Good morning! Montenegro is a country of not holding grudges. A nasty habit. It has sacrificed its soul to demagogues and populists. The people and the mob are indulged the most. And anyone who stirs fear. In one way or another. The whole incident with the Turks confirmed this once again, mostly through pandering to a mob that deserves nothing but contempt and condemnation.
Pandering to Public Opinion
BBC Serbian published an article about some young men walking around Podgorica the other night protesting immigration. “Young men”, that is, although it would have been more accurate if they had capitalised the “m” at the beginning of the sentence. BBC Serbian wasn’t the only one to put it this way. I think all the media slipped up. It reminded me of Kostunica, who called those who burned the Bajrakli Mosque in Belgrade “young men,” as well as those who set fire to the American embassy. Young men. Some of them are ministers in the government today, and some lead extreme right-wing political groups loyal to the regime in Belgrade.
These are not young men. They are a mob. A furious, fanatical mob waiting for an excuse to take to the streets and show its true face. Because anyone who goes out and calls for ethnic cleansing and violence is nothing other than part of a mob.
I saw Dobricanin say this on a show with journalist Asanin. Dobricanin’s political and personal integrity doesn’t stop him from doing this. Journalist Asanin, just a week ago, seemed understanding when her guest in the studio claimed that Turks were of a different culture and “hitting on our girls.” After a week and some scandalous events, everyone sobered up a bit.
In Montenegro, one must have the courage to call things by their name. To criticise both sides, individually and collectively. For the sake of truth, not for the love of the people. This carries risks, because you don’t pander to anyone, so no one will rush to protect you as they would their own. Being authentic and true to oneself is hard in a society where everything is measured by loyalty, and nothing by merit.
Imam Samil, whom Njegos praises in his letter to Osman Pasha of Skopljak, as a historical figure, but also a hero of Tolstoy’s Hadji Murat. A highlander and a hajduk (*a rebel fighter in the Balkans). In Hadji Murat, Samil, an Avar, comments on the Chechens, saying that the people have no pedestal for the deserving, nor a prison for the transgressors.
Montenegrins are the same here. Oppressive social relations are justified by a falsely imagined and romanticised tribal egalitarianism. Everyone was supposedly equal, yet the law of the strongest always applied. Hence, blood feuds as a means of self-defence. This is the “great and glorious tradition” some wish to use to replace the rule of law.
And invoking chivalry and heroism makes no sense. Because chivalry is the exception, not the rule. Playing the gusle (*a traditional single-stringed instrument) and quoting Njegos and various dukes to attack the Turks and “protect” them only shows the absurdity of our wandering through the past, around which right-wing Serbs and some right-wing Montenegrins have agreed during these recent evil weeks. I’ve seen it all on social media, even from so-called “traditional Montenegrin” profiles, criticising Serbian occupation in one post and celebrating the joint fight of Serbs and Montenegrins against Turkish immigrants in another. In one post, Danica Crnogorcevic, in another, Jadranka Barjaktarovic. A phenomenon. Xenophobia and Islamophobia that unite.
That’s all for today. We wish you a pleasant rest of the day.
Kind regards,
Ljubomir Filipovic, CdM analyst and columnist
(Columnists’ opinions do not necessarily reflect those of the CdM editorial team)
