Sunday, February 24, 2008

A Comment on Kosovo Independence and the Attack on our Embassy in Belgrade

I found this today on Willam Roddy's blog:

I didn't write this but I wish I had

Here's a rather good comment that I happen to believe, from an unusual source. It's the beginning of a set of movie reviews about American embassies, written by D. Maass , on Film.com:

"As a red-blooded American, I have a secret chamber in my heart reserved for nations that declare independence. The geo-political circumstances might be slightly beyond my grasp, but I've always got a few metaphorical sparklers within arms. How can I not be in love with these lines from our own Declaration of Independence?

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

So, when Kosovo declared independence from Serbia this week, my heart beat a little faster, my steps sprung a little bouncier. But then, when, 150,000 Serbian protesters rioted at the US Embassy in Belgrade and a few "thugs" lit our embassy on fire, I realized that it's exactly this kind attitude of mine that inspires that kind of violence.

It's a strange paradox of values for me. But one thing I'm solid on: supporting our ambassadors and Foreign Service officials. They're risking their lives at the front lines of the diplomatic war for peace and harmony."

2 comments:

1 said...

That truly is a great comment and I would suspect how most people feel. Our diplomats, like our troops, can never get enough praise for their hard and perilous work. Thanks for sharing it with your readership.

Johnson said...

Doesn't it bring into question the idea that people of different religions and ethnicities can live together in peace?

It again shows that nation states can not exist without ethnic or religious identities to support them.

The same reason why there is war in Kenya, Sudan, and Congo as well as why we can't establish democracy in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The independence of Kosovo is not a cause for celebration. It is a step backwards towards more religious and ethnic nepotism.

I see dark times ahead for the few remained Serb minorities in Kosovo.