The Most Precious Endorsement
Peter Handke Supports Tomislav Nikolic
Politika, Wednesday, January 23, 2008
“Austrian writer Peter Handke yesterday visited the SRS presidential candidate Tomislav Nikolic. On that occasion Handke said: ‘Never in my life have I voted in Austria, never in my life have I voted in France, either. But, if I had the Serbian citizenship, today I would vote for Tomislav Nikolic’,” reads the caption underneath photo on the left, published in January 23, 2008 edition of Serbian daily Politika.
A Real-Life Hero: Peter Handke
While overpopulating Hollywood movies and dime-a-dozen cheap paperbacks, real-life heroes are, in fact, as rare as certain species of a blue butterfly raised and fed by the red ants.
Because for someone to become a hero in real life, he has to keep overcoming natural urges for personal comfort, a need to be loved and approved of, along with every flock-instinct there is, for the sake of the underlying truth most people would rather not know. He has to keep overriding the common need to "go with the flow" and never rock the boat, in order to remain safe and protected from the toxic storms of the lynching mobs' mass hysteria. Real life heroes are not just exceptionally courageous, they are also immensely humane and noble in their uncompromising struggle for truth and justice above all — something that requires nerves of steel and an uncommonly strong moral fiber.

Scene from "Wings of Desire" by Wim Wenders, for which Handke helped write the script
Handke, like all real-life heroes, has been recognized as the one when he stood up while everybody else ducked down, waiting for the storm to end. He shouted the truths nobody else dared to whisper, and flew the righteousness banner in the midst of squawking midgets with yes-pins on their lapels, dwarfing the sycophantic masses with grandiosity reserved for Olympic immortals.
Handke's warmth, humanity, courage and extreme generosity have touched most Serbs in a way only few others have managed, especially since his valiant support came at the time everyone else seemed engaged in a mudslinging competition. Capable to steer clear from the extremes of either idealization or accusation, without judging and without assigning himself any importance, the undisputed literary genius has befriended countless Serbs who consider him a brother and a dearest guest. Humble, quiet and unobtrusive, he's been watching, reading, writing and journeying with us through the worst and most painful years of Serbian history.
“Serbs are the Most Real People in Europe”
While helping famous Serbian director Emir Kusturica during the first Kustendorf Festival as a head of a jury reviewing 33 films from 12 countries in competition, Handke gave an interview to Belgrade daily Politika, where he explained that even though the Serbs are far from being perfect, they are very real and sincere, more so than any other nation in Europe.
“[...] Serbs are the most real people in Europe. They know what is suffering and problems, they know what comes from the North and what from the South, East and West, what are the internal problems, what bothers the Hungarians and what troubles those from Sandzak, they understand the religious issues... This is the most interesting region in Europe, but at the same time the most suffering,” said Handke.
Asked about his visits to Serbia, Handke said he likes many places in Serbia, but that his favorite spot is Kremna, the village and gorge by the same name between mountains of Tara, Zlatibor and Mokra Gora. Handke told Politika's reporter he would love to be able to build a house for himself there at some point.
“We'll Build Him a House Tomorrow!”
As soon as Kremna villagers heard about Handke's wish, they sent a message to the celebrated writer, saying all he'll need to do is sit while being driven around to pick the lot he likes most, and then rest in a tree shade sipping rakija and coffee, while the local carpenters build him the house he wants.
“We are not even going to talk about it! I saw him on TV... I am a carpenter by trade, my father and I made more than hundred wood houses and I will make one for this Austrian such as he can only imagine. I will provide the materials too, and find him the lot if he doesn't need to look for it himself. I will make his hut and he should sit, sip rakija and watch,” said Kremna house builder.
Most Serbs sincerely hope Handke will become their neighbor and get the Serbian citizenship some time soon. He's already one of Serbia's best friends, a brother and a fellow sojourner — everything else is a mere technicality.

Comments
As a member of the radikal party, i support nikolic. If i could vote in srbija i would vote for nikolic. Tadic ran uninvited to russia for the gas deal because he wants to get as much support as he can, because if he doesnt win. maybe no more empire monies. If you can vote vote for nikolic at least he has never been a sellout. after kosovo what next will tadic and his supporters give away? sandzak? novi sad? presevo? beograd!!!??? I dont trust him. radikals do want the best for their people. and their country. srbija didnt isolate itself. the west and the empire saw to it that srbija was isolated. now srbija isnt just rolling over and playing dead. they as many have before them, under estimated the serbs.
СА ВЕРОМ У БОГА СЛОБОДА ИЛИ СМРТ
КОСОВО ЈЕ СРБИЈА
Posted by: BeliOraoSrbija | January 28, 2008 04:04 PM
One voice from Serbia...
Svetlana's blog is not a place for political discussion about parties. Svetlana and all of us should talk about things which makes serbs more united. Serbs have a long and rich history of partition, and every insisting on thigs which divide us, take us so far. Election and nowdays agresive comunication between two tribes is a "good chance" for making new differences. Both side agree about key questions such as Kosmet and our battle for integrity, and they still talk cheap, make culvert deeper and involve all nation into that. How can we understand this, but as their careless for Serbia. Watching from beside all that, all I can say is - Serbia will exist with or without Tomislav or Boris. Serbia is above both of them. This is not first, and also not an last election. There will be a lot of them, so peoples, calm down... Svetlana is a great bloger, I enjoy to read her. Ceco, please dont take me wrong, but I lиke more when you stick to title of your blog in a part it's say ART BLOG or when you talk a things that united us.
In a spirit of unity, I would love to finish as my brother above:
Са надом и вером у Бога,
Косово је Србија
Posted by: Dejan | January 29, 2008 02:00 PM
Dear Dejan, I appreciate your views and I'm certainly not taking your comment as any put-down.
However, I have to remind that the above article is entirely about Peter Handke, whom I admire more than anyone. He has suffered tremendous insults and injustices only because he kept insisting that things are not black-and-white as presented in the whole West during past two decades, and that there is a thing called "the whole—not partial—truth". I don't know any non-Serb of such a high profile who has sacrificed so much, for the sake of truth and justice, as Peter Handke. If you, or anyone else, know of another Serbian friend like Handke, please let me know, I will gladly write about him too. In my opinion, Handke not only deserves a medal from the Serbian state and Church, but a book written about his valiance, courage and uncompromising righteousness he consistently exhibited since 1991, like no one else, regardless of the cost - and the price was steep. Peter Handke is one in 100 million.
Secondly, the only "party" issue in the above entry is the scanned cutout from January 23 Politika, and translation of the caption where Handke says he would give his vote to Tomislav Nikolic, if he could vote in Serbia's elections.
Being the man he is, I would think everyone would consider that piece of information news-worthy. So you tell me: why is that not considered worthy of being reported?
When Tadic purposely and maliciously abused and misrepresented the formal, non-committal, customary birthday card (written on a common form) from Putin's cabinet - one he has been receiving every single year since he was appointed the president of Serbia - as a special "endorsement" by the President of Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, and drummed that up in every paper and every TV station that exists in Serbia, that was fine, it's only a presidential "campaign", no big deal, and if number of Serbian voters buy the lie - well, what can you do, that's life... "Serbia will survive him"
But when someone as valiant and unique as Peter Handke makes a special trip to SRS's Belgrade office in order to shake hands with Tomislav Nikolic and to wish him luck and Politika publishes that, the news is allowed to just die down as if it never happened and everyone gets sour over "dirty campaign". Give me a break!
As much as I love the Serbs and sympathize with their plight, I'm beginning to think many of them need to start getting their heads out of their asses and face the reality by making wise choices, when they have an opportunity to choose between Boris Gump who's clearly not up to the task, nor capable of dealing with severe problems Serbia is facing, or Tomislav Nikolic, who intends to serve Serbia's citizens and state, instead of Javier Solana and Daniel Fried.
Yes, Serbia will survive, but will it survive dismembered and as a slave to a Utopian promise that will never materialize, or as an independent country that has a right to its dignity, just like every other state? This is in your hands now and the sooner you start claiming that responsibility, the better.
And I hope you won't take this the wrong way either.
Posted by: Svetlana
|
January 29, 2008 02:33 PM
P.S. Our brother above that signs his comments as "Beli Orao Srbija" is a 100% American who has been baptized in the Serbian Orthodox Church, where he took the christened name Lazar, and who loves Serbs and Orthodoxy more than some Serbs do.
Posted by: Svetlana
|
January 29, 2008 03:41 PM
PLease read this link for anyone who visits this awsome website, if you are not sure what the empire goals are and why serbs have to die and suffer for the goals of the empire and EU. look no further than this. Is you didnt know about this and the reasons outlined by Dr seselj at the hague then you havent been paying attention. If i can educate people about serbia not "siberia" then all serbs and non serbs alike can educate themselves. read the link.
СА ВЕРОМ У БОГА СЛОБОДА ИЛИ СМРТ
КОСОВО ЈЕ СРБИЈА
Posted by: BeliOraoSrbija | January 29, 2008 04:58 PM
aha here is the link СА ВЕРОМ У БОГА СЛОБОДА ИЛИ СМРТ
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markmardell/2008/01/mining_kosovos_future.html
Posted by: BeliOraoSrbija | January 30, 2008 12:06 AM
Good news for you Svetlana.... I will not take anything you said in wrong way :)))
There was not my intention at all to point my finger at Peter Handke. I read a lot about his isolation he going through and about his lonesome battle for true. I remember his visits during hardest time Serbia passed by. At least, his right is to give or dont give support to anybody in serian political scene. On this election I have my favorite too, and I'm pretty sure that you'll not mind me on my choice.
But there is another thing I want to say with my last comment. I talk about high electrized circumstances about this election. I dont know how it looks from where you are, but nowdays, serbs are divided again. Young activist on both side who gum posters, get beaten on the street( in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Valjevo, Pozarevac). Is that Serbia we want to? There is a low hits from both side to another. I am only afraid that after we get new president, we have to live with deep wounds. There is a lot of fresh memories of serbian partitions. That is why I alway try to skip any disscusion about partie, and why I dont read papers and watch news in a days of campaign.
And yes...thanks to Lazar for great article about Trepca mine.
Dejan
Posted by: Dejan | January 30, 2008 01:22 AM
I agree completely with Svetlana.
Dejan, on the other hand, is -phoney. He is trying to present himself as an objective observer of the scene by pleading for unity just at the most inopportune moment. Election, for his information, is exactly the time to show the difference of opinions : Serbs have to decide the future of their country now for a long time to come.
They have to decide if they want to live like the dogs under the European table, competing with parenial foreign servants and bootlickers( Croats and Shiftars), being constantly ordered by the KulturTraegers how to behave, or- they are going to be the proud and the fearless nation, they have always been. The difference is so abysmal that even mentioning "unity" between these two choices, is obscene.
Serbs have fought for the West all along their history, and what they got in return was: Bombs, Sanctions and an unheard of, permanent, anti-Serb propaganda. Now, Tadic is teaching us how to crawl on the ground, all smiling, to please his masters. It is to throw up.
Our honourable place is where it was always - with Russia.
Posted by: Peter RV | January 30, 2008 02:19 PM
Thank you, Peter.
As diplomatic as Dejan has tried to be, it is fairly obvious that he supports Boris Gump and simply didn't like Nikolic being 'advertised' in any form. So, he invites me to write about "the things that unite us" and reminds me of the blog's title, with an accent on "art"... I think that was cute :-))
But the blog part of this site is very much political, the title is just a remnant from the iconography site and doesn't really describe the content at all. And even if it did, there's no reason to take it as a holy writ - titles are not part of Ten Commandments, except perhaps at the exams ;-))
It is true that the campaign is super-dirty, but it is dirty thanks to Gump's camp and his western supporters. Just read the latest analysis over at the SerbBlog about the dirt raked and piled up in the Western propaganda hubs in order to frighten Serbian voters into turning away from Nikolic, and all will become clearer.
I don't know about anyone else, but nothing infuriates me more than when someone tries to scare me and corner me, forcing me to do as they wish. And that is exactly what Tadic and West have been doing in order to get the Gump reelected. Listening to Gump's mouth-foaming speeches (he's quite scary and ugly, as a matter of fact, not just dumb) and reading the similarly belligerent B92, Blic, Danas and other Soros' media makes it crystal clear they are on the brink of being dethroned, raving mad and bent on terrifying every single voter in Serbia and abroad into voting for the retard.
I sincerely hope Serbs will see through the smoke-and-mirrors show and dump them for good. It's the high time to get a pair of strong, honest Serbian hands on that steering wheel.
Posted by: Svetlana
|
January 30, 2008 02:53 PM
Ok,
I see I was misunderstood. obviously, from where you are, you cant undrstand me.
Peter, you're right... election is the time to show the difference of opinions. But you dont know serbs. Sometimes we dont know express diferences in a calm way. Svetlana, you're absolutely wrong, I never been Boris's fan. I was work in a army when he was defence minister, I know him better tan you can imagine.
Posted by: Dejan | January 30, 2008 10:34 PM
Dejan, your earlier statement to the point that "Handke has a right to his choice", and you have a right to your own favorite can be understood in no other way than that you support the only other candidate there is, Boris Gump.
So, if that is not correct, then you did not express yourself well and that's not my fault.
Anyway, I have no time for prolonged personal discussions, more important work awaits.
Posted by: Svetlana | January 31, 2008 01:04 AM
Дејан whats your point exactly ? do you support the total extermination of our people?, yes I said "OUR" people because i am as much of a serb as anyone who is serb. even more so in some cases. can i ask you what party do you belong to? I am a proud member of SRS and i stand for srbija and serbs. what do you stand for?.
Posted by: BeliOraoSrbija | January 31, 2008 03:02 AM
Dejan,
I should know Serbs, I am one of them.
Serbs have every right to get angry when some foreign agents are trying to jam down their throats the leaders who are leading them to the servitude and humilliations. How can you not get angry listening to Soros's mouthpieces telling us that we should forget the whole of our history, and accept the so called Europe as our tutors? If we accept that we might as well castrate ourselves and forget about our nation and name.
One should not forget that Tadicev support comes mainly from non-Serbs who have always voted 'en masse' for him (Magiars, Shiftars, Muslims and Catholics),he never had Serbian majority behind him.
To hell with their 'european values'( what are these anyhow beyond hypocrisy, corruption and lies?) and -let Serbia be Serbia!
We are not angry enough.
I think I understand better Serbs than you (are you really a Serb?)
Posted by: Peter RV | January 31, 2008 07:51 AM