tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13436935.post7955865346583376399..comments2024-01-27T09:25:20.482-05:00Comments on South East Europe Online: ‘Bill Clinton and God saved Kosovo’bytyccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05462031386252593424noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13436935.post-89176685670494251592007-04-06T14:38:00.000-04:002007-04-06T14:38:00.000-04:00"Glorifying something you dont truly understand is..."Glorifying something you dont truly understand isnt something particularly smart."<BR/><BR/>Well said. <BR/><BR/>But people actually usually glorify things that they don't understand. <BR/><BR/>I have been trying to find myself a 'hero' for while now, but with no luck. Two people come close, Bono, and Bill Gates (may be Mohammed Yunus too, because he was workin in tougher conditions). But at this time in my life, I don't need a hero. <BR/><BR/>I think I had my hero/role models as a kid, and it is crucial that kids have positive role models. <BR/><BR/>And people will always have heros. Just like people will always believe in God. I think it is a result of the evolution. Scientists are proving this. <BR/><BR/>Going back to Bill Clinton and the Albanians. We should keep in mind that Albanians see America as their helper/protector not just because of Bill Clinton. It goes back to Woodrow Wilson.<BR/><BR/>Ciaobytyccihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05462031386252593424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13436935.post-15469133214930587552007-04-06T09:59:00.000-04:002007-04-06T09:59:00.000-04:00You picked a good couple of heros there bytycci - ...You picked a good couple of heros there bytycci - I used to dream about being spiderman, seriously. Maybe he wasnt the toughest of superheros but with his powers, if you are smart you could beat the best of them! No, I like those type of heros. If only, I'd just love to fly through the air from building to building and to round up a murderer or rapist or two with my web... just for a day...<BR/><BR/>jeebus see bytyccis view. He has mentioned the Albanian context but I would say that this is similar to the Serbian and other former Yugoslav context in the way political leaders are identified as heros almost worthy of worship. Also at play in the Serbian context is complete cynicism in all politicians, which I prefer to complete worship - although both of these elements make an imbalanced society.<BR/><BR/>This (heroic) kind of attitude completely lets politicians and similar off the hook. Plus there is always the danger when you build something / someone up that this worship can turn to outrage, anger or even violence. Its the old thing about setting yourself up for a fall.<BR/><BR/>However, I do take your point that people generally do need heros. Although I disagree with your assumption that this is necessarily a positive thing. I'd say it is mainly neutral, that there are as many positive 'heros' as negative. But the difference is that by 'appointing' somebody as a hero in your life you are absolving or excusing them of abiding to standards you might expect from others. If you move in the direction of the US context or the ghettos, I wonder how many young boys idolise the mercedes driving drug supplier et al.<BR/><BR/>In the context of Marx and company and when the kids of rich westerners (sorry this is a little contemptuous) admire these people, well its obvious those people never lived under those regimes. Glorifying something you dont truly understand isnt something particularly smart. And one can read a hundred books about a topic but without the capability of putting oneself in the shoes of somebody, who was for example persecuted by those regimes. Well personally I think those who are able to see outside their books and understand suffering of others are intelligent too.<BR/><BR/>Admiration is a different thing. I'm able to admire somebody for their actions. To truly admire them but there will always be a bit of balance there. But real life heros? No. I know I'm not typical though.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the book recommendation. Is it a historical thing I wonder? I wonder if this need for heros will subside as man ages and as facts become available to everybody about the lives of those they idolise. Still the fact that we all die will ensure that the greatest hero of all still lives on - the one(s) we meet (or not) once we die.Bg anonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11684283179829016790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13436935.post-483775908626974012007-04-05T20:22:00.000-04:002007-04-05T20:22:00.000-04:00Clinton is not seen as a hero/role model among Alb...Clinton is not seen as a hero/role model among Albanians. He is seen as a hero/savior. To illustrate this let me use the example of religions. Christians see Jesus as a savior, while Muslims see Mohammed more like a role model. <BR/><BR/>So Clinton and the "saviour" quality he has among Albanians can be explained through the Albanian psyche. Albanian myths are full of stories of heroes killing dragons and all sorts of monsters. St. George's day is a very popular holiday even today (among people of all religions). Scanderbeg is seen as a hero/savior. Even Enver Hoxha and Rugova tried to portray themselves as hero/saviours.<BR/><BR/>It is not surprising that we see such enthusiasm for Clinton. <BR/><BR/>I think we do need heroes. Spiderman, Superman etc etc.bytyccihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05462031386252593424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13436935.post-83505458365153376502007-04-05T16:22:00.000-04:002007-04-05T16:22:00.000-04:00bg: I'd have to say that I completely disagree th...bg: I'd have to say that I completely disagree that humanity does not need heroes and, more so, with the notion that the educated have less use for them. I think not having any heroes goes against the way our brains are wired as is exemplified by the fact that heroic myths appear in every human culture no matter how isolated. Read Joseph Campbell's "The Hero with a Thousand Faces", it's illuminating. <BR/><BR/>Regarding the elite, well, how would you explain the near deification of Marx and Lenin (and Stalin and Mao and Che and...etc) amongst the ivory towers of academia? These are people with advanced post-grad degrees and they still need something/someone to look to. <BR/><BR/>Discounting heroes is nihilistic, at least in my estimation, because it discounts a fundamental aspect of the human mindset; that there are things one can endeavor to do and persons one can endeavor to emulate that can make the world or, perhaps, just your life better.<BR/><BR/>Now my head hurts, I'm going to go have a beer. Cheers!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13436935.post-1683724081331246812007-04-05T13:39:00.000-04:002007-04-05T13:39:00.000-04:00same way not same day!same way not same day!Bg anonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11684283179829016790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13436935.post-27156800856744059622007-04-05T13:38:00.000-04:002007-04-05T13:38:00.000-04:00I'm not very enthusiastic on too much love or too ...I'm not very enthusiastic on too much love or too much hate - particularly of politicians.<BR/><BR/>I bet back in the day (1974) Tito was seen in the same day.<BR/><BR/>The point is people (everywhere) have to finally realise there are no heros. They must learn to depend on themselves. Still, its probably a more philosophical point. I personally dont feel like I need any role model or hero but then I'm probably in the minority.<BR/>Still I reckon there is a corrlation between those who are educated needing less heros and vice versa.<BR/><BR/>Then again maybe I've got it all wrong and should learn to worship something too :)Bg anonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11684283179829016790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13436935.post-4975195112089404542007-04-05T02:30:00.000-04:002007-04-05T02:30:00.000-04:00pushite mi qratz shiptaripushite mi qratz shiptariAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com