Customer Reviews

Regards From Serbia

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Aleksandar Zograf has done a masterful job in relating the ultimate insider's view: not a military planner from NATO, not a journalist covering conflicts he or she finds "mysterious" or mainly about "ancient hatreds," not even a government official or leader from any of the Balkan countries. This is the view from the streets of Belgrade by a sensitive and perceptive man with no interest in promoting any of the three principal nationalities, Serb, Croat or Muslim, over the others.

Don't be fooled by the format: these aren't simplifying cartoons, nor is this a "graphic novel." The illustrative format allows Zograf to express the emotional darkness, the madness, the scariness and worry of everyday living in a suppressed, wartorn urban zone, as well as the deep humanity that always somehow prevails.

A caption might read, "Common people got caught up in a game created by politicians, the media - and their own fears and prejudices." Or, "They all had their reasons - Every side was wrong and right at the same time. But as the violence spread up, the reasons were no longer important. It all ended in a mindless orgy of destruction." Or, "The sanctions didn't do much harm to the regime in Serbia. In fact, they made it stronger than ever." Or, "While the situation was getting worse, the people became more and more silent, thinking that it's useless to complain any more." Or, "At the same time, Serbia was savaged by a deeply running generation war. The elders were mostly followers of the regime, while the youth were for the opposition."

These are priceless insights that should provide guidance during this historical era when one of the most common solutions on the table for outside countries to restore order within other countries is to bomb them into submission or apply sanctions to foster regime change. We see how people already victimized by true tyranny and their own corrupt governments are then doubly victimized when Western or other nations, with little knowledge or concern for the everyday people, multiply their misery and take away their access to basic human living conditions.

Zograf is to be commended and I must admit I was not expecting this to be as powerful, insightful, enlightening and widely applicable as I have found it. You may even find it inspirational as well.