Swastika in Serb protest over Kosovo
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CroRadio.net
Feb 26, 2008, 4:00:12 PM2/26/08
to Croatian News
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23283551-5007146,00.html
Swastika in Serb protest over Kosovo
By Christopher Bantick
February 27, 2008 05:10am
Article from: Herald Sun - Melbourne Australia
WHEN the Melbourne city square used to be on the corner of Collins and
Swanston streets, a group of anti-immigration protesters in Hitler's
storm trooper uniforms were holding forth.
Suddenly, two elderly men, their coat tails flying, ran across Collins
St and tried to rip the swastika armbands from the protesters.
The resultant scuffle ended up with one old man receiving a cut head
and the protesters scattering after an angry crowd gathered.
The swastika and the intimidating dog returned to Melbourne's streets
on Friday night in an anti-independence rally over Kosovo separating
from Serbia. The irony was inescapable.
Seventy-five years ago, Hitler came to power and his swastika-wearing
bovver boys crushed dissent. The swastika is a symbol of terror and
totalitarianism.
Therefore, it is difficult to see how the Serb protesters can
appropriate the swastika and expect public support.
To understand the convoluted logic of the Serbs who took to
Melbourne's streets is a challenge.
An Australian flag and placard covered in swastikas was confiscated by
police. To besmirch an Australian flag with swastikas is not only an
act of breathtaking ignorance, but inflammatory.
I wonder what my late father, a World War II veteran, would have
thought. He fought under the Australian flag. He watched his mates die
under the Australian flag. He would have been outraged that the
Australian flag was desecrated with symbols of hate.
Melbourne is a city with an international reputation for its racial
harmony, and was ranked third in a UN report last year as the most
desirable country in which to live.
Peter Schneemann, from Switzerland's Berne University, was in
Melbourne last month for the 32nd International Committee of the
History of Art Congress.
He praised the city's "extremely open and tolerant culture".
As a mark of this democracy and tolerance, Serbian demonstrators are
free to march and chant in Melbourne's streets.
But what they are protesting about bears closer examination.
At its heart, this protest was about nationalism and the Serbian
refusal to accept Australia's recognition of the now independent
Kosovo.
What do we make of the veiled threat contained in the words of Father
Milan Milutinovic of Melbourne's Serbian Orthodox Church?
He asked Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to reverse Australia's decision to
recognise Kosovo independence from Serbia.
"Countries, unfortunately including Australia, have recognised Kosovo
unilaterally as a sovereign state," said the cleric. "This is
something we cannot accept and we are here to protest what's going
on."
But, while such nationalistic claims directed at the Australian
Government are cause for unease, Father Milutinovic was partly correct
when he added: "I don't know what connection Australia really has to
Kosovo - it's a European problem."
Kosovo's independence is accepted by the United Nations Security
Council and the council universally condemned Nazi-like violence in
Belgrade.
But there's the rub. European ethnically-derived hate has no place on
Melbourne's streets, and I'm with Father Milutinovic when he says:
"It's a European problem."
But not when Serbian bullying is crystallised in the mark of a
swastika.
It is a symbol that destroys whatever cause the Serbs may declare.
Christopher Bantick is a Melbourne writer and social commentator
Swastika in Serb protest over Kosovo
By Christopher Bantick
February 27, 2008 05:10am
Article from: Herald Sun - Melbourne Australia
WHEN the Melbourne city square used to be on the corner of Collins and
Swanston streets, a group of anti-immigration protesters in Hitler's
storm trooper uniforms were holding forth.
Suddenly, two elderly men, their coat tails flying, ran across Collins
St and tried to rip the swastika armbands from the protesters.
The resultant scuffle ended up with one old man receiving a cut head
and the protesters scattering after an angry crowd gathered.
The swastika and the intimidating dog returned to Melbourne's streets
on Friday night in an anti-independence rally over Kosovo separating
from Serbia. The irony was inescapable.
Seventy-five years ago, Hitler came to power and his swastika-wearing
bovver boys crushed dissent. The swastika is a symbol of terror and
totalitarianism.
Therefore, it is difficult to see how the Serb protesters can
appropriate the swastika and expect public support.
To understand the convoluted logic of the Serbs who took to
Melbourne's streets is a challenge.
An Australian flag and placard covered in swastikas was confiscated by
police. To besmirch an Australian flag with swastikas is not only an
act of breathtaking ignorance, but inflammatory.
I wonder what my late father, a World War II veteran, would have
thought. He fought under the Australian flag. He watched his mates die
under the Australian flag. He would have been outraged that the
Australian flag was desecrated with symbols of hate.
Melbourne is a city with an international reputation for its racial
harmony, and was ranked third in a UN report last year as the most
desirable country in which to live.
Peter Schneemann, from Switzerland's Berne University, was in
Melbourne last month for the 32nd International Committee of the
History of Art Congress.
He praised the city's "extremely open and tolerant culture".
As a mark of this democracy and tolerance, Serbian demonstrators are
free to march and chant in Melbourne's streets.
But what they are protesting about bears closer examination.
At its heart, this protest was about nationalism and the Serbian
refusal to accept Australia's recognition of the now independent
Kosovo.
What do we make of the veiled threat contained in the words of Father
Milan Milutinovic of Melbourne's Serbian Orthodox Church?
He asked Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to reverse Australia's decision to
recognise Kosovo independence from Serbia.
"Countries, unfortunately including Australia, have recognised Kosovo
unilaterally as a sovereign state," said the cleric. "This is
something we cannot accept and we are here to protest what's going
on."
But, while such nationalistic claims directed at the Australian
Government are cause for unease, Father Milutinovic was partly correct
when he added: "I don't know what connection Australia really has to
Kosovo - it's a European problem."
Kosovo's independence is accepted by the United Nations Security
Council and the council universally condemned Nazi-like violence in
Belgrade.
But there's the rub. European ethnically-derived hate has no place on
Melbourne's streets, and I'm with Father Milutinovic when he says:
"It's a European problem."
But not when Serbian bullying is crystallised in the mark of a
swastika.
It is a symbol that destroys whatever cause the Serbs may declare.
Christopher Bantick is a Melbourne writer and social commentator
CroRadio.net
Feb 26, 2008, 4:31:13 PM2/26/08
to Croatian News
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23281845-5000117,00.html
Storming the streets
February 27, 2008 12:00am
WHEN the city square used to be on the corner of Collins and Swanston
Kosovo -- it's a European problem."
Kosovo's independence is accepted by the United Nations Security
Council and the council universally condemned Nazi-like violence in
Belgrade.
But there's the rub. European ethnically derived hate has no place on
Storming the streets
Article from: Herald Sun - Melbourne Australia
Christopher Bantick
February 27, 2008 12:00am
WHEN the city square used to be on the corner of Collins and Swanston
Kosovo's independence is accepted by the United Nations Security
Council and the council universally condemned Nazi-like violence in
Belgrade.
Melbourne's streets, and I'm with Father Milutinovic when he says:
"It's a European problem."
But not when Serbian bullying is crystallised in the mark of a
swastika.
It is a symbol that destroys whatever cause the Serbs may declare.
Christopher Bantick is a Melbourne writer and social commentator
"It's a European problem."
But not when Serbian bullying is crystallised in the mark of a
swastika.
It is a symbol that destroys whatever cause the Serbs may declare.
Christopher Bantick is a Melbourne writer and social commentator
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