Sometimes it seems to me that, outside the story about geopolitics, state of the civilization, and struggle of interests, the Serb misunderstanding with the world stems from the difference of our image of ourselves and our image in the eyes of the rest of the world. Serbs, as an ancient European nation with long history, tradition of culture and very strong mythical consciousness about belonging to a collective, see themselves as a large community and behave appropriately. Our myth is large enough for 100 million inhabitants, and there are only ten million of us. To others, our behavior stemming from that discrepancy is, to say the least, unusual and produces a series of prejudices which later turn into stereotypes. Furthermore, western media are demonizing Serbs and the misunderstanding becomes hopelessly deep.
War only deepens that chasm.
Because of that I wonder whether we will be willing and know how to transform the experience of this Calvary once it ends, and it certainly will one day, into energy for a new beginning in politics, economics, and culture, or whether we shall continue to live submerged in old illusions. Serbs have never so far learnt that historical lesson. So far, here, myth has always been stronger than reality. I wish that, this time, we have finally realized that, since the price with which we are paying for the old lesson is bloody and too high. But I would be lying if I said I was confident that that would happen.