Baby Steps
-D Ilic

My friends just came back from Serbia. A young highly educated couple eager to settle there and find work, give something back to the community etc etc. Five months and they couldn't find work. Within a week of returning to Australia one has landed an interview and the other is already employed. Completely understandable knowing the state of our government and economy and everything that has happened. But how long is it going to be before something changes?

I may not have been brought up in Serbia, so far be it from me to criticise something I know so little about. I am too young to understand the complexities of our violent history. However from the little I have picked up it seems that today where everyone else in Europe is moving forwards our wonderful country is going backwards. What little the government has to invest seems to be wasted on keeping the older generations happy and the rest leaking out through corruption and underground crime.

As great a time as I had when visiting my country of origin one thing always stood out. I lacked a sense of security in things that living in a wealthy western country I take for granted. Just picking a random example, it seems every official document I needed required some sort of bribe to retrieve. It appears we are our own worst enemy. We used to laugh about it but now it is the most tragic thing I have heard - "never do business with a Serb". Even more tragic, its Serbs that say it. Everyone is out to help themselves with blatant disregard for their own. Making such a statement I am more than 100% certain I will be met by a barrage of criticism as lets face it, when it comes to placing blame we are not very good at pointing the finger at ourselves.

To those who are finding it difficult to swallow what I am attempting to say, I am not trying to cover up the unfortunate and tragic events that have seemed to plague our nation since the late 80's which ultimately is the major reason we have been thrown back into the dark ages. Yes I do agree that in the past we have been very unfairly treated and dealt a severe blow for reasons I find hard to comprehend. But the past is just that. The past. How much longer must we waste our energy and resources trying to find answers and seeking vengeance when clearly those who are to blame are getting along fine despite our threats, whilst we remain the only ones that suffer.

More importantly its the youth that are suffering. The new generations being born into a country where finishing a degree does not guarantee you a job. Where you have a high chance of developing juvenile diabetes as parents cannot afford to meet their childrens nutritional needs. Where 11 year olds are developing diseases and conditions that would normally only occur in middle age or older because no one seems to think its a problem to smoke in a room with infants. Where American cigarette companies are making a fortune because quite possibly more than 80% of the population smokes. Where young and attractive girls are exploiting themselves, dating seedy old men because it is the only way they will get a whiff of a what appears to be a glamorous life. The rich minorities are getting richer and the rest are getting poorer. There is no such thing as a middle class.

Young couples filled with potential to give something back to the community are left disillusioned and without hope because the government has nothing to offer them. No one is willing to invest in the youth so they are left desperately trying to get out of the country and take there skills to countries that will take advantage of what they have to offer.

Children are being born overseas who have no sense of pride because frankly there is nothing keeping them together. Marriages are falling apart because its a stressful place to live. The average wage is only about $150 euros a month and to be honest the prices of basic groceries and clothes are not that different from western countries. No one wants to get married because to do so it would be impossible to survive. Its cheaper to stay with parents and drink away your problems in cafes and bars which are open all night every night.

Every second thirty year old is still at uni (possibly more) and most of them are studying some form of Spanish language or arts degree aspiring to stay at uni another ten years because basically there is nowhere to go when they finish. Walk into any bar restaurant or cafe and I guarantee you, once you manage to make out the sallow and depressed faces of the patrons through the thick cloud of smoke they will more often than not be sitting over coffee or plum brandy and a cigarette arguing about politics. Every second tv show is a talkshow to discuss politics. The rest of the air time is taken up by spanish soaps or pink tv hogwash.

Yes, Belgrade is a wonderful city filled with culture and intellectuals and beautiful people amongst beautiful architecture. And there are other cities like Novi Sad which match up with equally good attributes. But the further you get from the big cities the poorer people get and the more your heart breaks.

Indeed it is easy for me to rant on from where I am. But rant I will because as helpless as it seems I want to make a difference. I want to take the skills I have learnt living in a developed country and apply them to help my own. I want to see a difference being made in the eductation system, in health promotion facilities, in infrustructure nationwide. I want to see us stop selling the resources we have to international companies and start taking some control.

I want to see help being given to those that need it most. Kids that are suffering psychological trauma need to be dealt with before it develops into cases where they turn to crime and violence because they are so angry about a situation that to them seems hopeless. They need to feel secure in their surroundings and know that working hard for something they will be rewarded.Education needs to be changed so that children are taught basic and valuable life skills from teachers that are there to nurture not punish.

I am just scratching the surface here but there are many issues that need light shed on them. If there are enough like minded people out there I am sure that working together we can get some much needed changes going on. So much energy that could be spent on a making a difference is just being wasted on complaining on the rotten cards we have been dealt.

I aknowledge the suffering and I aknowledge the lives that have been lost fighting to keep our freedom and I have a great respect for those who fought so hard. But why must I abused if I suggest that we try moving forward. To me the greatest revenge would be to bounce back stronger but not through violence. Rather through rebuilding our country on strong foundations and those foundations are the youth. A youth that is so intelligent and so precious that it makes me boil with rage to see them get left behind.

I can only hope that I find someone who shares my opinion that is willing to join me in making a difference. However even if I don't I will not be deterred because I believe in the power of the individual. Hopefully if I start others will follow and I can finally show my friends the real reasons I am proud to be a Serb. It might take baby steps at first but with the right guidance I am confident that we can take huge strides into the future and finally move forward.

I share your opinion. Most of it.