I DON’T BELONG TO YOUR RACE, BOY

I don’t belong to your race, boy

I don’t worship your idols and leaders and

Your silly anthems and slogans and

Don’t give a damn about your flags and other toys

I’m proud to be different

Call me a traitor or a newcomer

I know where I come from, boy

I know where I belong

I know where I go, boy

I’m the one who is free, boy, not you

I’m beautiful and unique

You are just an ugly number, boy

A meat for your greedy leaders

I’m proud to be who I am

You are the one who is confused

You are the frustrated one

You are the sick one, sick forever

Come down from the terrace, boy

Go home, boy, take care of your family

Find your peace, before trouble finds you

Stop acting stupid, boy, before it’s too late




***
I wrote this poem less than two weeks ago (on July 19), although I carry it in my thoughts for some time now. This poem is dedicated to all thugs and racist-nationalist idiots in my country and worldwide. I got particularly inspired by a song of local hooligans, but certainly think of all other shitheads around the world. I have quite a few more lyrics for and about them in my poetry book "Apocalypse" (published 2011), but even more in my new book of poetry and short stories, which is almost finished. I say almost because it's never finished unless it's printed. I wrote this poem in English, as most of my other works, but translated it in Macedonian language and posted it on my Monkeydonkeya Today blog. 

Time is an illusion

Diary: July 23-29, 2012

Occupy Wall Street photo

Monday, July 23

The government plans to move Macedonia to another time zone, speculated media end of last week and today. Woody Allen comes to my mind: “I’m going to kill myself. I should go to Paris and jump off the Eiffel Tower. I’ll be dead. You know, in fact, if I get the Concorde, I could be dead three hours earlier, which would be perfect. Or wait a minute. It -- with the time change, I could be alive for six hours in New York but dead three hours in Paris. I could get things done, and I could also be dead.”

Actually, according to speculations, the government might push Macedonia to the same time zone as Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey -- one hour ahead. Sounds smart… Maybe then the Prime Minister will become more punctual, since he’s got a worldwide reputation of being late over 45 minutes, regularly. The German Chancellor Angela Merkel also had a taste of the PM’s Prima Donna manners in Berlin last winter. If Macedonia moves to another zone, he might start coming to meetings 15 minutes earlier minimum. Is that so?

In fact, if we consider that the PM’s team moved Macedonia 2300 years back in many ways, the Macedonian PM might proudly state that he is 2300 years late, but minus 15 minutes, in case we move to the new time zone. Now, he is late 2300 years and 45 minutes. See? There is progress in every move of this government: back in time, far into future, never now. Yet, always keeping in mind what Albert Einstein told us some time ago: “Time is an illusion”.

*

The meeting of the EU Commissioner Štefan Füle and the Macedonian officials is over. Earlier, in an interview for the Radio Free Europe, the Commissioner said that "This year we [EU] have launched a high-level accession dialogue and I am impressed by the authorities, in particular the commitment of Prime Minister Gruevski, to enabling the reforms in key spheres. I have hopes for this high-level dialogue, we already have had two rounds, and in September I will travel to Skopje for the third one".

Gordan Georgiev of the opposition’s SDSM made an ironic statement “hoping” that the progress seen by Mr. Füle really exists, because his party doesn’t see it. Well, ophthalmologists should have a say here. Or?

Mr. Füle is actually using mild vocabulary characteristic for most diplomats. In the same interview, he says: “I see some changes. I see that part of the nationalist rhetoric has been once again replaced with the EU agenda, which is good.”

Part of the nationalist rhetoric… That means not all? And, which part? More importantly, does anybody know when the Macedonian PM will feel nauseated by the West again, as he did in May?

These questions are supposed to be answered here, at home, set aside the diplomatic vocabulary and manners. That doesn’t happen, simply because statements and reports made by EU and other foreign officials are mostly used as a propaganda tool, rather than as a roadmap. When a statement is mild, the government raises it to a level of maximal praise for its (mostly nonexistent) achievements; when they get more direct and tough criticisms, the PM gets sickens.

*

End of October last year, I suggested to the members of my team at Civil to put the possibility of early parliamentarian elections by the end of 2012 in the annual program. C’mon, they said, you can’t be serious. I insisted. Eventually, they accepted this rather brave statement in the program. I repeated my speculations when campaigning for the 2013’s local elections started too early, in March. Impossible, was the response.

Today, this speculation becomes reality in some of the independent media in the country. Did I say independent media? Well, there are a few of them, indeed. Small sparkles in the dark. My colleagues are still very suspicious. I still believe there is a serious possibility of early elections this year.

Tuesday, July 24

Ethnic issues are everywhere. I read an article in the daily Dnevnik about the fact that Ali Ahmeti’s Democratic Union for Integration (partner in the ruling coalition) might win the local elections in Kichevo, because of the rivalry between the Macedonian parties (ruling VMRO-DPMNE and SDSM). Meaning, Macedonians will (as the author writes) “lose the unique chance” to have a Macedonian continue running this municipality, so an Albanian might win this position. Hello, Baikonur! It’s not about which ethnic groups will give the mayor, it’s about managing people’s needs in the town.

*

I meet many people every day. The International cocktail bar is my regular daily hangout, where I discuss zillions of issues with various people. With no exception, everyone speaks about how corrupt are politicians.

Many people have arguments to put on table against the ways and deeds of power holders and institutions in the country. Some are based on facts, many on speculations, but it all draws a picture of an awkward country.

Every day, I agree with my associates and friends that verbally, around a coffee table, people are enraged. As soon as they leave the table, rarely anyone takes an action, anything… The farthest most of the people get is to click Like on a Facebook status or a link, and not always. Or, they click Like on Occupy Wall Street movement’s photo, but keep their mouse away from opinions on the problems in their yard. Ah! This is becoming an old story, I need new ones.

*

That Putin is a thug and a peasant I don’t need to elaborate a lot. The latest crap which comes from his cabinet is the unjust and cruel prosecution of the three members of the female punk band Pussy Riot. They produced a “punk-prayer” called “Mother of God, chase Putin out” filmed in a cathedral in Moscow. Their attempt to perform it lasted about 30 seconds before they were arrested. They are in pretrial detention since March, technically accused of hooliganism. The New Yorker’s Masha Lipman observes: “The prosecution of the Pussy Riot women is more than an act of absurd injustice and cruelty; it is a sign that the Russian state is increasingly lashing out against those citizens it sees as overly modernized. Vladimir Putin has often said that modernization is the goal of his regime, but its policy is increasingly slipping toward something egregiously anti-modern, obscurantist, even medieval. The Pussy Riot case is a telling illustration of Putin’s political crackdown—and of his increasing reliance on the Russian Orthodox Church as a resort of the most conservative societal forces.”

Sharp and truthful observation, no doubt about it. I join Pussy Riot's prayers from the atheist temple of my desires.

Wednesday, July 25

The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon arrived to Macedonia yesterday evening on his Balkans tour (skipping a couple of Balkan countries, though). I read his schedule in the press. He’s meeting high officials of the state, he will eat. The Head of the World’s agenda also includes a few other meetings, including the President George Ivanov’s political school’s students and a yellow cat. He addressed the Parliament in an almost romantic statement, and saw a few churches. That’s about it.

*

The town of Strumica which suffered from a raging fire in its suburbs in the last few days mourns its dead. Several other intense fires took place in the country in the last few weeks. High temperatures, as well as human negligence and irresponsibility caused them.

*

While wildfires pop-up across the country, the political stage is continuously on fire. The campaigning continues over the local elections set for March 2013. The government came out with an annual report of its achievements, claiming 400 successful projects in only 365 days since it’s in power. The opposition carries on with it tour throughout the country, building its battered grassroot base at over 40°C.

Calculations and political spikes and arrows fly around. The census was unsuccessful last year (due to ethnic politics), the voters lists are not cleared (despite urges by the domestic and international urges), so many non-existent (including dead) people might “vote” again. Seems, no one really cares about this; political scores are the ultimate objective.

Thursday, July 26

It’s 49 years since the Skopje earthquake in 1963. My mother who lived in the center of Skopje then remembers the catastrophe quite well. She speaks of it reluctantly, obviously deeply traumatized by the horror that shook the city at 05:17am, lasted 20 long seconds, and claimed over 1000 lives. She was on the first floor of their family house, asleep, when her bed started moving like a boat. She was 17; escaped death within seconds, while her home’s walls were collapsing behind her back. “Many people died when they tried to re-enter their homes to rescue their family members who were crying for help under the ruins,” she says and changes the subject. I think of the countless construction investments in Skopje, which often don’t meet basic architectural requirements. Set aside the aesthetics.

*

Ban Ki-moon is in Srebrenica. Standing in the midst of eight thousand graves of the victims of the worst massacre since World War II -- as they call it -- he sends a message to Syria: "The international community must be united not to see any further bloodshed in Syria because I do not want to see any of my successors in 20 years visiting Syria and apologizing for what we could have done to protect the civilians which we are not doing now”.  

It’s rather awkward. Syria and many other places in the world are already mass graves. Wars and famine are ongoing. UN could do more, indeed. Apologies for failing to do more to protect civilians are lining up; failures that will be acknowledged and those unlisted mount.

Friday, July 27

My office got an anonymous call from Struga today. The caller complained about the drums banging around 3am calling for Suhoor every day. “It’s not that I’m against my Muslim neighbors, it’s because of the kids. They wake up and cry. It’s too loud” – the caller explained.

Indeed, I believe that this practice is annoying for non-Muslims. And, not only. I’m sure that there are people who silently practice their faith, following their intimate relation with god or whatever, without making a loud statement whenever they eat or else.

It’s like peeing to mark the territory. It’s also putting pressure on Muslims who don’t feel like fasting. Altogether, everyone’s child is being distressed in the midst of the night. Marking territories in this tiny country is an Olympic discipline, yet not recognized by the Intl. Olympic Committee. It’s like the Macedonians who have put a huge cross on so many hills across the country making it look like a graveyard. A Christian, but still a graveyard... Not to speak about the countless minarets and even more churches growing every day.

Back to banging drums in the middle of the night… What is it? A tradition? What tradition? To wake everyone up because it’s time to eat before fasting? Well, maybe in the past it was even necessary, because there were no alarm clocks, mobile phones and watches on almost every wrist. Or, is it an idea picked up from TV soap operas that occupy the air in the Macedonian media? Whatever it is, doesn’t correspond with good neighborly behavior, disrespects everyone and harasses children.

I think of a shortlist of people who is responsible to fix this: mayor, police, imams, NGO – categories mount. Well, they are all busy with “more important” things.

*

People seem to forget that hate and divisions are growing little by little, from the daily life of different people living in one place. Moreover, they all seem to avoid talking to each other, frankly and immediately after issues occur. Today is the drum, tomorrow it will be the cross, and the other day something else, until looting and shooting starts.

*

I was invited to speak about celebratory firing and gun culture on the morning program of TV Alfa. The celebratory firing is a tradition that brings lots of incidents and we need to overcome it – was more or less the entry in the conversation. That is true. In a way…

I have a slightly different standpoint. People tend to explain their peasantry and brute behavior with tradition.

What tradition?!

Shooting at weddings belongs to the past as, among other things, a way to announce something. Moreover, we are talking about one or just a few shots fired to alert people on various occasions. Seems, people were more rational with ammunition back then. Now, we have weddings with hundreds of shots fired. The risk to wound or kill rises. Meanwhile, humans invented post offices, Internet, and phones. And fireworks, if we need noise and attention... So, shooting at weddings is not a tradition. It’s a mark for a peasant and a thug. Or a wannabe…

Saturday, July 28

The Liberal-Democrat Party’s head Andrej Zhernovski asked if Prime Minister Gruevski and the citizens live in the same country and time. Good question, indeed. But, remember? Time is an illusion, everything is relative. Only relatives of the PM are real.

Sunday, July 29

We’re not disturbing the peace, we’re disturbing the war” (Occupy Wall Street slogan). Good one! Hopefully, some protesters will really disturb a war someday, somewhere. This might be a good start, but the road is long, very long. 

*

The Arms Trade Treaty negotiations at the UN failed. Partly. Over 90 countries supported a strong Arms Trade Treaty, so, half way. Ten years of efforts of so many human rights and peace activists. The battle against weapons and tyrants continues.

Fabricated history and awful kitsch

Diary: July 16-22, 2012

Monday, July 16

What a blow! The Turkish investor Ibrahim Cevahir, in presence of the Prime Minister Gruevski, made strong public complaints on the business conditions imposed by the government, about the legislation mazes and slow administration. Ibrahim Cevahir is the head of Cevahir Holding which is going to build a massive residence and trade center in Skopje (over 1300 apartments, among others). He reminded the PM that he is not going to last forever, and his days in opposition are coming. This was a speech that rarely anyone (if any) dares to give so directly, to the face of the Macedonia’s strongman.

An opinion text by Ivor Mickovski (Plus Info news portal) called upon the business community in the country, strongly criticizing their cowardice to speak out about the unscrupulous ways of the government in the commercial sector. He's got a point there.

Namely, the internal debt of the government is kept as a top secret. For years, the government is not paying for the services provided by the commercial sector, the VAT is not being returned to the companies, and the business community is under constant threat of closure and prosecution by the financial police. Whether you own a kiosk or a coffee bar, or a factory – the Draconian fines are hanging in the air day in, day out. Business people talk about this all in coffee bars and sometimes in the chambers of commerce, but obviously not loud and not directly enough. Meanwhile, to become a service provider to the government – which is probably number one employer and user of commercial services in the country – one needs to be as close to the ruling party as possible. Conclusions are clear. 

This is a hangover Monday for many who attended the Prilep Beer Festival. The tiny Prilep has sold fantastic 289 tons of beers during the weekend. Another 124 tons of meet were grilled. A full plate of grilled meet was sold for as low as two euro. This country’s men and women have real good appetite. The quality of meet is not being discussed. The local government says that 400.000 tourists visited the town during the festival.

Nevertheless, not many believe the official numbers nowadays.

Tuesday, July 17

Thirty houses of the village of Patetino near Sveti Nikole (east part of the country) burned in a fire planted by an angry man in the neighboring village. He often threatened his neighbors with fire, complaining of their cattle.

Oil prices went up again. Despite the calls from the opposition to keep the price of the oil by a governmental intervention (giving up from part of the profit - let’s call it the way it is), the prices went up. New strike for the weak economy and family budgets...

The temperature in the Parliament is rising. Names of streets and institutions are being discussed, again, in a manner of mutual accusations and calling each other a traitor. Government is rewriting history and declining from reality – is the main argument of the opposition for quite some time now. they can’t be more right. The Skopje 2014 project is going to be discussed tomorrow.

I think it’s a rather smart game of the ruling majority in the Parliament. While Macedonia is sinking into poverty and isolationism, street names are being discussed in a pre-electoral manner. The opposition took the bait. Useless debates that only prove the lack of democracy in as small things as changing street names, make real big and damaging practices go on. When people see that even street names are under total control, they just feel powerless to change anything when it comes to real serious stuff.

Lustration (law on verification of facts on perpetrators of crimes committed under an earlier regime)… It’s done, the has been passed. It will include the whole period of communism all the way to 2006, when VMRO-DPMNE came to power. What is there to say? The facts speak for themselves.

Wednesday, July 18

The debate in the Parliament continues with the Skopje 2014. Fierce and unscrupulous, the MPs on both sides attack each other, visibly taking a good care to gain political scores with the voters. The opposition SDSM is well prepared and obviously in a good shape, due to its “working summer” campaign. The ruling party’s majority is rather arrogant, though nervous at times.

I remember a conversation with a self-proclaimed peace activist few months ago, before the debatable March for Peace. I could recognize his pro-ruling-party stand already from other subjects, but it became quite clear when he chanted “Imagine Skopje 2014 in 100 years! It’s going to be really beautiful, you have to admit!” Um, in 100 years it’s going to be another 100 years of shame, my friend. That’s what I’m repeatedly telling everyone for some time now, mostly getting the echoes of my voice back.

Meanwhile, the millions of euros are being poured into this expensive grotesque of fabricated history and awful kitsch. It will mark a whole generation of people and politicians who did not manage to stop this madness. Shame on all of us!

The court didn’t produce credible evidence for over two months after the arrest of suspects on the killing of five near Skopje in April, a huge case of the so-called fight of the government against Islamic terrorism. Back then the Ministry of Interior stated that they came to possession of unbeatable evidence on the involvement of the arrestees.

The opposition leader Branko Crvenkovski and the leader of the Democratic Party of the Albanians Menduh Thaci, another fierce political opponent of Crvenkovski from the past, shook hands today. Set aside all other aspects of this agreement, this is the first time in 20 years of the country’s independence that a Macedonian and an Albanian political party in the country enter a pre-electoral collaboration.

Thursday, July 19

The opposition VMRO-NP (VMRO-People’s Party) leader Ljubco Georgievski wrote to the Macedonian Orthodox Church. He called the projects of the government and the Church’s defense of it, restoration of paganism.

The Church came out with a highly political statement on the name issue, sending curses against the opposition, and defending the ruling party’s politics. By doing so, the Church violated (again) the principles and legislation that guarantee the secular character of the country, serving as a propaganda tool for the rulers.

The former PM Georgievski, known for his strong ties to the Church at the time, angrily attacked the latest public appearance of the Church, and called them to ask for forgiveness for their sins from St. Clement. 

Friday, July 20

In the Bulgarian capital of Sofia, the supporters of Levsky in the match against the Bosnian Sarajevo made a grim reminder of extreme nationalism. The hooligans came out with posters and slogans that celebrate the ethnic cleansing in Srebrenica and Bosnia. “Ratko Mladic and Arkan f****d you, it our turn now” was one of the slogans waving at the stadium in Sofia yesterday.

Incidents occurred on the streets of Sarajevo today, echoing the ugly incident in Sofia. Militant messages continue coming from ultra-nationalists and hooligans, containing the slogan Nozh, zhica, Srebrenica [Knife, wire, Srebrenica] and other bloody and idiotic bullshit. I hope Bulgarian authorities will remember that their country is a member of EU and that this is the 21^st century.

I don’t need to mention the thugs here. They anyhow live 2000 years ago.

Saturday, July 21

I have a story about worms today.

There was a family of worms living happily in the sewerage. One day, one of the kid-worms found a book on worms floating in the dirt of the sewerage and read it with a high interest. In the evening, when the father-worm came home from work, the kid had many questions for him.

“Father” - the kid asked - “is it true that there are worms living in an apple?”

“Yes” - the father responded.

“Also, there are worms living in the meat” - continued the child-worm.

“Right it is, my son” – the father was content by his son’s knowledge.

“Aha… And, is it true that there are many worms living in a plum, a cherry, and other sweet and beautiful fruits” – insisted the kid-worm.

“That’s all true, my son, there are many worms living in all those fruits” – said the father.

“Uh, father, why then we have to live in this stinking sewerage?” – the son was disappointed.

“Fatherland, my son, fatherland…” – said the father-worm.

Sunday, July 22

America mourns its 12 victims from the movie theatre shooting in Aurora, Colorado on Friday. Grief and anger fill the news reports and social networks. Yet, the American politicians don’t dare to fight the Second Amendment in fears that the strong NRA lobby will diminish their votes. It takes courage, and strong political will and determination to tackle the gun culture in USA. And, the Second Amendment needs to be considered in its essence (I mentioned this in the previous diary) – it needs to be understood in its historical context and overcome it, once and for all.

Norway remembers the 77 victims from the lunatic and bloodthirsty attack of Breivik last year.

The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) negotiations continue at the UN. The Macedonian delegation is still silent.
Back at home, several wounded last week only from celebratory firing.
“Stop, before you kill someone!” we wrote in the press release the other day.
Thugs and idiots are thugs and idiots everywhere, at weddings, as well. 

Eight months ahead of the local elections, the political battle is raging

Diary: July 9-15, 2012

Monday, July 9

The news on the failure of the Macedonian basketball team is still going on. Disappointment is widespread. I have to admit, I was rather content. I will never forget the Nazi styled parades at the beginning of the year, celebrating the successes of the basketball and handball teams. This led to a nationalistic frenzy, strongly supported, if not organized, by the party in power. Eventually, ugly interethnic incidents occurred. I posed a very obvious question then: Who Wants War in Macedonia?

That’s why I felt relieved upon the failure of the Macedonian basketball team. I’m not very much into sports, but was glad if any Macedonian team would score somewhere abroad. The nationalistic politics killed that feeling, probably forever, making me feel unwelcome in my own country.

The “Tiger” (special police unit member) Igor Spasov who killed Martin Neshkovski during the post-election celebration of the ruling party VMRO-DPMNE on June 6, 2011, was convicted to 14-year long prison sentence. He appealed to the Court of Appeals, claiming he didn’t kill Neshkovski. Spasov was the only person who stood trial in this case of police brutality, despite public calls that more officials need to take responsibility, including the Interior Minister Gordana Jankulovska. Spasov remains to be the only person taken responsible for this murder. “I wasn’t there to kill, but to protect the Prime Minister”, he stated before the judges. What does it mean? Protecting the Prime Minister can kill?

The heat wave in Macedonia continues. Underpaid and with no safety at work, construction workers continue working under the blazing sun. Most of the works are government’s projects. Embarrassing, to say the least. The Social Welfare Minister started acting concerned and issued a couple of recommendations.

Tuesday, July 10

The political life of the country is mostly about the local elections in 2013 and the name issue with Greece. The unofficial campaigning first started with governmental campaigns already in March. Well, the government's campaigns are ongoing for six years now. The main opposition party SDSM counter-stroke with the “working summer”, fiercely criticizing the government from the town squares across the country, while promoting mayors in the same time.

I had a coffee with a friend this morning, who disagrees with this concept of the opposition. He believes that early promotion of mayors is sort of “legitimizing the authoritarian and criminal rule of this government”. He wants to see the opposition united to turn this government down – nothing else. Period. There is some sense there.

I spoke to few people about the alliance of - once upon a time ago - fierce political opponents, Branko Crvenkovski (SDSM, Social Democratic Union of Macedonia) and Ljubco Georgievski (VMRO-NP, VMRO – People’s Party). Some of them say it will be confusing for both supporters of SDSM and the VMRO-NP. Crvenkovski said at the beginning of the month that Churchill and Stalin joined forces against Adolph Hitler. The ruling VMRO-DPMNE reacted with the ironic question that Crvenkovski didn’t clarify who is Churchill and who is Stalin in this coalition. As it seems, they don't complain about the comparison of their leader with Hitler. Not that it came to my attention.

Later on in the afternoon, I watched the alarming video of the Human Rights Watch on the xenophobic violence in Greece. 
Well known pattern of thinking of the nationalist idiots: “it’s poor asylum seekers who are responsible of the financial troubles of Greece or any other country; it’s not the crooked politicians and massive theft at the institutional level”.

Wednesday, July 11

Arifi on the cover
"Vice Prime Minister for
all-Albanian unification"

Teuta Arifi, the Vice Prime Minister for EU integration, got on the cover page of the daily Dnevnik (influenced by the government), calling her “Vice Prime Minister for all-Albanian unification”. The cover story accuses her of running an agenda that is completely different from the EU program of her Secretariat for European Affairs. “On the account of the people”, writes the paper, “Arifi traveled to Albania taking part in forums on issues such ethnic minorities, the Albanian question, and 100 year anniversary of the Albanian flag." 

In the evening, I watched B92 news. Here comes the statement of the day! Ivica Dacic, the future Serbian Prime Minister called the financial sector in Serbia “the main enemy of the people”, reminding me of the best times of the Russian bolshevism. Unbelievable!

These kind of ridiculous statements go hand in hand with nationalistic rhetoric on Kosovo, determination on not giving up from the holly Serbian land, etc. Since Tomislav Nikolic got elected president of Serbia, we can expect many bizarre statements and dangerous games in the coming years.

Dacic provides one more prove that stupid politicians simply fail to contribute to the development of a country, but are very successful in raising nationalism and violence.

Thursday, July 12

I contacted several people that take part in the lobbying activities at the UN Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), trying to push for a “bulletproof” treaty that will prevent dictators from butchering their own people. I was interested in how the Macedonian delegation is doing. We (in Civil) have worked very hard on this issue in the last several months (and 11 years before). Among other things, we contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to brief the state officials on the ATT process, using the excellent materials from the Control Arms coalition. We provided the MFA with information via their e-mail, since no one has responded to our numerous phone calls. What I learned from my colleagues in New York, the MK delegation is utterly mute.  Should I be surprised?

In other e-mails (I get at least a dozen of them daily) on the ATT process, I learn about the NRA rednecks’ attacks. They are aggressively calling upon the Second Amendment’s (US Constitution) right to bear arms. Manipulators! The very essence of the ATT process doesn’t concern the Second Amendment. Moreover, this Amendment is misused by gun lovers in USA, to satisfy the primitive urges of masculinity and the bloodstained appetites of gun makers.  

In Struga, the police have shot dead an unarmed 25-year-old criminal. According to the report, police shot warning shots, but the fugitive got killed anyhow. Effortless, I can count at least four unarmed persons who got killed by police in the last couple of years only.

Friday, July 13

The National Bureau of Statistics reported that 30.4% of Macedonian citizens live below the poverty line. This already high percent of poor people was “corrected” by the World Bank’s report according to which the poverty rate in Macedonia is 42.5%, out of which 14.7% live with USD 2.5 or less! On the other hand, the government continues campaigning about its financial successes, promotes skyscrapers, raises a monument per day, shortly - beats all laws of logic.

Alexander the Great, officially 

called Warrior on a Horse

expensive and ugly

I turn to the website of the government to have some fun. There, the PM Gruevski responds to the Greek President Carolos Papoulias. The website proudly rephrases the MK PM: “if Papoulias says this in the sense of supporting Macedonian identity, nationality and language, and since a majority of the people here are Macedonians and feel as such, having a national and lingual entity tied to Macedonia and the Macedonian language, then he gladly accepts the role as leader of Makedonism.”

Yes, “Makedonism” is the food that will feed the hungry. And free opera tickets that the government is offering to people. Remember Maria Antonieta? When informed that her subjects had no bread to eat, she said “Let them eat cake then.”

Saturday, July 14

The new spokesperson of the government Alexandar Georgiev, announced the government’s plan to build 76 local roads, 176 km long, worth 15 million euro. Simple math: if money used for Skopje 2014 (300 million euro; even more, most probably), this government could have built 3,520 km of roads.

Sunday, July 15

"Together, we can do more"

the party election slogan 

and Koce Trajanovski

Many examples speak of the manners and intellectual level of MK officials. The video published on Plus Info presents the brilliant way of communication of the Skopje’s mayor Koce Trajanovski who swears like a drunken sailor (sorry sailors, it’s an expression).

Meanwhile, the opposition continues rallying. Today, SDSM and coalition partners are rallying in Bogdanci, tiny and poor town in the country’s south. “People want their country back!” – is the emphasis of this rally. Eight months ahead of the elections, the political battle is raging.