When politics messes with beauty

[luzribeiro]

The Miss Universe pageant that's gonna start in São Paulo on September 12 became a reason for strained relations between Serbia and Kosovo. Just when things between these two started to look somewhat quiet, a picture of Miss Serbia and Miss Kosovo caused an uproar.

It all began when during the rehearsals for the contest and between the time spent in the hairdresser's saloon, the gym sessions and the charity events, the two beauties found some time to make friends and even have a picture together. Then Miss Kosovo placed the pic on her Facebook wall. OH THE HORRORS!!!

The backlash came almost instantaneously. Both girls were accused of national treason. The Kosovars reminded the 25 year old Aferdita Dreshaj about the bloodshed in Kosovo caused by the Serbs. But she refuses to get defensive and is stubbornly keeping the photo on her FB.

In turn, the Serbs accused the 21 year old Anja Saranovic that by posing for a pic next to Miss Kosovo, she's officially recognizing the independence of the former Serbian province. This forced Anja to make a statement where she emphasized that she still considers Kosovo "an inseparable part of her fatherland", and she even called Kosovo "the Serbian Jerusalem".

Whether she believes what she said, we may never learn. But we've seen yet another example of politics messing up with people's lives and politicizing non-political events, and pulling out the worst side of people. It reminds me of the story about the Montagues and the Capulets, where the grudges between the two warring families caused the death of the two kids who fell in love, Romeo and Juliet. Will peace ever be achieved in the minds and hearts of people, if even they have to wait a bit more after achieving it on paper? One can only hope. Time heals wounds, but how much time will be needed?

Comments

[dobranocka.livejournal.com]

Jesus. I would like to think that this is just a single case and things will get better in time, but looking at this region history I find it hard to believe. It's really depressing.

I gotta admire Aferdita's courage, though. She didn't give in under the pressure and clearly believes that she didn't do anything wrong - it gives me a little hope.

[luzribeiro.livejournal.com]

Somehow I suspect Anja came under much more heat from her Serbian compatriots. Those guys are intense!!

There are some very fresh grudges in that region. Time heals, but the time count has just begun. Patience. Generations have to pass.

[dobranocka.livejournal.com]

Only you can track this grudges back a hundred years, even earlier if you wanted. I'm no expert in Balkans' history, but the conflicts there are as old as the countries - they started almost immediately after establishing their independence from Ottoman Empire.

[luzribeiro.livejournal.com]

That's because of some wild arbitrary border drawing on part of the Great Powers. They behaved as if they were playing with pawns on a giant chessboard.

[dobranocka.livejournal.com]

They were. Nineteenth century's politics are fascinating, but they weren't good for small countries/nations and now we've got to deal with the consequences.

[il-mio-gufo.livejournal.com]

it's as if these countries are brainwashing these poor girls >:/