection to the conviction for corruption of its former leader and Prime Minister Ivo Sanader but I cannot accept that 200,000 people members of HDZ are criminals. People, individuals commit crimes and they must be prosecuted. An organisation or party cannot be criminal itself because that means that innocent members are labeled criminals. I sense you would like that to be the case but a just world would tear you down. What Karamarko is saying about Tito is probably the area of his jurisdiction if he becomes Prime Minister – parliament makes laws/regulations, not the president. And I for one fully agree that Tito’s name should be taken down from squares and streets – that would be a part of cleansing Croatia of the muck that keeps it back from moving forward faster. It will take enormous courage to do this but I believe it must be done.
It’s not pleasant to be stuck in a hard place, Alija. You just do not know what to do with yourself being caught like this. It’s not mine to take it up with the justice system, I know HDZ is not a criminal enterprise but you are saying different so you go to the justice system to sort it out, I’m quite happy to see HDZ prosper
Judging by your reply here, Social Democrats or former League of Communists in government and power in Croatia permit registration and operation of criminal organisations or enterprises, Alija. I do not think so, no matter how much someone might dislike them for their political program. HDZ is fully registered and legally active in Croatian society.
Well you need to take it up with cro justice system and courts.
Right and was fully been found as criminal enterprise by the cro justice system and no need for you to dance around the issue but face it.
Well written – I see now the fine distinctions that she made and which have not been reported in mainstream media or otherwise been noticed before your article, as far as I could see. I find it terrible that we do not have a “Democratic Publicity” in Croatia, yet.
If it were up to me, minman, I would have set up some kind of a “watch tower” over the developing democracy in Croatia, with the role of pointing out to the public the details of comparisons etc. While democracy is best for mankind it can also prove hard and harsh especially in the climate of competing opinions on same matters where skills of negotiation and compromise work towards achieving the best possible results for most
I don’t approve of the criticisms when it comes to her looks, she is not looking cheap or anything like that, so why would any male politician comment on it? I think she is much better candidate than Josipović ever was and I didn’t even vote for him. She seems reasonable.
Regretfully, dani, there are still those around who like to stereotype genders and use that as tool in all sorts of competitive situations, at the end they get to be seen as cowards. Grabar-Kitarovic is a winner, I believe
I love the way you guys flip-flap,Tito is a monster and all of it but all the sudden hey lets leave it to locals like you don’t know we still have it because of locals,all of you have been listening national anthem together with Kolinda while comrade was still alive,
No flip flapping, Alija, it’s all in your twisted head
Thank you Ina Vukic for handling the disturb people comments .Enough of Milanovic ,Josipovic and there Clowns they Destroy Croatia so we need to stay Strong and save Croatia and the people thank you for the truth……….
Thank you, Rajka, for saying so
I hope the new leader of Croatia can protect the Croatian people everywhere, we must never forget what happened to our people only 22 years ago, I remember that summer day in 1992 when the Serb troops came to my croatian village in Bosnia and raped girls in front of their parents! my grandmother at the age of 80 was Beaten by them! they burned down our houses and deported us by gunpoint into a bus they took us to a prison camp including children at the age of 3 ! I was kicked and beaten! luckily for us a Muslim militia nearby had taken some Serb hostages and we were exchanged with them and arrived in safe Muslim controlled Travnik I will never forget what the Serb genocide did to us and Croatian leaders should always be ready to protect us and our national interests in Balkan not thinking about their own personal wealth or power! we survived the genocide but can we survive our own politicians ?
Indeed, Ana, political elitism must come to an end. The terror and horror of that war must never be forgotten
Thank you for everything you did Ina Vukic in Australia for your people those dark days they were either dead or running for their lives. We appreciate everything you did for us without the likes of you none of us Croatian refugees will have survived.
Thank you, Ana, most kind of you to say – it was all a part of my belief in freedom and democracy and the wish that people everywhere get to enjoy them and have opportunities to progress in life
Lets get these traitors out of office. The communist, leftist had their turn and ruin before today as they did yesterday. Vote for Kolinda. In parliamentary elections next year, don’t split the right and let the Communists in again.
BTW, please view this video of the the very brave, intelligent and honourable Croatian Vojnik, General Zeljko Glasnovic:
Hear, hear Sunman and as to General Glasnovic, he is an amazing patriot and human being. Thank you for the link
I read an interesting quote from one of Croatia’s newspapers. “The HDZ stole. SDP killed”. The author was commenting on how the late Ivica Racan, as a senior figure in the communist party, ordered the murders of Croatians in Germany.
If any party is a criminal organisation and should be eliminated from political life in Croatia it would have to be the SDP.
They are about as close to social democracy as I am to the moon.
I could not imagine social democrats in Scandinavia paying homage to a ruthless dictator like JBT. In Croatia it is completely normal.
Indeed the wonderful patriotic citizens of Istria (while threatening secession) have said they will not obey any law that requires them to remove TIto’s name.
Hopefully Karamarko wins in a landslide so he will have the mandate to reform Croatia’s economy and purge our society of this communist cancer.
As far as I can see, Ante, Istria is a bed of communist nostalgia and if listration does occur under a HDZ government there’ll be less of those around in positions of power that hold a candle to Tito.
The mentality in Istria really boggles the mind. Evidence of Tito’s inhumane crimes just keep piling up, evidence of the incompetency of the SDP just keeps piling up and yet they shut their eyes, block their ears and scream “la la la la I can’t hear you”. Apparently anything even slightly right-leaning = fascist. But of course, Tito’s murder squads are not fascist at all. Because murdering political dissidents is progressive, liberal and modern, just like drug Tito was. Maybe we should just take all Tito worshipers to one of his favourite places…a certain island. If they love him so much, surely they’ll love it there and maybe they could finally have their succession too.
And while I hate to do this, but I know people love to take words out of context…that last part is a joke. Sure, a little morbid, but sometimes that is needed. Although I must admit, the mentality of modern commies does enrage me so much sometimes that I think they SHOULD experience just how “good” a communist regime was and then maybe they’ll shut up and appreciate democracy and freedom a little more. But then I’ve also found that some people are beyond help and all that matters to them are their “free cars” and “free housing” given by the “generous” authorities.
I like Kolinda, but was upset about her comment regarding Tito’s name on squares and streets. People can think what they want, that cannot be controlled, but they do not have the right to publicly celebrate, as citizens of a EU member country, one of the ten worst dictators of the last century and also go against the EU 2006 official condemnation of communisms’ crimes, which the Croatian Sabor accepted.
Thank you Hilda, Kolinda did say that she personally would not name squares or streets after Tito, that communist crimes need to be processed etc – I know what you mean but sadly there are still those in Croatia who “respect” the criminal Tito…perhaps the solution will come once Kolinda is president, once lustration gets into gear, once it no longer becomes acceptable to support what Tito stood for and to achieve that much work is needed, sadly, still
Hilda you are right. Can you imagine a street being named after Hitler in Germany? Unheard of.
But the Communists in Croatia allow this.
It’s a travesty.
They can ban all ‘ustashe’ memorabilia but have no problem with the red star, hammer and sickle and Tito’s name everywhere. Disgusting.
Ina, you are bang on about LUSTRATION — it must happen before peace and justice can come to any of these countries. Look at Romania..”Romania confronts communist past in trial of prison camp chief” http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/24/romania-trial-prison-camp-alexandru-visinescu
And other ‘eastern Bloc’ countries passing lustration laws.
Look at the ‘House of Terror’ in Budapest which documents crimes committed by the Communist regime: http://www.terrorhaza.hu/en/index_2.html
Look at the excellent film The Soviet Story: http://www.sovietstory.com/about-the-film/
These things happened in the ‘former Yugi republics’ but the regimes do not want to recognize them because there are people in power and who live freely who are implicated.
Perkovic, Manolic, Sindicic…..
Until Croatia, BiH, Serbia, Macedonia..etc..all of these countries acknowledge these crimes, try the perps and do not allow the people implicated for running for office, there will never, ever be peace and stability in the region.
These same commis are not patriots, they do not care about young intellectuals leaving Croatia because there is no work, they do not care that former soldiers who valiantly fought for freedom against Milosevic’s regime are committing suicide in despair because there beloved Croatia is once again run by Commis…..All they care about is money and power.
What I need to know is why the people of Croatia are not up ‘in arms’ like in Ukraine, like the youth protesting in Hong Kong….why is no one on the streets????
We need to ask ourselves this question.
HDZ vs SDP; Choice of two evils. is not much of a choice after all is said and done. I’m afraid that just as in the last elections – the SDP got their win not because a majority of the Croatian electorate agreed with their platform – but because a majority of the Croatian electorate were sick and tired of being lied to, deceived and their country being systematically pillaged for the last two decades by those in power – aka HDZ. This time around, I predict it will be the same, the voters will once again cast their votes not FOR HDZ, but obviously AGAINST SDP. It really doesn’t say much for the state of our democracy in Croatia does it?, or speak to the quality of our political parties.
It seems Velebit similar choices between two major parties are a thing of the day almost everywhere but it is good that smaller parties or independents are getting into parliament holding balance of power often when it comes to voting etc…more accountability from the government is needed that’s for sure and the way I read Grabar-Kitarovic plans she is into that if elected as president.
Ed Vulliamy equates Perisic and Gotovina & Markac acquittals: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/30/radovan-karadzic-verdict-international-justice.
Have at it readers.
Vulliamy actually provided good coverage on RS vs. Croat & Bosniak civilians, but unfortunately, like most Brits, buys the guilt equating lies put forth by their Deep State media and the Western bad policy whitewash circus court, the ICTY.
Thanks, therealamericro, just about to publish re final stage of prosecution case against Radovan Karadzic
I fail to see how reporter Vulliamy mentioning General Ante Gotovina in an article about war-criminal Karadzic is remotely relevant. In fact I find it rather insidious.
General Gotovina helped lead legitimate operations to free Serb-occupied territory in Croatia, something any country under occupation has the right to do. BTW, in case Vulliamy forgot, these operations helped free western Bosnia from the grip of the Serb army and would have led to a free and undivided Bosnia were it not for western nations, (including his Britain), intervening and demanding the HV and HVO stop all operations outside of Banja Luka.
I agree, there can never be peace in any part of the world without a ‘reckoning,’ but Vulliamy and his ilk seem to forget that this reckoning is not just something that must come from the wars of the 1990s.
That reckoning must also come regarding heinous war crimes committed from 1945 and onward, which in effect led to the 1990s wars of independence.
I am gobsmacked that the Bosniaks (many Serbs and Yugo-Commi Croats too), still glorify the war criminal Tito, (btw a wall-sized portrait of him hangs in the govert. buildings in Sarajevo), the ‘eternal flame’ glorifying murdering partisans still glows in downtown Sarajevo, street names of partisan war criminals are in abundance in Bosniak areas, etc. A spirit of reckoning seems not to apply to many in Bosnia who considered themselves Yugoslavs and supported, and still support Tito, a man whose regime killed more people than Milosevic.
BTW, the largest mass grave of Bosniaks is NOT Srebrenica but the mass graves of Bleiburg, and those following in places like Jazovka, Macelj, Kocevski Rog, Brezica…..the May 1945 slaughter of more than 700,000 innocent men, women and children (Croats, Bosniaks, Slovenes… ) who the British, I repeat, Vulliamy’s British, handed back to Tito’s partisans. This forced repatriation came AFTER WW2 had ended.
Or what of the 600 + Catholic Croatian clergy slaughtered by Tito’s communists. What crimes had they committed?
Who was tried for the heinous crimes listed above?
No one.
Ask many there about the above and they haven’t a clue and frankly many refuse to recognize this.
Has any reporter written about the lack of reckoning here?
The wars in the region didn’t suddenly happen overnight.
But no foreign journos contextualize the 1990s wars. To this day. Not one.
The region wasn’t a land of joy, peace, and tolerance prior to 1990 and Milosevic and Tudjman were some mad men out to carve out the countries while poor Izetbegovic was a peaceful innocent bystander.
(BTW, people forget, Izetbegovic and many of his Bosniak followers of course cheered when Vukovar and the rest of Croatia burned and they welcomed the JNA into Bosnia with flowers and parades! While the sensible BiH Croats saw there brethren in Croatia under assault and organized and eventually paid dearly for defending BiH.)
Journos and many residents there continue to perpetuate, to this day, the continued narrative of ‘bad Serbs and Croats, good Bosniaks.’ Utter non-factual nonsense.
But I suppose many hacks can’t wrap their heads around a story unless it is framed into such a simplistic telling of events.
Perhaps if more journos took the time to actually speak with eminent Catholic historians like Ante Nazor, or writers like Visnja Staresina, or former military leaders on the field like Gotovina, Glasnovic, and Ademi, they could actually write work that is factual.
As for the ICTY, it is nothing more than a bad joke.
It’s objective was to equalize blame between the Serbs and the Croats.
I ask you to compare how many high-ranking Serbs, Croats and Bosniaks have been tried and convicted there.
Much of the story in the region has been completely ignored by journos who so desperately cling to the fallacy of a communist Yugoslav utopia, the hard-done-by Bosniaks and the evil Croats who broke it all up.
Vulliamy seems to fall into this category as well.
I ask him, I ask his colleagues, Bosniak or Yugoslav friends, if Yugoslavia was so wonderful, please explain Goli Otok, Stara Gradiska, KPD Zenica among the hundreds of labour camps, the mass graves only being uncovered now, why so many Croatians were forced to leave Yugoslavia, why political activists like Bruno Busic were killed ABROAD by the Yugoslav secret police, why Blessed Stepinac was tried, poisoned and killed…..?
Reckoning can only happen with the truth finally being told and recognized (not just from the 1990s wars) but from the last 70 + years in the region.
++ Ina, thanks for your great blog and for the chance for us to comment on your posts. Zivjela.
Thank you, Erika, your comments and feedback are appreciated very very much
Erica,you must be talking about those bosniak we know as ustasas,the ones that have tried to escape the justice but on the end were given there own medication,If you are talking about them I as bosniak care less.
One has to wonder when a political campaign is based on smearing their opponent rather than focusing on how they can help the people.
Indeed, Carol – some politicians will stoop at anything but there are those that are stronger and fight back – luckily 🙂
A great weekend to you too, Wolfgang 🙂
Comment deleted – offensive
Erica, great work, agree totally. As with all post-Communist countries ( or should I say pseudo-post-Communist, in our case) there occurs a natural course of events which, to my sorrow, I find strangely and inexplicably lacking in Croatia’s case. Where is the public outrage? Where is the open condemnation of Communist atrocities/crimes? Where is the willingness to put the former system under scrutiny in order to uncover the identities of those who killed/tortured in the name of “antifascism”? Where is the attempt to achieve some form of justice for those victims? In Croatia, only before elections, do you hear any such promises being made, and then…..nothing. All smoke and mirrors in order to gain votes. When Croatian sons and daughters once again waged a bloody war against our same common enemy in the Homeland War, we once again thought this would be the definitive victory, this would be the turning point for us as a nation, there could and would be no possible way that any of those tyrants would have power over us again…!!. From Manolic, Boljkovac, Mesic, all the way down to those whose pedigrees were not as well known – we came to realize that Croatian communists never fled Croatia, never hid in some outback hoping to evade the public eye – because there was no need to. They felt safe, they felt comfortable, they knew before we did, that nothing defacto had changed or would change in the foreseeable future -that those who had held power would continue to do so- same players, different names. That was the basis on which modern Croatia was reborn – with the blessing of former Yugo-Commies steering the nation on a course into the future and not surprisingly, that has led us to where we are today.
Croatians need a leader who will tackle all our problems, social,economic and political, head on. One who is untainted, unbesmirched by association with the former regime, one who has Croatia and Croatians foremost in his/her mind and not personal gain. It is daunting, no doubt, but it is very necessary for us to climb out of this state of unconsciousness before it is too late.
Amen Velebit. When I see the Ukrainians and youth of Hong Kong I wonder where our young people are. Is the helplessness and hopelessness so engrained. Note too though many people are afraid as they have seen what happens when you complain. You end up in jail or worse. See Marko Franciskovic’s case!
He dared speak out and look what happened.
And because the press corps is in bed with the government the press basically smear your name in the papers and on TV and you’re left on your own.
Croatia needs a leader who has nothing to do with the Commis who will actually pass lustration laws and bring peace, prosperity, and patriotism back to Croatia.
If not, I hope the x-branitelji/soldiers, stand up and finally raise heck.
as per Wyatt Earp:
“You tell ’em I’m coming… and hell’s coming with me…”
Only solution for Croatia is army on streets with one dictator, because we are last scum of the earth youst looking how to steal everything what we can. When some politician come to top he heave 4 years to pi everythin in his pockets, ….DELETED ….please dont erase this cooment is not offensive, erasing the truth is Commy and Hdz style.
Nice word’s Mario,you shared my opinion and almost all Croats.
Mario, part of your comment was deleted because you provide no evidence of what you state regarding persons and this website does promote truth not assumptions. It is democracy to speak freely about politicians by name however one must provide evidence or verifiable proof of what he or she says against a person that suggests criminal activity otherwise it is unjustified and malicious attack. I suggest, if you do not know the difference between truth and offensive you study up or start your own blog and expose yourself to legal responsibilities
It is becoming increasingly apparent that a free media is a thing of the past in many countries. Perhaps everywhere? Here in Scotland, during the recent referendum to separate from the UK, so -called journalists manipulated truth, cut short, edited answers given if they were not in line with the bias of the media concerned. The newspaper coverage, TV coverage of some of the debate arising lacked distance and neutrality of reporting. It is one thing to have an editorial policy and quite another to have a manipulative press.
We here of the Yes campaign are addressing that in a number of ways. The only place where free thought was apparent was in the cybersphere where ideas shared and facts relayed were checkable and open for discusiion among those actually affected by politics – us.
Despite the negative fear campaign run by the No union the voice of Yes has not been silenced nor will it be. Once truth is known it cannot be unknown.
Very young people became engaged in a way that was joyful to behold. After years of disillusionment with party politics, a grassroots movement, who saw possibility of real change, embraced action and voice.
It is no accident I think that people around the globe are crying for change. They see, as do we here, political corruption of thought and policies that pander to only a few.
No matter the persuasion of party politics, the people themselves demand change for a more equitible and just society where the well-being of all is considered.
Corruption, manipulation, untruths, downright lies and fear have no place in governance. This is what we fight against. What all who seek a fairer democratic society fight against.
I did not mean to ‘steal’ space here to talk Scottish/UK politics, merely to highlight that the battle being waged for all sorts of social justice is being waged everywhere by people who care.
We care for your country and ours as we do for a world where elitism in politics must end. Politics is the people and the sooner that is established through people’s voices and peaceful action to support it the better.
I wish you well in your endeavours to raise awareness of the struggle many face. Peace.x
You’re not “stealing” space here, Scottishmomus, indeed what Scotland has been through in the recent pre-referendum period is a picture that keeps occurring everywhere, where people struggle against the political trends that go against the will of the people. Political elitism has hijacked politics and people are getting suffocated, living standards eroded. As to mainstream media I know what you say, Croatia is no different but the one thing that gladdens me is that there are more and more people in Croatia becoming aware of the power of the people and so, referendums are almost becoming a way of trying to make changes for the better, since the government is lame and controlling. It is so good to see the younger generations getting involved.
Kolinda is a yugo partizanka …
She has made that apparent from day one Ante Pavelic.
Za Dom Spremni!