After years of national unrest in the Balkans (but seriously, when isn’t there unrest in the world?) the secession of Kosovo from Serbia attracted the attention of American Newspapers. Mind you weeks ago the Serbs knew the Albanian majority in Kosovo wanted to leave, state officials made tours throughout the Nato countries arguing it was a bad idea. Of the papers read today, the New York TImes and USA today (very much american publications), both describe the conflict thusly:
Just 10% of Kosovo’s people are ethnic Serbs, yet it is considered Serbia’s ancient religious heartland.” (USA Today 6A – Friday, February 22, 2008)
While technically true, it fails to illustrate exactly how important Kosovo is to your average Serb.
In the year 1389 the medieval Serbians were defeated by the Ottomans at Kosovo Polje. This defeat by the Muslims is heralded throughout Epic-poem tradition as a “Custer’s last stand” for Serb Christianity. It was 619 years ago but when a national identity persists, some things cannot die.
Admittedly my knowledge of politics and international affairs is lackluster, but in the late nineties the United States bombed Serbia. Effectively supporting the Albanian independence. At the time they denied that would happen, they were merely stopping the mistreatment by the Serbian country. Words are poor substitutes for action, and the U.S. sent mixed messages. The rhetoric said no independent Kosovo, the bombs said otherwise.
Can you see why maybe the ethnic Serbs are mad at the United States?
