We, Bosnians and Herzegovinians in the US
The Bosnian –Herzegovinian diaspora in the US seems to be somehow different. They do not let others call them refugees. They are exiled,, they were driven out of their homes by ethnic cleansing, and they […]
Articles
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
To Dana and Anna Redford and Newman, in the famous movie from ’69. The idols of generations. And why wouldn’t they be when they look good, shoot with precision and, in the most dramatic of […]
Dzamilla’s Ideal
This morning I was to deliver a lecture for the upper level students of the Siblings Scholl Gymnasium. As I was about to enter the room, I instantly noticed a familiar face. Who could have […]
Ethnic homogeneity in BiH: prosperity or poverty?
Ethnic homogeneity in BiH: prosperity or poverty? Ethnic diversity is an ongoing research topic in economics, investigated both at macro and micro-economic levels, and is a topical issue among policy makers. Motivated by a growing […]
A Letter to Tuzla
I have never been the kind of person to do exactly as I am told. I am bad at following the crowd, tend to be contentious when I believe something is true and I know […]
“Miss Sarajevo” and Spivak
Miss Sarajevo is a short film about the siege in Sarajevo from 1992-1995. The siege lasted for one thousand, four hundred and twenty-five days, which is the longest siege of a capital city to ever […]
Sarajevo: A Spivak Interpretation
The Bosnian War from 1992-1995 was a haunting experience. The genocide in Srebrenica stands as one of the worst episodes of ethnic cleansing in modern history. The Serb military forces massacred thousands of Bosnian Muslims, […]
Internationals in Bosnia and Americans in the Middle East
Last year, I gave a presentation on Kimberley Coles’ article, “Ambivalent Builders: Europeanization, the Production of Difference, and Internationals in Bosnia-Herzegovina.” In her piece, Coles explains the role of the international community in rebuilding Bosnia […]
Special Story of Višegrad
They killed all her sons. She knew that a return to Višegrad was never going to happen, yet she never uttered a single word of hatred. The parade of Chetniks in Višegrad recalls 1992 memories […]
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
After the devastating war in Bosnia & Herzegovina of 1992-1995, the warring sides were amnestied, and an official winner was never proclaimed. A war, civil war, an aggression or a genocide, are all titles assigned to […]
A Bosnian Jordanian
AMMAN — A painting of the famous Mostar Bridge sits atop the shelves behind Nadia Bushnaq, a former senator and a social activist. The Bosnian landmark is a reminder of her family’s heritage. Sitting in […]
Bosnia the Good
In Rusmir Mahmutćehajić’s narration of the sufferings of Bosnia as a cultural-political entity and regarding his Stolac as a spatio-personal one, one should be wary of being misled into thinking that his spirit is a parochial […]
Godfatherhood among Mohammedans, 1889
Leafing through the folk songs of the Mohammedans in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a careful reader will quite often notice verses mentioning the ritual kinship, godfatherhood [kumovi]. I will quote some verses as examples: ”Lika kumom […]
Pictures from March of Peace, 2019
With heartfelt thanks to PD “Horizont” Bihać 2006 and Edin Delić and Anel Osmanović from Lukovac Marš Mira Essay
Don’t break my locust trees
I believe, honorable judge, That you understand the people well You at least have an occupation temper is temper but the law is the law I believe, distinguished figure, you studied law To fairly judge […]
Political Reflection on Đorđe Balašević’s Ballad, “Ne Lomite Mi Bagrenje”
“Don’t Break my Locus Trees” is a popular ballad frequently heard today in cafes and on the radio in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, and Serbia. Listeners from different ethnic communities, young and old, identify with Đorđe Balašević’s […]
Morning among the Trees
In the forceful fine dust That showers down from the blue fountain On my palms are hot poppies Withered branches already dark ripe Early wounds and crows From a jump that never falls into any […]
Festive Night
”Have you heard the wind blowing today around noon time from the distant mountains still covered by the deep snow? Tonight is a festive night. The fruit trees are awakening tonight, they are awakening from […]
Why are there less and less jokes about Huso and Haso?
At the end of 2018 and the beginning of 2019, we encounter the cruel ban of satire in public discourse. In neighboring Croatia, NewsBar is on trial due to its satirical texts. In Serbia, the […]
Six Bosnian Jokes
1. Elections An American, a Japanese, and a Bosnian talk about the elections. The American says: ‘In America, in less than 2 hours after the elections, we know who won the elections.’ The Japanese says: […]