Good morning! Marija Vukovic’s silly remark about the coat of arms caused critical comments by citizens. The other side withdrew its support. Some defended freedom of speech, and those who would otherwise agree with her could not get over the fact she supported the DPS in Podgorica.
The chicken
First of all, why did she say “kokoska”, (eng. chicken) and what did automatically come to her mind, taking into account her origin and affiliation to the Serbian Orthodox Church?
“Kokoska” has long been a term in Serbian nationalist circles used with an intent to humiliate the Montenegrin coat of arms and the flag. If I got a euro for every time I heard that word during my studies in Belgrade, then from Serbian church fathers and in the comments below my texts, I would probably be a billionaire. And not in dinars.
That word – “kokoska” -perfectly describes everything that humiliates Montenegro and Montenegrins, and what we hear from Serbian regime media and Serbian nationalists in Montenegro every day.
That’s why it was the trigger.
I despise the fetishization of symbols, and personally have no problem with someone making fun of Montenegrin national symbols when they do it in a principled way, for example from leftist and anarchist positions. Anti-statist. Anti-nationalist. Anti-authoritarian.
If someone did it for those reasons, I’d immediately defend the right to freedom of speech.
However, when someone makes fun of Montenegrin symbols while at the same time publicly showing loyalty to the institutions of Serbian nationalism in Montenegro, then it’s no longer just freedom of speech, then it’s participation in a campaign of aggression against Montenegrin identity.
When Marija showed up during the greatest turmoil and identity “wars” in Montenegro, I wanted to believe that she was there to reconcile the irreconcilable. Someone who can stand by Amfilohije and at the same time fight heartily for the Montenegrin flag, could have been a cure for the wound. And she succeeded in her mission. At that moment, she did. No one blamed her for that. Her fight for Montenegro and courage managed to erase all those prejudices that accumulated after the campaign of hatred during the protest rallies. All those who emotionally protested against Greater Serbia nationalism and the SPC, in those days, stood by her.
The girl who escaped from Knin, who gives a lesson in patriotism, and at a time when an anti-refugee sentiment is being created in part of the public opinion in Montenegro. Marija didn’t choose her origin, she didn’t choose where she came from, but she chose where she was going. She chose Montenegro. Unlike many who were born here, live here, and chose to play under other flags.
Maybe because of her surrounding, she has certain prejudices. We all have them. Maybe she took that “kokoska” with her without delving too much into the word’s meaning. But now she probably learned.
If she went to the SPC in Cetinje and attended sermons after the liturgy and lunches, there she had to share space with people like Jovan Markus and other IN4S columnists. In such an environment, using the word “kokoska” is like saying “hello”.
It is precisely these gatherings that are a trap for anyone who seeks God and finds him in Orthodoxy. Because in order to satisfy their spiritual need, they have to share space with some people who didn’t come there because of God, but because of their freakish anti-Christian ideology. Because nationalism is the ideology of the antichrist.
I don’t blame Marija. I want to believe that she uttered that “kokoska” subconsciously. I resent more those who sent her back to Knin. Those who misogynistically attacked her. And Vijesti that published the most vehement text against her. The same Vijesti that heartily blew into the sails of Serbian nationalism in the previous three or four years, and caused damage to Montenegro, for which Marija’s “kokoska” is just a grain of dust.
I want Marija to keep fighting for Montenegro. And in her love for Christ, I want her to protect herself from false prophets, tax collectors and Pharisees.
That’s all for today. Enjoy the rest of your day.
Kind regards,
Ljubomir Filipovic, CdM observer and columnist
(The opinions and views of our columnists aren’t necessarily those of the CdM news team)
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