As we await the resolution of current events in Serbia, with both the academic and fundamental future in question, I attempt to observe the situation around me not as a journalist, but simply as a citizen. It feels as though every day in Belgrade (and Serbia in general) brings a new protest or gathering, making it all seem routine, as if we were born into it. Fifteen-minute traffic jams are no longer questioned, and the often more tragic than comical moves of those in power have become somehow expected.
In conversations with those around me, I must admit that, at the very beginning of these events, I was quite skeptical. An attitude typical of a young person, especially one from the Balkans, used to false promises, moralizing, and lamenting. The sentiment of the people around me was identical. Who would have thought that a group of students from the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade, previously unknown to most of us, would set off an avalanche capable of shaking the region like nothing else this century? I believe that even those students, much like myself, could not have predicted such a reaction or the overwhelming support that now threatens to awaken a new state of consciousness.
For those who haven’t walked alongside the youth of Belgrade, Novi Sad, or other smaller cities, it is almost impossible to convey what is truly happening. I firmly believe we are living through a historic moment, and regardless of how it all unfolds, one thing has been made clear – a righteous path has been shown.
Both professionally and personally, I have witnessed numerous protests and gatherings. While some have been quite impressive (for example, the Serbia Against Violence protests), these current demonstrations feel different. There are no individual political “leaders” or well-known opportunists, and even those who attempt to put themselves in the spotlight are quickly sidelined (a recent example being FON student Lazar Stojaković). I believe that is exactly how it should be. The few who do appear in the media rarely, if ever, repeat their appearances, allowing the public to see a broad spectrum of young people, faces that may be seen on screen for the first and last time. A rather unusual sight in a society where a single man practically jumps out of our refrigerators, wouldn’t you agree?
The uniqueness of these protests manifests on many levels. One of them is patience, an almost superhuman, monumental patience and restraint. It’s hard to believe that we are talking about a generation raised in the notoriously irritable Balkans. Provocations are constant, some ridiculous, others extremely dangerous. Honestly, I don’t know how incompetent someone must be at their job to respond to the symbol of bloody hands with a middle finger. As someone put it, “Students hand them their index books, and they reply with the middle finger”- everyone gives what they have from their education. Such a foolish move that even the most loyal sycophants quickly realized how much damage it was causing to their ratings, leading them to take down those images and replace them with ones of their supreme leader. What a fiasco.
Though the ruling regime’s “performances” and their tragically clueless interviews from their own rallies may seem amusing, there are also shameless, unscrupulous, and downright evil acts, literally dragging and trampling young people on the cold asphalt of Belgrade. I have no words to describe such people; I can only hope that nothing will be forgotten. Just as we won’t forget sleeping outside in January, anonymous threatening calls, or being locked in buses.
And yet, despite all of it, there are no incidents, no violent responses. The so-called “apolitical,” “disinterested,” and “self-absorbed” generation is proving what global statistics already confirm – they are the most educated and well-informed generation, while also being the most underpaid for their work (in line with the global average, of course). It is a powerful wake-up call for those who underestimate them (us), and an even stronger call for older generations to stand with their children and grandchildren.
The “University Uprising” has lasted for months, its determination immense, and hope rekindled. Few in the region remain indifferent to these images. Some public figures – athletes, actors, but also farmers, taxi drivers, and countless citizens are protecting and will continue to protect their children. Support from Split, Zagreb, Sarajevo, and the region means a lot, along with a reminder that no place in our lands is a paradise, and that everyone should reflect on their own engagement.
The recognition of this movement is finally surfacing after months of struggle, accompanied by the suspicious silence of Russia and the European Union. And yet, we are witnessing something massive, something victorious. Images from Serbia are already circling the globe and they will continue to do so. A symbol of resistance and struggle, perhaps the first serious one of this generation on a global level, shines like a beacon.
Still, let it be said – we would much rather receive the documentation regarding the Novi Sad railway station canopy collapse than a Nobel Prize.
And as for global celebrity support… What does karleuša (intentionally lowercase) know about who Madonna or Novak Djokovic are?
Finally, I can only hope that these young people will manage to cleanse the system, just as they managed to clean up Autokomanda or the parks of Novi Sad, leaving not a single piece of trash behind.
And by the way, does anyone know where Aleksandar Šapić has disappeared?
Author: Darko Mandić
