Her Own Private Serbia

I believe that I am not the only one who, in spite of everything, feels uncomfortable when discussing Ms Markovic in public. But this discomfort must be explained, because it part of the story. First of all, in this case, one is not sure with whom and about whom one is talking. It would be stupid and insulting, and even incorrect to deny her individuality and right to self-expression. On the other hand, who can overlook the fact she is happily married to Slobodan Milosevic? If it weren't for this, who would be interested in reading her notes?

If everything were above board here, Ms Markovic would find it very embarrassing to make public judgments. She would either keep quiet or try very hard to persuade us that she is only a private person, and that the assessments made in her newspaper diaries are not the voice of the regime, and that they do not result in any political consequences for the people they address. But, Ms Markovic has shown that she is not bothered by the duality of her position; she takes responsibility only for that which she says, and probably thinks that it is not her duty to think of the consequences.

Ms Markovic devotes parts of her latest diary entry to the colonization of Eastern Europe which is being carried out via some of our political parties and media financed from abroad, under the guise of democratization and a market economy. Ms Markovic does not claim to be thinking of Serbia or some particular party or newspaper, but she does say that the matter pertains to treachery and the denouncing of one's country, which is considered a most shameful act, something the descendants of these traitors will be ashamed of. Nobody is being threatened with anything but the Judgement of History.

Let us assume that we are ready to await the judgment of history just as peacefully as Ms Markovic. In that case some faster court or organ which makes history will crop up, as was the case with the Belgrade daily "Borba". This part, this phase of execution, is probably not of great interest to Ms Markovic. She doesn't believe that her intimate confessions, her idealism, her notions of morality can have anything in common with brute force, bans, courts and the police. At the same time, she is not cynical. Her ideals are such a powerful alibi, that she can allow herself the luxury of not noticing who she is married to. If the anti-independent media and anti-opposition campaign ends successfully, she will congratulate herself on having made a correct forecast and will rejoice in the speed with which justice has been meted to traitors and denouncers.

Mira Markovic wants all to be happy, to live well, without hatred and in peace. This is why she doesn't believe that any ill can come from her or her surroundings, which means that evil comes from the other side, from other nations, from abroad, from the perfidious and corrupt opposition and the independent press. From all those who are paid to spread lies about democracy and a market economy. If this were good, then she would believe in it. If others were upright and honest, they would agree with her and everything would be just right. Since they aren't, then it is her duty to do everything she can to make sure that evil does not spread through the world, or at least not through Serbia. Stories of foreign mercenaries are, of course, deja vu, banal and boring, but obviously, timeless. They are always told by regimes which pay well to hear what they wish to hear. In earlier times I knew many people who were accused of working for the CIA, and they all lived miserably, much worse than their accusers. It seems that the Secret Service was always best off. If Ms Markovic ever felt the urge to check out her theories, she would easily reach the conclusion that matters haven't changed. Liars are well paid, but she will find them in her world, not in mine.

I have the best intention of wanting to believe in her alibi and accept the fact that the matter concerns a serious case of ideological blindness. Communist idealists disappeared more than a decade ago; they withdrew disappointed, or adapted or converted, admitting that life had turned out differently. But let's say that Mira Markovic managed to resist, and forged ahead to the present times with her initial faith intact. In what way, and at what price?

In her diary she cautions Europe that it will never unite until all in it are equal. Communism used the word equality in this sense. She claims to believe that Europe will become communist or it just won't be. Then she gives a long-term forecast, claiming that the third millennium will be an epoch of equality, leaving us to conclude that the matter concerns a sincere faith in the victory of communism.

But, is it possible, that with all this farsightedness, the lady fails to notice the situation concerning equality in the country ruled by her husband? Is it possible that she does not know that he has maintained a state of emergency for years in Kosovo? Haven't her peace-loving ears ever heard anything of the war plans concocted by her husband and her comrades on the former General Staff? Hasn't she ever noticed irregularities in the work of the regime's notorious private banks which swindled the citizens of Serbia while she was concerned over inequality in Europe?

The matter probably pertains to a paradox of the spirit, akin to Tertulian's exclamation: "I believe because it is absurd!" Perhaps all counter-arguments just serve to confirm Ms Markovic in her beliefs. And precisely because she is talking of a country which all consider as one of the worst, she thinks herself specially chosen to castigate and admonish the best. And the right to accuse the little of the media which are trying to remain independent, follows from the fact that she knows to what extent those controlled by the regime are corrupt and deceitful.

To confront such a spirit with facts is probably useless. But Ms Markovic's position is such that it is our duty to explain to ourselves what kind of an awareness we are dealing with. The same diary contains an inspired ode to the Russian winter. I find it characteristic that it does not remind her of Siberia, gulags and Stalin. I don't believe that the prisoners of Kolima gave much thought to Ana Karenina, and I doubt that winter was an aesthetical experience to them.

That which concerns Ms Markovic is the fact that the winter cold will not be enough to save Russia, since a new army is arriving, one made up of travelling salesmen, enlighteners, dealers, pop-singers and members of various religious sects. We should be worried over that fact that Ms Markovic is concerned by this. Not because of Russia, which will manage somehow, but because of Serbia, which, if things turn out according to Ms Markovic's wishes, none of these world hustlers will ever visit. I thought that we had a problem in bringing someone over, to defraud and cheat them, but now the opposite seems to be the case.

Of all that she writes about, I am most inclined to believe in the descriptions of Ms Markovic's personal happiness. It must be nice to enjoy flowers, fragrances and Nature's beauty. At the same time, Ms Markovic is sure that she is doing everything properly, and that her justice will conquer the world and that life is a beautiful dream. Her recipe probably doesn't fit everyone, but it is prefect. All it needs are the Army and the Police who will make sure that no one wakes you up.