It was the day after the vote of Fr Resolution on Srebrenica in the United Nations. Beneath Geneks, on the concrete, lay a thrown, crumpled Serbian flag - tens of meters long. Above it, on the facade, there was an advertisement for Old Spice. Banners "Serbs are not a genocidal nation" were hanging from the overpasses in New Belgrade, under the watchful eye of two young men in civilian clothes. The same ones will later guard the second banner: a red fist with an outstretched hand middle finger. On television, Seselj, Bokan and the team talk tirelessly about patriotism and the nation.
While they talk about Serbian victims - they create new ones. While they are hurting - they are destroying the country. While they keep their hand on their heart while singing the national anthem - with their other hand they are stuffing millions into their pockets. In short: this government succeeded, or at least tried with all its might, to detest the flag and the anthem and the coat of arms and the nation.
Patriotism changes sides.
And then came the student protests - and, to paraphrase a phrase heard often these weeks - and patriotism changed sides. With the difference that now it is authentic and not a means to get rich. The students in the blockade restored the dignity of the flag, the anthem, and the country.
Of course, this should not be emphasized any more - students are not a homogenous mass that thinks with one head and speaks with one voice. We know where it led in history, just as we also know where it leads when that principle is applied in institutions, society, family... Among the students there are the most diverse ideological orientations - both very religious and outspoken atheists, and anarchists and conservatives, and nationalists and those for whom that identity is unimportant... Nevertheless, they manage to talk and unite - because of a common goal. Which, first of all, is called: the future of this country.
"Infernal plan of the blockaders on Vidovdan"
And as the next step, they announce a big gathering in Belgrade for June 28, on Vidovdan. The regime, according to the established pattern, immediately reacted with all its propaganda artillery: spins, hate speech, manipulations - but also arrests, intimidation, and pressure. Nothing new.
The President, in that heat, mentioned that the "blockaders" once extradited Slobodan Milošević; the regime's newsroom of six television stations has been promoting the story of the violence allegedly planned by the demonstrators for days. Breaking announcement: "Infernal plan of blockaders-terrorists to cause civil war on Vidovdan."
Lazar's choice
Some pro-regime speakers these days ask with pathos - why a political rally on Vidovdan, that is not allowed! Others, equally loyal but more subtle, use Prince Lazar as an excuse for passivity - referring to his choice of the Kingdom of God, presumably as an argument for silence in the face of injustice.
However, if we follow the path they follow, we can calmly answer this: Lazarus, according to tradition, does not choose the Kingdom of God through historical passivity, but takes up arms to fight and protect those who are not capable of fighting. He is ready to lay down his life. His commitment to the Kingdom of God is not an act of escape from history, but an expression of responsibility towards it. Lazarus is not, if we continue further, just a soldier and a ruler, but a saint who testifies that the Kingdom of God is not in opposition to the fight for justice. On the contrary.
Lazar chooses a historical (in this time) fight against the occupier - and the occupier does not have to be only external: it can also be the internal oppressor of his own people. He chooses the ethos of freedom, resistance to servitude and slavery, heroism against the mentality of submission, an upright spine and when the opponent is stronger, then even more so.
He chooses the willingness to sacrifice. And with that he chooses - and the Kingdom of God.
