Vujacic condemmns NATO bombing

In an emotional talk Thursday, Assistant Professor of Sociology Veljko Vujacic denounced recent NATO strikes against Serbian forces, repeatedly calling the actions reckless and irresponsible.

"I do not see how what happened five days ago can end well," Vujacic said. "It is leading to a tragedy."

Vujacic said the bombing will serve only to polarize Serbs and Albanians further, reduce the likelihood moderates will speak out for tolerance and cooperation, and ultimately lead to stronger nationalism and conflicts throughout the Balkans.

Speaking to a rapt audience, Vujacic commanded attention with his obvious emotion and powerful criticisms of the recent events in the region. He repeatedly called Western powers' actions shortsighted and hypocritical: "Shame on you," he said. "To hell with the lives of the pilots," he said, referring to three NATO pilots believed to be Serbian POWs. "What about the people on the ground?"

"Shame. Shame," he said.

Vujacic began his talk by outlining the history of Kosovo and the sources of Albanian and Serbian conflict. He emphasized that both nationalities have had cultural and political control of the region at times, and that Albanians have not always been the persecuted minority, as they were before the NATO bombings.

Vujacic was also careful to describe the Serbian national mythology, that he says makes the bombing not only ineffective, but counterproductive. For Serbs, Vujacic said, Kosovo represents a land that cannot be surrendered; to die fighting for Kosovo is honorable. This nationalism dates to a battle in 1389, when a Serbian leader chose to die defending Kosovo, rather than accept defeat or compromise.

That battle looms large in the Serbian consciousness, Vujacic said. It has been redefined and embraced by each generation of Serbs. The current fighting in Kosovo is just the next test of Serbian nationals.

"We just gave [Milosevic] the best present we could," Vujacic said. "He has just been canonized by the West as the new Serbian hero."

Vujacic also dealt with the emergence of Milosevic as a Serbian leader during the fall of communism in Yugoslavia. He read from several newspaper articles and reports in the 1980s, when Serbians were migrating from Kosovo in large numbers. He read a quote from Milosevic, who urged Serbs to stay in Kosovo to defend their homeland. He appealed to traditional Serbian values and communist politics.

"Milosevic is one of the most clever demagogues that the Balkans has seen and there have been a lot," he said.

At the same time Vujacic said the failure of the West to support Albanian student protesters in 1996 and 1997, and their inclusion of Milosevich in the Dayton peace talks led to frustration and extremism on the Albanina side as well. The Kosovo Liberation Army, which has served to silence and weaken moderate Albanin leaders, emerged during this period.

Vujacic's talk was met with sincere, but necessarility inadequate round of aplause.

Students asked a range of questions of Vujacic, often expressing a depth of emotion level with Vujacic's. Several students from the region told their own perspectives of the conflict.

Without doubt, those who heard the talk left with a greater understanding of Kosovo, and a heavy heart.