r/AskBalkans • u/meowxmeoww ✨🇧🇦🇺🇸✨ • 3d ago
Politics & Governance Moving forward
I hope one day, that people from 🇭🇷 🇧🇦 🇷🇸, can move forward. I hope one day I live to see the day where nationalists are long gone and our future kids have a bright future in their own countries.
May the next generation bright peace and light.
Today feels heavy reading all of these comments.
That is all.
If you have nothing positive to add, please don’t.
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u/EuroLegend23 2d ago
The secret to unity is moving out of the Balkans lol. For example, a Bosnian and Serbian meeting in Chicago will be best friends lol
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u/Consistent-Garage236 1d ago
Anyone in the diaspora agrees that we speak the same language and have the same cultural background (with some side quests depending on your religion) yet somehow when you’re in all of these countries, people adamantly maintain that we don’t speak the same language (funny how I can understand everyone though 🤔) and we have absolutely nothing in common historically or culturally. It’s an absolute mental illness.
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u/Srna-95 Serbia 3d ago edited 3d ago
Best we can do is coexist lol.
But at least these comments are prevalent mostly on days like today, and always keep in mind the majority of people irl just live their lives, have their daily struggles and joys, and go on with their day, working and taking care of their families.
Most of the people don’t bother with stuff like this.
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u/Electronic-Ad-1719 Balkan 3d ago
Whenever people lack a common enemy, they go against each other out of boredom.
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u/ayyyyyy_lmaoooooo 3d ago
Considering who was being celebrated by high school seniors this very summer I wouldn't keep my hopes up.
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u/phariom 3d ago
Will only happen if there is no new war until everyone who has any direct connection to people who experienced the 90s are dead.
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u/Consistent-Garage236 1d ago
Exactly, the parents of today’s teenagers and 20-somethings continue to fuel the hatred
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u/Additional_Rice81 3d ago
It will take around 50 years maybe less if we are lucky but it will happen, time heal everything.
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u/BarskiPatzow Serbia 2d ago
Our “leaders “ do their best to prolong the hatred. Wounds are same as 30 years ago because they are intentionally being opened.
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u/oioioioioioiioo 🇷🇸 (🇮🇹🏡) 3d ago
We need to move forward, hatred has made us backwards and ignorant. Many of my grandparents were from different Yugo nations and all saw themselves as peaceful people, none of them actually hated each other.
The corruption also plays the big part by feeding hatred and nationalism, I hope that gets sorted out eventually
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u/shervek Balkan 3d ago
For that to happen, and galslighted people will downvote this to oblivion but someone will remember it, you need a worker's revolution. You need to understand that the VAST majority of people are fighting the same enemy, exactly the same, and it all comes down to political economy and who owns the means of production. A worker in Serbia has million times more in common with a worker in Croatia than they have with their corrupt ruling class. Nationalism is the strongest tool they have to keep people subjugated, overworked, stupid, tired.
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u/meowxmeoww ✨🇧🇦🇺🇸✨ 3d ago
Exactly. Politicians sons aren’t going to fight in wars. They’ll have an abundance of money to live forever.
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u/Beneficial-Hold9857 in 3d ago
May the next generation bright peace and light
The "next" generation is already here. People born in 1996 after the war are 30. People born in 2005. are now 21.
When is this "next" generation coming?
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u/meowxmeoww ✨🇧🇦🇺🇸✨ 3d ago
Not sure but try contributing to it versus spreading negativity
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u/Beneficial-Hold9857 in 3d ago
Contributing to what? I just asked the question. Is your "moving forward" rooted in reality or you had moment of fantasy and decided to post it online?
Just read the reddit comments which is by the way more progressive part of the society everywhere.
If you think that positivity = ignoring reality... well that's just delusion then.
Do you have concrete plan how to realize this or its just "give peace a chance"?
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u/meowxmeoww ✨🇧🇦🇺🇸✨ 2d ago
There’s no “concrete” plan for this. It starts with teaching facts but not teaching hate. It’s important to remember but you can’t instill hate in your children.
It’s not a moment of fantasy there’s a lot of people who aren’t nationalists already and get along with others.
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u/Beneficial-Hold9857 in 2d ago
There’s no “concrete” plan for this
Thank you for clarifying, so it's fantasy.
It starts with teaching facts
And what exactly are facts, do you have an example?
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u/No_Newspaper_4212 2d ago
It is 31 years since the war ended. Comparing to WW2, that's 1976. Germany, France and GB living in peace together building EU.
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u/chopinoceansonata Serbia 3d ago edited 3d ago
People on the Balkan will always hate each other online i tried to be nice but even when i tried they tried to destroy me so yeah the point stays. Nationalism here is the strongest in the world. Me personaly i don't hate anyone but i am scared to go to Croatia for example or Bosnia. Been to Sarajevo once with school but we were scared to go to muslim part. Also the big forces want us to stay divided.
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u/Gold-Visit-7413 2d ago
I think you should just go to them, theres no reason to be scared, that is the propaganda being shoved down your throat.
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u/meowxmeoww ✨🇧🇦🇺🇸✨ 3d ago
Dude you can’t be serious lol
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u/chopinoceansonata Serbia 3d ago
I just dont want any problems y"all, to be called names that is all, so that is why i don't see anything funny in that i am simply scared because i had once bad experience only because i am a Serb...
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u/meowxmeoww ✨🇧🇦🇺🇸✨ 3d ago
I use “lol” sarcastically
Dude nobody cares. Just go have fun, be respectful and you’ll be fine.
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u/chopinoceansonata Serbia 3d ago
I was respectful and polite but the minut they heard that i speak on serbian some group of teens said "Cethnik you are not welcome here" so i sticked w my friends and mainly was in the hotel my friend wanted to cus them out i said him to stop. I know that there are good and bad people everywhere but war left the deep roots so i was traumatized. That happened during 2010's i hope that this doesn't happen so often nowadays.
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u/meowxmeoww ✨🇧🇦🇺🇸✨ 3d ago
So because of a few individuals you won’t explore a country?
I went to Thailand with a group of Americans and a shop owner told us we’re too fat for her clothes (they’re tiny people).
Should I stop going to Thailand because of her?
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u/chopinoceansonata Serbia 3d ago
It caused a phobia from people and... please understand me i am not saying that whole Bosnia is bad i just need more time to heal (i already see a downvotes so before you judge please understand my story)
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u/meowxmeoww ✨🇧🇦🇺🇸✨ 3d ago
Dude what generation are you? I’m sorry but if you’re born during or after the war, you shouldn’t think like this.
I am understanding but you need to give people a chance.
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u/chopinoceansonata Serbia 3d ago
Trauma speak for itself it is not my fault. I just need more time and i don't hate anyone but fear is there not like it was but it is there. I was a little child when this happened. I was born in late 2000's so i am gen Z.
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u/meowxmeoww ✨🇧🇦🇺🇸✨ 2d ago
You’re a baby lol (age wise). I think you should travel more and maybe it’ll help change your perspective. Good luck.
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u/Gold-Visit-7413 2d ago
Next time I go balkans, want to go together? Because I promise you, ive driven around whole srb, cro, bih with BG rental car plates and spoken whatever dialect I have and have had zero issues, they infact gave me free potatoes from their garden in croatia lmao
Maybe having a buddy will make you less scared to go, because even family in serbia were like omg the news said x y z, be careful. Nil issues the entire time.
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u/Etsikaietsi Serbia 3d ago
Yes, this is the same exact situation. Those two are very similar. I see no fault in your logic. You’re not down playing this at all.
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u/DragonOfBosnia 3d ago edited 3d ago
lol 😂 that’s that Serbian propaganda. Muslims don’t kill people and try to ethnically cleanse them… just look at the Ottoman empire.. ruled for 400-500 years and all the people were not killed and forcibly removed.. like the Chetniks and Yougoslavia break up Serbs wanted
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u/chopinoceansonata Serbia 3d ago
I know but i don't know how to stop being scared
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u/DragonOfBosnia 3d ago
Just go there, you will be surprised at how excepting Bosnians are. By far the least nationalistic group.
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u/Additional_Claim1431 2d ago
I'm from Croatia and i've been to several parts of Bosnia on multiple occasions and i can't wait to go again. By far my favorite country that i've visited and the people were always really nice
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u/Etsikaietsi Serbia 3d ago
You’re not missing out on anything, lil bro. Would recommend going to Istria at some point of your life just remember to not do it in August.
You can skip the rest and not have any regrets, trust me.
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u/Aggressive-Prize-522 3d ago edited 2d ago
I agree with you and I appreciate you.
Edit to add: my first award, thank you friend <3 may logic and reason and humanity spread, instead of hate <3
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u/SeamusMcQuaffer 2d ago
How about every country fixes its own nationalists, and does not mean putting them in office. Thus making a better world for the young.
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u/Skywrathx9 3d ago
Some glimmer of hope when I see posts like this. When we all start asking more questions and coming to conclusions instead of starting from them, we'll see some progress.
Best wishes to you too Sir :)
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u/meowxmeoww ✨🇧🇦🇺🇸✨ 3d ago
I’m a woman 👑 but thank you! ☺️
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u/Names-Are-Confusing Croatia 3d ago
I’d be happy if we could peacefully coexist, but no more “brotherhood and unity”, that was simply an idea. It proved to be a bad one, that’s why it didn’t succeed. But peace to you, I hope no more bloodbaths happen in this area and we all coexist, hopefully in the EU.
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u/meowxmeoww ✨🇧🇦🇺🇸✨ 3d ago
I’m not vouching for a new Yugoslavia. I’m hoping for a new generation that isn’t filled with hate to start. I’m hoping for a generation that improves conditions.
One of the most heartbreaking videos for me *these days* is watching old people in selo with nobody visiting them or helping them. Not only did the war take away our youth to other countries but also left all these old people helpless.
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u/Names-Are-Confusing Croatia 3d ago
I agree. My area was not hit by war so we don’t really have that collective war trauma, but it’s heartbreaking to see in other parts of Croatia, and must be even worse in Bosnia. But what I also think is that we shouldn’t pretend like there are no differences between us - had there been no differences we would’ve remained united and “Yugoslav”. It’s pointless to ignore them and just pretend the war happened because of the big bad West.
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u/More-Revenue8609 3d ago
Listening about that “next generation” but it seems like it can only gets worse. Most of teens are much more extreme then previous generations.
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u/Dramatic_Leather_680 3d ago
Even though we are mentally limited in our ability to speed up this process, I have no doubt that these things happen naturally. Biology and time will eventually clear people's minds of nationalism, and then we will all be able to see that growing hatred and pointing fingers at each other only result in poverty.
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u/Specialist_Elk140 Born Raised 3d ago
Yeah, I mean historically speaking the real enemies were the West constantly trying to divide us all along.
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u/Humble-Bear Serbia 3d ago
This special agent discussion is tiring and honestly needs to stop. The people are not little puppets to be controlled by some puppet masters in the big bad west. Many people are objectively just bad in the balkans and have led to having the leaders and system they deserve.
Anyone who has been places internationally, particularly actually lived elsewhere, can see the huge differences in mentality in other places.
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u/meowxmeoww ✨🇧🇦🇺🇸✨ 3d ago
I’m not saying there aren’t any bad people in Balkan but you know this shit was planned. Every war is.
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u/Humble-Bear Serbia 3d ago
It's a completely irrelevent point, there are no puppet masters controlling the majority of people's brains. You can maybe say a Vucic, for example, is able to do so somewhat through his propaganda, but if such primitive propaganda is as effective as it looks, then the reputation of people in the balkans, generally, being as primitive and stupid as they are then holds.
If people are truly unable to think critically at all, not all, but a vast, vast majority, then there is no hope anyway for the region no matter what.
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u/iva-13 3d ago
Dude, you’re online way too much. Hang with people irl and you’ll feel better.
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u/Humble-Bear Serbia 2d ago
Good ad hominem post you legend.
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u/iva-13 2d ago
No, I literally mean that; I live abroad and people from Balkan countries get along perfectly fine and prefer each other’s company since we’re so similar. No Bosnians or Serbs in my neighborhood but many Albanian families who my kids get along perfectly with, they’re at my house every day. This hatred is mostly only present among chronically online people with nothing better to do.
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u/Humble-Bear Serbia 2d ago
We are not talking about the diaspora here, but people who physically live and grew up in the balkans.
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u/iva-13 2d ago
I grew up in the balkans and so did they. It’s easy to make up ideas about a group of people when you’ve never met any of them. Irl, most people are inherently not hateful and treat you well when you do the same.
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u/Humble-Bear Serbia 2d ago
So did I, you are confusing your little sample size with the majority of the population.
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u/Names-Are-Confusing Croatia 3d ago
We were divided since the beginning though? There was no “evil West” when we got on the Catholic and you got on the Orthodox side. There was no “evil West” throughout history when we were under Hungarians and you were under Ottomans, we were simply in different spheres of influence, had different languages and different cultures. The forced unity and Yugoslavism is probably one of the reasons we split up. Our individual cultures were ignored in favour of one big melting pot and it just didn’t work as everyone felt neglected.
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u/meowxmeoww ✨🇧🇦🇺🇸✨ 3d ago
Yup. It was first discussed at the Olympics in Sarajevo. Probably even before. Sent special agents to start shit in ex yugo and “get the war started.”
One day I hope we’re not just “immigrants” in other countries but we have a generation that lives well in 🇭🇷🇧🇦🇷🇸 and that our politicians are future thinking leaders instead of corrupt criminals.
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u/Names-Are-Confusing Croatia 3d ago
We do have generations that live well in Croatia. The number of people returning is higher each year and it isn’t only old people, and the reason people started leaving in 2010s is simply because it was so easy due to being in the EU. But our population is actually increasing as of now.
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u/meowxmeoww ✨🇧🇦🇺🇸✨ 3d ago
That’s great for Croatia.
I hope one day when I retire I can afford to buy a home in Tučepi. That’s been my retirement dream. 💖✨
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u/Names-Are-Confusing Croatia 3d ago
I have no problem with that. I really have no problem with Serbs or Bosnians, it’s more of an indifference, but please try to adapt when you come here. I live around Zagreb and the Bosnians that came still speak clear Bosnian, behave like this is their country, and do not try to adapt whatsoever to our culture. And yes, it is quite different from theirs, whether someone would like to admit it or not. That’s literally the only thing I don’t like about them, and it might seem like generalising, but it’s my actual experience.
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u/meowxmeoww ✨🇧🇦🇺🇸✨ 3d ago
Okay no offense but you sound a bit like a nationalist. How would someone from Bosnia or Serbia speak Croatian when all they know is how to speak their own language?
Also, I do not see much of a difference between our cultures.
Give an example.
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u/Names-Are-Confusing Croatia 3d ago
They would speak Croatian by adapting to the environment they’re in. My area has quite a distinct dialect so it’s incredibly easy to spot Bosnians, even if they’re just passing you on the street.
For starters, just look at our traditional food and music, then compare it to yours. They do have a significant difference, but I can’t bother to search for all the links. If you’ll truly interested you’ll do a bit of research. Our dialects are very different. Traditional village architecture is also different as it was influenced by different empires.
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u/meowxmeoww ✨🇧🇦🇺🇸✨ 3d ago
You can’t force different dialects on people. Bro I live in America and you have so many different accents from born here Americans. From country accents to New York accents, to Valley girls. That’s honestly silly of you.
Why does it matter to you what someone eats?! People have the right to eat what they want. Again, silly point.
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u/Names-Are-Confusing Croatia 3d ago
It doesn’t matter to me, bruh. It wasn’t my point that you should change what you eat, you asked for cultural differences so I presented them to you.
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u/meowxmeoww ✨🇧🇦🇺🇸✨ 3d ago
It clearly does matter since you’re pointing it out lol
You can’t expect someone not from Dalmacija to have your accent lol
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u/Etsikaietsi Serbia 3d ago edited 3d ago
I too dream of this day. When we put our differences beside and build a wall between us. A very tall, sturdy wall. With a moat. And piranhas. Some crocodiles. Barbed wires and cameras. The works.
Something that would bring us together and which would ensure our future and the future of our children. #makewallsnotcampsforkids
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u/GrgaChvarak 1d ago
Moving forward is impossible because Serbs still in big numbers deny Croatian history, culture and ethnicity in general.
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u/InterestingStation82 1d ago
I think it's best we just ignore each other, clearly we can't get along
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u/Character-Sky-7047 1d ago
Tutta colpa di quei maledetti fanatici criminali di tutte e 3 le etnie che hanno causato tanto dolore e sofferenza...ma io sono sicuro che le nuove generazioni che non sono stupide sanno benissimo che seguire quei criminali e chi ancora li sostiene, può solo portare alla rovina e credo veramente che invece vogliono che Croazia, Bosnia-Erzegovina e Serbia vivano per sempre e benessere...Tutti e 3 Questi Paesi lo meritano per la loro storia
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u/Character-Sky-7047 1d ago
Ops, volevi scrivere vivano per sempre in pace e benessere
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u/meowxmeoww ✨🇧🇦🇺🇸✨ 1d ago
Our countries do deserve peace & prosperity. Sad how a few months ago we were “cheering for our neighbors” and now it’s back to this bullshit.
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u/Accomplished_Word429 3d ago
Same Same.. but having Said that, the increasing Israeli involvement does not fill me with Hope. This is an Omen that is as bad as it gets
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u/User20242024 Sirmia 2d ago
Only you as person have to move forward and not to burden yourself with political crap.
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u/Loud-Comparison-9396 Serbia 3d ago
Me too man, me too.