A World War II Yugoslav Childhood between 1939 and 1950
Ranked #9,489 in Culture & Society, #192,091 overall
No Ordinary Childhood
In 1942, the Germans invaded Yugoslavia, and they arrested about a hundred prominent men from Belgrade to use rather like hostages in case the city attempted to fight them. If there was an insurrection, those who had been arrested would be executed. Kosta's father was one of those in prison.
The Picture
This picture is the symbol of Kosta's last days in Belgrade
He will tell you the story behind it as this lens progresses. For now I will ask you if you remember who was president, prime minister, or ruler of your country when you were six to eleven years of age. What do you remember of politics from that period of your life? As I interviewed Kosta about this period of his life, some sixty years ago, he could not remember the name of the German officers and Russian officers that came and went in his life, and some of the dates were also a bit fuzzy. So, remember, that although this is eyewitness history, it isn't from a book, but from memories of periods that were lived through. Pictures were also hard to come by, and there aren't many in the pubic domain of the places mentioned here as they appeared in the 1940's and in 1950. No one had any idea back then that this bit of family history might be written and need illustrations.
A bit of family history will be important to know as this story progresses. My mother-in-law, Paula Schmidt Radisavlejvic, was Croatian, and her ancestors were German. She spoke German fluently. My father-in-law, Dragoslav Radisavljeivc, was a prominent Serbian architect. He had also owned a factory that made cement blocks that could be used in place of bricks when bricks were too expensive to use. His mother was of Austrian ancestry, and they also spoke German. This makes my husband, Kosta, part Croatian, part Serbian, and part Austrian. His father was Serbian Orthodox, though he did not attend church on Sundays. The family celebrated Slava, an important Serbian Orthodox holiday.
Topcider Park and Planning the Second Escape
The Story Behind the Drawing
This video tells the story of what happened right after the family was united after the prison experience. They had been imprisoned because they tried to escape the country, and Kosta's dad didn't listen to Kosta's mom when she was pretty sure the one who would lead them out was in cahoots with the police. She was right, and they were caught. That's important to know when listening to this video.
Political Prisoners and Refugees
This lens tells the story of those who came to North America with almost nothing because they were political refugees who had escaped a country that had also put them in prison for purely political reasons.
The Topcider Park Drawing
Postcard: Leaving Belgrade (Beograd) by barbsbooks
You can also get this as a poster or print with or without a frame.
Poster: Leaving Yugoslavia by barbsbooks
Second Escape Story, Part 2
Communism and Personal Freedom Can't Coexist
Kosta's parents never thought their country would become what it did. They could have left before the war, but it was difficult for them to believe the political situation could so radically change from what it had been before World War II and the takeover of the Communists. Many Americans believe such things could never happen in America. But it can, and might be already beginning. We need to educate ourselves and find out why the socialist plan we are being nudged toward cannot work without treading on individual liberty and private property rights. Thomas Jefferson gets it right in the poster below. Do click on it for a more readable version.
Thomas Jefferson - multiple quotes by My2Cents
Socialism and Liberty
According to Karl Marx, socialism is a transitional state between capitalism and communism. Its purpose is to prepare the way for communism, which in theory will be a society in which government has vanished and everyone lives happily as each gives according to his ability and gets according to his need. Unfortunately, this never really happens. So the transitional stage in which the government controls the means of production and the people under a dictatorship which executes central planning of the economy, supposedly for the good of all the people, remains.
Capitalism, on the other hand, emphasizes free trade and limited government. It respects the individual's right to his life, liberty, and property. It was the system that prevailed in the early history of the United States as a Constitutional Republic.
Do you believe individual liberty can coexist with socialism (as defined above) or that socialism will of necessity eliminate the rights of individuals?
Yes, I believe people can retain their right to life, liberty and property under a socialist government.
vallain says:
You see forms of socialism in England and the Scandinavian countries and none of those are likely to become communist. Communism failed miserably in the former Soviet Union after many years. Few countries are likely to follow that path now.
No, under a socialist government people have lost their right to private property and control of their own destiny.
skiesgreen says:
This is a hard question. Many people in capital countries are losing their rights now and most are slaves to big business. Of course socialism was cruel and repressive.
mowug1776 says:
you either have one or the other you cannot have both. I personally have had to stand up against cartel leaders, my father, corrupt FBI agents and policemen to keep from selling drugs, people, and other illegal actions. The cost was high but it was well worth it. If I had not stood against those people I would have stepped into a world in which I would have been a slave to people who cares neither for my safety nor for my welfare. I may have lost everything but at least I have my freedom. I will not go quietly into the night. I was promised everything that money could buy, it still was not enough for the price of a life lived in freedom. I do not care whether it is a cartel or a corrupt government it will still do the same thing to the area that is controls.
MCB2011 says:
They cannot coexist, history tells it. Congratulations on your lens!
CruiseReady says:
Socialism and true individual rights are mutually exclusive.
jseven says:
No, I lived with controlling husbands and our gov. right now reminds me of them. Big gov means more stupid control over things that they should stay out of. "Of the people, for the people, by the people." Not a bunch of rich lobbyists that want everything their way and buy politicians. America is already very socialistic.
FlaminCatDesigns says:
No my fear is that our country will turn totally socialist, leading our lives to poverty and suppression.
OhMe says:
I think history has proven that socialism will take away our rights and I think the people of the USA need to wake up because it is happening just as was predicted many times.
Second Escape Part 4
Crossing the Bridge Across the Border without a Passport
More About Kosta's Family under Communist Rule
- An Enemy of the People?
- This story told by Kosta is about a time his father was arrested as and "enemy of the people," and how he got cleared of the charges. It illustrates to me the principle that we will reap what we sow.
Thank you for stopping by to read this lens.
Please let me know you were here by leaving a comment.
I would like to disclose that if you buy any items from links in this lens I will make a small royalty.
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alwaysjules Jan 9, 2012 @ 4:35 pm | delete
- Happy New Year! Congratulations on your lens being chosen as a top 100 Community Favorite for 2011! I wish more of these stories were filtered into the community, so people can appreciate how lucky they are.
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skiesgreen
Jan 8, 2012 @ 1:24 am | delete
- Good interview and commentary here. *Blessed* and featured on Blessings by Skiesgreen 2012
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mowug1776
Jan 2, 2012 @ 6:17 am | delete
- thank you, sometimes I wonder if my own generation that has live life United States of America will ever see what they are missing. It seems as though they would rather go through an incident like this then be free to choose what they want to do without being afraid of what the government is going to do to them. Excellent lens
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Auntiekatkat Jan 1, 2012 @ 10:35 am | delete
- Congrats on being nominated for Community Favorite Lenses of 2011. A wonderful lens. Fortunately we both share one thing it was easier to vote than for most as mine was my "why-I-am a- vegetarian was nominated as well. A proud moment for all of us. Good luck in the voting.
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JoyfulReviewer
Dec 31, 2011 @ 9:52 pm | delete
- Nicely done ... thanks for sharing the story. And congratulations on being one of the final 100 favorite Squidoo lenses of 2011!
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About Me
by BarbRad
In my life I've been student, public library clerk, English teacher in public school, elementary teacher in private schools,card buyer for Logos Bookstore... more »
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What Effect Does Socialism Have on Personal Liberty?
The Road to Serfdom: Text and Documents--The Definitive Edition (The Collected Works of F. A. Hayek, Volume 2)
Amazon Price: $10.00 (as of 05/27/2012)
In this book Hayek show readers why socialism and central planning in the sphere of the economy by necessity will limit personal freedom for individuals. Any thoughtful person who is open to learning why socialism and individual liberty are incompatible should get this book. The more I read it, the more alarmed I become when I see what is happening in my own country and the more convinced I am that I must do all I can to stop the direction we are headed. If we keep on in this direction, we must might look like the Soviet Union of the 1960's in another twenty years. my husband would never have believed when he escaped from Yugoslavia to North America that the United States might someday resemble what he came to escape from.
How Do You Feel About U. N. Agenda 21?
BEHIND THE GREEN MASK: U.N. Agenda 21
Amazon Price: $17.00 (as of 05/28/2012)
Up until three weeks ago, I'd never heard of United Nations Agenda 21. I did know that my local and state government seemed to be putting more and more regulations in place to make life difficult for homeowners and small businesses, but I did not realize what was behind it. The United Nations is behind it, and they would like to fundamentally change the American way of life until they succeed in destroying the liberties we have come to take for granted here in the United States and in other free countries. They do this under the guise of saving the planet -- of balancing your rights with the rights of the community. You are encouraged to be a "global citizen."
The new buzz words for Agenda 21 are "smart growth," "sustainable development" or "sustainability," and "energy-wise." Cities are trying to implement these goals by using redevelopment funds for mixed use developments. They are diverting property tax dollars into the redevelopment funds and away from what you expected those property taxes to cover -- police, fire protection, and other things paid for from the general funds, like road repair, parks, and street lights.
This book will help you recognize the signs that Agenda 21 is being implemented locally and it will tell you how to fight this program which will nullify your rights under the United States Constitution. If you care, at least read the book before discarding the possibility that this could be happening in your own community.
How Radical Change is Brought About
Rules for Radicals
Amazon Price: $7.10 (as of 05/28/2012)
This is the handbook of tactics for those who would like to change this into the kind of country that had to make it a crime to leave and go elsewhere in order to keep people there. If socialism is so wonderful, why do people want to escape it? Why does this kind of change need to be forced upon people against their wills? If you want to understand what is going on in American politics today, you need to read this book so you can see beneath the surface and not be taken unawares.
