The Last Tango

Oh well then, let's go and vote one more time. They say its now or never, that the time has come and that they are men of their words. Let's say that they were naive last time. But if the Socialists win again, and if we don't have solid proof of their monkey business, don't ever make us waste our time with voting ballots again. We have better things to do on Sunday, anyway. We'll end up believing that none of them has ever had serious plans, that they are all in some kind of clandestine agreement aimed at taking advantage of our misfortune.

If after all that has been said and done the regime that caused war, murdered and made miserable so many people remains in power, it will turn out that we alone chose dog's life, caring so much about dignity and pride. It is true that TV has been lying to us and making us look stupid; it is true that the opposition is all confused, disorganized and torn asunder; it is true that Panic is somewhat too informal - but Milosevic has nothing else for us but clubs and sticks. A vote for him is a vote for violence, since only through violence can he rule if he wins.

We should thank Milosevic, and not the opposition, for making it easy for us to chose. These are not going to be regular elections but a referendum for him or against him, which means that it is practically irrelevant whether we like Panic or not and which party we'll vote for. As far as I'm concerned, Panic, with all his vices and virtues, represents ideal choice for Serbia today. He offers this country an opportunity to make two steps at a time: one that everybody else has already made and another that nobody made yet.

Serbia is the last country in Europe to free itself from the so-called former regime. In that respect, voting against it doesn't make us enthusiastic anymore, but ashamed. Milosevic impersonates an extremely malignous form of nationalism, which has just started to conquer the Balkans and some parts of Europe. He was first in that. If this sad country manages to overthrow him, it would suddenly be given a chance to feel modern, wise and superior. This is the message given to us by the smiling American Milan Panic, and this is where his and our hopes lie.

Nobody likes to be a loser, and this people tend to do things out of spite. If we are to be the last, then at least we'll make the world remember us. Milosevic was invincible for as long as the opposition invited for overthrowing the last remaining communist, since at the same time he was the first nationalist. People here have need for some kind of greatness. Panic understood it perfectly, announcing a grand, spectacular turn-over, and not just small corrections of Milosevic's allegedly noble project. He doesn't call upon Serbs to calm down and come to their senses, but to become the best out of the worst.

Who would care to participate in the elections which would only slightly change the balance of power in the parliament in favor of the opposition? What use of it, when the world already expelled us from the international community, has begun to starve us out and wash its hands? These elections are our last flicker of hope. In case Panic wins, entire Serbia will resemble a stadium after a decisive point in extra time in "the match of the century". All would turn their backs on the defeated, as well as those who, until this final point, believed him to be invincible. It is hard to picture Milosevic accepting the defeat as an honest sportsman and congratulating Panic, without asking for the goal, the game, the referees and the whole stadium to be annihilated. That very explosion of enthusiasm could force him calm down and go to the undressing room where he would curse the day he invited Panic to help him dribble the world.

One should probably get prepared for a postponed celebration after the second round, but if the opposition collects more than 50% votes on December 20, all will become crystal clear. It is practically the same whether you vote for DEPOS, the Democrats, the Social-Democrats or the Civic Alliance.

Machiavelli said it was important for a ruler to look honest. A couple of centuries later, Bertrand Russell commented on this statement saying that the best way to look honest is to be honest. It is all I have to say on the matter of politician's image and political marketing, but I have to add that most politicians, here as well as abroad, are in favor of Machiavelli's concept and their sole concern is how not to get exposed. My friends from Civic Alliance prefer Russell's advice, but those who wish to be in majority should not vote for them. Anyway, others are not thieves either. Honesty here means readiness to say what people don't want to hear, which automatically implies that they will not vote for you but for those who keep their mouth shut. What matters is that the opposition realizes that there will be no Greater Serbia, that it is of vital importance to stop the war, lift the sanctions and find allies. Milosevic has upset the world. In case of trouble, negative attitude towards Serbia will become justified. If Milosevic wins, we'll comfort ourselves saying that, one way or another, everything was lost in advance and that there is no rescue at the last moment. Our only way out would be to move away, change our names and refuse to say where we come from.