Heroes of our time

If there was, the history of heroism would show that it was term of heroism tailored, mostly, according to the male model of heroism. Warriors, fighters, saviors... and some warrior, fighter, savior, who would fit into the male model in a man's world and according to male criteria of heroism.

Eventually, some war nurse would be recognized for heroism, but, again, not as loudly as someone who killed so many enemy soldiers (that Soviet sniper who shot a bunch of Germans fits well into this man's story).

But what about the heroism of deserters, for example? What about those who do not respond to the call of the motherland? Or to those ladies who, in the gray of non-heroic everyday life, carried entire generations only on their shoulders?

The history of heroism would show us that the experience and understanding of heroism changed through the ages - despite the dominant warrior model - and that heroism was born almost out of nothing, in places that we believed were in no way conducive to heroism.

Here in today's Serbia... Opposing the dictatorship always and everywhere required courage. He still demands it today.

 The supremacy of youth

 Who, to that extent, are the true heroes of Serbia's awakening? Students, of course. And yet, their playful youth dispelled fear with such speed and proved superior in their politics (which these young people do not admit, and perhaps do not fully understand), that the untouchable (and incompetent) dictator, for these four months, somehow shriveled before them (or rose up, anyway).

On the other hand, their sacrifice, which is measured above all in lost academic time, will be regenerated by the same youth, especially when the rotten dictatorship collapses at some point.

All right, the history of heroism would show that a huge number of heroic acts resulted from pure chance, that the confluence of circumstances made a hero out of a man who, without his will, happened to be in a certain place and at a certain time. This does not apply, of course, to Stevan Filipović, who raised his fists in defiance under the gallows.

Heroisms happened without the participation of consciousness, in the moment, in an illusion, without thinking. However, if heroism is the result of fighting fear and overcoming fear, if heroism occurs as a conscious and deliberate act, then the true heroes of this fight against dictatorship are teachers and high school teachers.

The student rebellion is at stake. But just as the calluses on young bodies disappear, so will the scars of their victim. The dictator tried to intimidate them, he sent party thugs on them, beat them, threatened them, encouraged members of his party and maniacs to attack them with cars, he injured several girls, but it didn't work.

He then tried to buy them, but fared even worse. He also tried what he's really best at: insulting them with that bloody middle finger, and he scored an impressive own goal.

Now he ignores them, but their ignoring him (you are not in charge my friend) is stronger and more convincing than his feigned indifference.

Despite the fear

Teachers and professors, however, are exposed to brutal violence. Crushed by long-term misery and the regime's absolute lack of interest in the education system, humiliated and poor, they decided for themselves, but also for the sake of their students, to oppose the dictatorship.

And it is not true that they have nothing to lose. Without their measly wages that kept them in poverty, they fall into misery. But quite consciously, with the support of students (not yet a critical number of citizens), they decided to confront fear. And that's why they, all those teachers, all those professors, are the heroes of this struggle.

And that's why those who say that they don't need a pat on the back are right, but at least we need to take our bodies to those places where these people go to fight against the dictatorship for themselves, their students, and all of us.

University professors

What is the role of university professors in all this?

On the one hand, they are scolded for not going on strike. The reasons offered for going on strike boil down to the fact that in this way they would weaken the pressure on the students, or, as one lucid observer of the local situation said, they would receive the bullets intended for the students.

On the other hand, the question of the effectiveness of such an act arises. The vast majority of university professors stood by the students and at this moment we do not see what would be gained by their going on strike. It is another matter, of course, if they would go on strike after the eventual decision of the students to stop the protests.

To that extent, their proposal to waive part of their salary on behalf of their fellow teachers, high school and high school professors, is correct, and they probably wouldn't mind even if, after the agreement, they increased the percentage of money for colleagues whom the clique in power, as a sign of retaliation, does not pay their salaries.

Just as we citizens who do not belong to the academic establishment would have to do the same, and to additionally show our solidarity, both by bringing bodies in front of blocked schools, or at the invitation of teachers and professors, and by fighting our own fears.