Serbian National Pride Reloaded
Ok, I know that the title of this article may be a bit shocking and remind of nationalism, but let me state at the very begining that this is not at all my intention. Actually, it is about raising a discussion on a Europewide tendention of national pride that is not based on issues such as wars, heroes and disasters.
Having spent the greatest part of my life outside of Serbia (Greece, Germany) I came to get myself familiar with several new tendencies of national pride that are corelated with the economical character of modern Europe. National identities tend to put an end on the traditional sense of pride and have started to orientate themselves to stuff that make them individual from the others, or some cases to redirect the conflicts from the warfare battlefield to the market battlefield or in some other shapes of rivalry. As examples I can give you the followings:
Greece: Damn proud of their gyros, ouzo and tourism. As they have won the EC 2004, their ego has rosen to the heavens.
Germany: Beer, sausages, Cars and soccer (rivalry´with the Dutch).
Czechs: Beer (rivalry with the Germans), old capitalist tradition, Bata shoes and traditional food.
Belgium: Beer (rivalry with the Germans), chocolate and the great city of Antwerpen.
Italy: Wine, pizza, pasta, fashion and Ferrari
For all of these nations, such stuff are more or less things of national pride that made them well-known world-wide. Being in Belgrade at the time of the EC in Waterpolo and seeing the energy and pride of the people when we have beaten the Hungarians in the finals, I thought to myself that erasing in the celebrations the mentioning of Chetniks and similar stuff, concetrating just on the fact that we kick asses in Waterpolo would be a start in restructuring our national pride and integrating it in the European notion.
Now, I gave already the example of sports. What I would like from you to do would be to give me some examples (goods etc) which could make ous proud and make us known to the world.
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Slivovitz!
I would also add that with a couple of nice Italian girls I came to a good reaction when I said that I come from Serbia. They immediatelly started glorifying Kusturica and his film “Underground” and the music of Goran Bregovic. It is nice that their first association on Serbia are those two personalities.
Especially since they’re both Sarajevan Serbs (more or less)!
I realize I’m out of my league here but, I’ll give it a try.
The single most amazing thing that left a spark of excitement while in Serbia and the RS was the beautiful, breathtaking countryside and wilderness.
From hunting way up in the mountains of the RS to fly-fishing in the Drina to visiting monasteries inside Serbia – I felt a resurgence of life…it was like I was taking in a breath of the oxygen equivalent of the water from the fountain of youth.
Granted there was post war destruction and poverty everywhere but, the villagers I met were always nice and willing to share with me what they had. I was talking to an old couple who had to be in their eighties one sunny afternoon while a brew of rakija was being made in the backyard. Huge pecan trees, apple trees and other fruits and vegetables were being grown in the garden. The kids were playing with homemade toys.
This couple and I began to speak of the beauty of the landscape. The old man spoke up and said he actually believed it was this wilderness that has kept him and his wife alive so long. He said if he ever had to leave that he would die. I believed him.
I truly feel that is somehow someone could set up some kind of wildlife-wilderness tourism industry that Serbia’s beautiful landscape could be molded into an internationally renowned national treasure.
Again, I’m out of my league here…I’m not a Serb. I do know the outdoors though, and Serbia has some damn beautiful real-estate bursting at the seams with a longing to be admired by all.
John
You forgot football for Italy!!!
The great thing about “reasons for national pride” – even if sometimes stereotyped- is that they change. France used to be very proud and notorious for their May ‘68 and all their social achievements… now it’s no longer seen as being so great.
As for Serbia, I would say; the variety and authenticity of nightlife cultural events, concerts, theatre, etc. which, in the West are suffering due to budget reductions and public disinterest, but seem to be doing more than ok in Serbia.
Hospitality and generosity, a lot of people’s general vibrancy, energy and passion -although it sometimes leads them to on-going political debate and not doing so much…
A large number of qualified professionals both within Serbia and abroad: a lot of buildings in Geneva and Paris were designed by Serbs who left BG in the 50s/60s/70s and are now retired or in the process of, some of which are returning to Serbia. Dedicated doctors (some work both abroad and in Serbia) working overtime in very poor conditions with immense dedication.
Finally, I would say a strong creative spirit (in a street smart way) and a biting sense of humor – because it has often been necessary to find ways around issues or the system… The great thing is, a lot of these qualities cannot be learned, whereas a bit of structure and organization can!
I am in agreement with much of what Sandra said above. I’m am American who has visited Serbia and has several Serbian friends here in the USA. What impresses me so much is the authenticity of the people I’ve met. There is no politically correct BS, there is no wondering whether they said something “just to be nice”. They are honest and real. Lots of people talk about their passion, but to me it’s just that they don’t do something unless they want to. Many Americans do things because “it’s the right thing to do” or because “everyone else is doing it”. We can go overboard trying to make other people feel comfortable/not hurt their feelings, to the point where we seem “fake”. The Serbs I know have never done that. To some it may come across as callous, but to me it’s a refreshing honesty. I always know where I stand with them, and if they’re spending time with me – I’m 100% sure it’s because they want to be. Yeah, this is generalizing…but the spirit of the people is the thing that sticks with me the most when I think of Serbia.
OK…the other thing you can totally brag about is kajmak!
I’ve never seen any Serbian nationalism, as referred to in the first paragraph of the article we are commenting on. Quite the contrary—Serbs have a high level of tolerance for others.
Yes, the Serbs tend to be unashamedly direct and honest (as anonymous has said), and what is really touching about them is that they (innocently and naively sometimes) assume that everyone in the world is the same—one usually expects others to be like one is one’s self. That’s why the last 15 years have been such a shock to the Serbian system: Serbs believed the truth would come out. They didn’t see a need to use public relations or to connive their way into the rest of the world’s good graces. Excuse me, but this naivete has bitten Serbia in the ass. Nevertheless, I hope Serbs will always remain refreshingly honest and direct “naifs” about the way the world works.
So, pride in Serbian CHARACTER. Also, in Serbian HOSPITALITY. And in Serbian TENACITY, without which there might no longer be any Serbs.
Hospitality, hospitality, hospitality! You are really incredible when it comes to that.
Novala, hospitality appears to top the charts in my list too. And it’s also a thing with very strong positive conotation, so it may be a good card to play, specially nowdays when people are generally very negative towards each other.
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