My private paradise

I am sure that God created Paradise in Slovakia, and especially in the eastern Slovakia. Every time when I have such a possibility I try to visit this beautiful and picturesque country. Sometimes I even consider possibility to move to Kosice, Presov, Bardejov, Stara Lubovna, but I live so far from Slovakia (maybe not so far - 700 kilometres), that now it is impossible.

I do not like high mountains so I am not interested in Tatry. I am in love with those not too high mountians close to Kurov, Bardejov, Presov and Kosice, with those beautiful, small and cosy villages; proud, colourful and interesting towns with its old buildings, monumental gothic churches with towers soaring into the sky and scraping clouds; fabulous old markets flooded with sunshine, narrow silent streets.

And maybe the most important thing in Slovakia - people, Slovakian people almost always kind, polite, trying to be helpful, open to conversation. I am not naive and realize that as in every nation there are differnt persons and I was lucky to meet people who impressed me so much in a positive way, but it has never happened to me to meet with such kindness, politeness and warmness in other countries. And it was not pretending, it was not false, forced, it was as natural as possible, as natural as only lush green of Slovakian fields, forests, beauty of its mountians  may be. I am convnvinced, I am confident that it was sincere as my sobriety of mind prevents me from being taken in by deceitful behaviours and hypocrisy.

With this article I would like to open a cycle of articles in whish I will try to convey my impressions, my adventures, my reflections concerning of eastern Slovakia.

Kosovo proclaims independence

It has just happened. Yesterday Parliament of Kosovo proclaimed independence. It seems there has not been any good solution to Kosovo question, but I sincerely regret Serbs.

With regard to this situation some question arise:

1. May demography be the most important and decisive argument for independence?

2. May the Right of the Nations to the self determination based on demography ignore other equally and maybe even more important arguments like culture, history, politics?

Kosovo was in fact the cradle of Serbian statehood, there are thousands of Orthodox churches and monasteries. I must confess that I understand Serbian anger and disappointment.

On the other hand - has there been any better solution? Never ending protection of the United Nations and international administration? It seemed to be makeshift and malfunctioning legal construction. Staying in Serbian borders? It would result in further fights.

Tragic choice. And what is going to be now? What about Abkhazia? What about Southern Osetia?

Ulm - Polish family, the Righteous Among the Nations

Markowa - big villaege near Lancut, presently southern Poland. Befere the Second World War happy and loving Ulm familiy lives in this picteresque place, almost paradise - hilly landscape, idyllic countryside.

Jozef was born in 1900, his beautiful wife - Wiktoria - in 1912, they have six children. Jozef is passionate about photography, gardening, breeding bees; he is also catholic social activist, obatins many rewards for his inventions in the field of agriculture.

In 1931 Markowa has 4.442 inhabitants, among them 120 Jews.

The Second World War begins. Paradise and idyll are gone. German occupational government starts “Endlossung” (”Final Solution”), in other words - the extermination of Jews. Jozef and Wiktoria Ulm give shelter to two Jewish families. Shall family from Lancut, 5 men who manged to escape from their native town and reach Ulm’s house in Markowa. And Ulm’s neighbours - Golda and Layka Goldman with her little daughter.

21th March 1944, war is coming to the end; quiet day, evening, four carts with officials of German Gandarmerie approach the Ulm’s house. They burst into it, in the attic the kill the three Jews, the Ulm family and other Jews take outside. First they shoot two Jewish sisters and daughter one of them, after a while kill Jozef and Wiktoria, their children start crying and screaming, the policemen think what to do with small children. The German officer - Eilert Dieken - resolves to shoot them too. Stasia, Basia, Wladziu, Franus, Antos, Marysia share their parents’ fate. Later on it turns out that Wiktoria Ulm was pregnant, unborn child was also killed together with her.

Beyond a reasonable doubt someone must have denounced them to German Gandarmerie.

During one eveining and night German policemen killed 17 persons.

Poland was the only country in Europe during the Second World War where giving the shelter or any help to Jews was punished wiht death penalty. In spite of such severe punishment many Poles dared to help Jews who were sentenced to death by the German Nazis. The medals the Righteous Among the Nations awarded by Yad Vashem obtained 19 706 persons, among them 5 733 were Poles.

Pro-western candidate wins in Serbia, and what about Kosovo…?

Beyond reasaonable doubts pro - western candidate - Boris Tadic wins in presidential elections in Serbia. It is undoubtedly a good news. It means that Serbians support Serbia’s membership in European Union. But is it also a sign that it is going to be proclaimed independence of Kosovo?

European Union and United States should have sense of gulit with regard to Serbia. During all Balkan wars Serbia was presented as the villain, the only one guilty all the evil which took place in Balkans. In fact reality as always is more complicated, not schematic, not black and white. Serbia like other Balkan countries was also executioner and at the same time - victim of war propaganda and other countries involved in wars.

We cannot forget that Kosovo is very important place for Serbians from the historical, cultural and also political point of view. It is a cradle of Serbian state. There are still many Orthodox Christian convents - now surrounded with barbed wires, warned by KFOR forces and somtimes shelled with missiles by “unknown culprits”. Convents which are witnesses of former Serbian greatness. Serbians resisted islamization of their country and nation for many years, they just deserve Serbian Kosovo - their native land. Demography cannnot be an argument in favour of sovereignty. The most important factor should be cultural and historical roots of given land.

But there is great possibility that Kosovo will proclaim its independence soon. Its independence is going to be recognized by UE members and USA. Russia - natural Serbia’s ally - is not able to resist this situation at the moment, and probably is going to use it as a precedent with regard to South Ossetia and Abkhazia, where is politically engaged. If Kosovo has a right to proclaim its independence which is to be recognized by international society, why shouldn’t it be so with Abkhazia or South Ossetia? Moreover other national minorities in other countries could also call its precedent.

And is it a good idea to have a next islamic country in Europe? Country which no one knows how it could be used in the future by other islamic countries. I highly respect Albanians, but think that there is no need to create the second Albanian state.