Bosnia: Ethnically-mixed schools face problems

«... first-grade pupils of Croat ethnicity have been forced to quit school since their parents do not allow them to attend so-called mixed classes, together with pupils of Bosniak ethnicity.»

This is a shame. Parents are teaching their kids the same hatred that brought their nation to war. They should do exactly the opposite: teach their kids that the little Serbs or Bosniaks are exactly like them.

I remember that in my native village in Quebec, the school of the village was mixed: French and English, and we all grew up speaking both languages, and respecting each other.

Every Croat I ever spoke with complained about the fact that the Croats in Bosnia were forced into a shotgun marriage with the Muslims which the Croats always felt would be a temporary arrangement.They always identify themselves as Croats and not Bosnian and to an objective observer never hide the fact that their goal is separation.If it was Croats who would have had bigger guns than the Serbs there is no doubt in anybody's mind that today you would have Republika Croat in Bosnia.The Muslims in Bosnia must stop insisting on trying to dominate Croats or Serbs and agree to having 3 completely autonomous zones if Bosnia is to remain a country even if it exists in name only.If the Croats did not wanna be in a Yugoslav federation why would they wanna be in a Bosnian one?

This is what we Serbs wanted all along, a unified country (bratsvo i jedinstvo). We warned those elements that would dissolve our country, and that it would be a shadow of its former self. The words are prophetic. What a shame!

" Their parents, who used to go to the same school, say they do not understand such logic."

Well, then they (parents and ex-pionirs) shouldn't start the war in the first place.

This is more proof that Bosnia & Hercegovina has to be divided, and as soon as possible.

The only way to have any kind of lasting peace in the future is to have people of different ethnicities who have grown up together, schooled together, played together and such.

A child's mind is pure and still developing. Don't instill hatred and reasons why they can't be with "those people". Racism is not genetic, it is learned.

Like Victor, I went to a Canadian public school mixed with dozens of nationalities, ethnicities and religions.

Surprisingly, most of the clashes came bewtween people from the same group. People carrying on the same ethnic squabbles from their old homelands.

I know many english canadians from quebec who constantly fought with their french speaking neighbours. Which is why most fled to Ontario
and Quebec wants to divorce itself from Canada. Conditions in Quebec
also spawn the terrorist org the FLQ which killed Canadian members of parliment.

That's funny...their parents went to mixed schools in the 70s and 80s, what's wrong with their kids doing the same?

The idiocy in the balkans sometimes really suprises me.

Oh, please!
Why should this behavior surprise anyone?
Anyone who reads some of the posts on this site will immediately appreciate that many in the Balkans (even those outside of the region)encourage others and choose to continue to hate their neighbor.

"This is more proof that Bosnia & Hercegovina has to be divided, and as soon as possible."

No Lazar, quite the opposite: this proves that BiH is still badly divided and more needs to be done to make sure that such remaining divisions don't run through the middle of schools.

Unless you think the whole country should accommodate the wishes of a handful of ultra-nationalist politicians/parents over the wishes of the massive majority of moderate parents (and indeed their kids).

I know of many anglophones who had vicious fights with the french and in parts of Quebec, you'd better not wear a canadian flag. The only reason Quebec hasnt divorce yet is because of the billions of dollars Quebec gets from Ontario, Alberta and the total exploitation of the native population's
natural resources.

The English left Quebec on human rights issues: like the passing of bill 101
banning english. And Parizeau's rage against "Old Money" (ie. Jews) after
losing a separatist vote. Next step a Jasenovac camp?
The FLQ commited hundreds of bombings and intimitation.
The French hate the English and the feeling is mutual.

Fix the problems in your own province (FrenchvsEnglish) and country (Aboriginal exploitation) before sticking your nose in someone elses.

Yes, Gordo, a lot has changed in Quebec.

Much of the english population has been 'ethnically cleansed'
already from Quebec thru violence, human rights issues and descrimination for jobs forcing them to go elsewhere.

Mostly replaced by asians who tolerate it only considering its better than the countries they came from.

Alot has changed in Belgrade too since 1990 and some people here dont realize that.

There is a shiny exception that created an example of how it should be: Brcko District of BiH introduced an integrated multi-ethnic educational system in 2001. Pupils from the three national groups are sitting together in classes, teaching staff is ethnically mixed, curricula harmonised. You are cordially invited to visit. attended by

Lazar in case you didnt relise, it already is.

Message for "a"
The FLQ "crisis" in Quebec was in 1970.
Things have changed quite a bit since then. Sure Quebec still strots out the separation threat in order to be bribed/rewarded by the federal government with tons of tax money from other grumbling Canadians. The Quebecois know how to play the game. The rest of Canada only plays along bcause all the gorgeous women are from there. oo-la-la! ;-)

Anglophones who left Quebec for Ontario did it solely for economic reasons and better wages. I have never met an anglophone friend who left for Ontario or Alberta for the reasons you give. Of course, we had fights then between francophones and anglophones, just as between Muslims and Serbs, but I would have never left Quebec because of a fight here and there. You certainly don't know much about Anglophones and Francophones from Quebec.

"a"
Your comments are nothing but a stack of lies. You keep trotting out data from the 1970's-80's. I've lived in PQ during the 90's and never saw any of this extremist fascist you push as truth. I wore the Cdn flag proudly and without any problems there. I respected them their wonderful history/lifestyle and they mine.

Maybe you and your "a" friends are the only ones spreading such hatred there.

Why not leave before you destroy yet another country.

When I said that it has to be divided I meant partitioned. It's obvious to everyone who looks at the country that there are huge divisions that can not be fixed.

Luciano,
The Croats did have their own breakaway republic called Herzeg-Bosna where they commited war crimes against Bosnian Serbs and Bosniaks. I am not sure what forced marriages you are talking about unless you mean to prevent out of wedlock pregnancies and then all countries have that. Brcko is a prime example of how right things could go if all this red tape and political nationalism would be eliminated. It reminds me of the southern United States of America in the 50's and 60's. You might want to read about the Little Rock Nine in wikipedia.

Sorry, Gordo, but the French Sovereigntists will destroy Canada.

When English Canadian hero Terry Fox was running thru Quebec on his Marathon of hope, he was abused and humiliated. Asked why he was putting up with it, he replied 'Because French kids were dying of Cancer, too'
That should tell you all you need to know.

« And Parizeau's rage against "Old Money" (ie. Jews) »

You show your ignorance of Canadian politics. What Parizeau meant that night he lost the referendum is simple. Chretien who was the Federal PM had spent so much money in Quebec to 'buy' votes from new immigrants, that Parizeau lost the referendum by a few votes.

You certainly read about the scandal of sponsorship that came as a result of a Canadian federal government "sponsorship program" in the province of Quebec... Many are in jail because they simply put the money in their pockets.

Ive spoken to a member of Quebec's Jewish community and that exactly what Parizeau meant.

In the concession speech given by Parti Québécois Premier Jacques Parizeau after narrowly losing 50.58% to 49.42% in the 1995 Quebec referendum on sovereignty, he blamed the defeat on "money and the ethnic vote" and called on Quebec sovereignists to adopt a strategy of gearing their efforts only towards French-speaking Quebecers in future referendum campaigns. Parizeau practically "committed political suicide" and would resign as premier the next day. The former premier
never apologized for his statement, which caused some to accuse the separatist movement of being racist.

From the Steven Roth Institute for the study of Anitsemitism and racism:
It is well known that the Jewish community of Quebec overwhelmingly supports Quebec remaining a part of Canada. Former Quebec Premier
Jacques Parizeau even reinforced this notion in 1997 during a speech in Calgary when he attempted to clarify his controversial remarks of the night of the 1995 Quebec sovereignty referendum when he blamed
his defeat on "money and the ethnic vote." In Calgary, he pointed the finger directly at the Jewish community as one of three ethnic groups
that he had referred to, along with the Italian and Greek communities.

«Ive spoken to a member of Quebec's Jewish community and that exactly what Parizeau meant. »

If we lost our referendum in 1995, it is not because of the Jews; it is because of Jean Chretien. Ask any Canadian who follow politicis and he will agree with me!

Yes, Gordo, a lot has changed in Quebec.

Much of the english population has been 'ethnically cleansed'
already from Quebec thru violence, human rights issues and descrimination for jobs forcing them to go elsewhere.

Mostly replaced by asians who tolerate it only considering its better than the countries they came from.

Alot has changed in Belgrade too since 1990 and some people here dont realize that.

I know of many anglophones who had vicious fights with the french and in parts of Quebec, you'd better not wear a canadian flag. The only reason Quebec hasnt divorce yet is because of the billions of dollars Quebec gets from Ontario, Alberta and the total exploitation of the native population's
natural resources.

The English left Quebec on human rights issues: like the passing of bill 101
banning english. And Parizeau's rage against "Old Money" (ie. Jews) after
losing a separatist vote. Next step a Jasenovac camp?
The FLQ commited hundreds of bombings and intimitation.
The French hate the English and the feeling is mutual.

Fix the problems in your own province (FrenchvsEnglish) and country (Aboriginal exploitation) before sticking your nose in someone elses.

This is more proof that Bosnia & Hercegovina has to be divided, and as soon as possible.

Sorry, Gordo, but the French Sovereigntists will destroy Canada.

When English Canadian hero Terry Fox was running thru Quebec on his Marathon of hope, he was abused and humiliated. Asked why he was putting up with it, he replied 'Because French kids were dying of Cancer, too'
That should tell you all you need to know.

" Their parents, who used to go to the same school, say they do not understand such logic."

Well, then they (parents and ex-pionirs) shouldn't start the war in the first place.

«... first-grade pupils of Croat ethnicity have been forced to quit school since their parents do not allow them to attend so-called mixed classes, together with pupils of Bosniak ethnicity.»

This is a shame. Parents are teaching their kids the same hatred that brought their nation to war. They should do exactly the opposite: teach their kids that the little Serbs or Bosniaks are exactly like them.

I remember that in my native village in Quebec, the school of the village was mixed: French and English, and we all grew up speaking both languages, and respecting each other.

The only way to have any kind of lasting peace in the future is to have people of different ethnicities who have grown up together, schooled together, played together and such.

A child's mind is pure and still developing. Don't instill hatred and reasons why they can't be with "those people". Racism is not genetic, it is learned.

Like Victor, I went to a Canadian public school mixed with dozens of nationalities, ethnicities and religions.

Surprisingly, most of the clashes came bewtween people from the same group. People carrying on the same ethnic squabbles from their old homelands.

There is a shiny exception that created an example of how it should be: Brcko District of BiH introduced an integrated multi-ethnic educational system in 2001. Pupils from the three national groups are sitting together in classes, teaching staff is ethnically mixed, curricula harmonised. You are cordially invited to visit. attended by

That's funny...their parents went to mixed schools in the 70s and 80s, what's wrong with their kids doing the same?

The idiocy in the balkans sometimes really suprises me.

Lazar in case you didnt relise, it already is.

Oh, please!
Why should this behavior surprise anyone?
Anyone who reads some of the posts on this site will immediately appreciate that many in the Balkans (even those outside of the region)encourage others and choose to continue to hate their neighbor.

"This is more proof that Bosnia & Hercegovina has to be divided, and as soon as possible."

No Lazar, quite the opposite: this proves that BiH is still badly divided and more needs to be done to make sure that such remaining divisions don't run through the middle of schools.

Unless you think the whole country should accommodate the wishes of a handful of ultra-nationalist politicians/parents over the wishes of the massive majority of moderate parents (and indeed their kids).

I know many english canadians from quebec who constantly fought with their french speaking neighbours. Which is why most fled to Ontario
and Quebec wants to divorce itself from Canada. Conditions in Quebec
also spawn the terrorist org the FLQ which killed Canadian members of parliment.

This is what we Serbs wanted all along, a unified country (bratsvo i jedinstvo). We warned those elements that would dissolve our country, and that it would be a shadow of its former self. The words are prophetic. What a shame!

Every Croat I ever spoke with complained about the fact that the Croats in Bosnia were forced into a shotgun marriage with the Muslims which the Croats always felt would be a temporary arrangement.They always identify themselves as Croats and not Bosnian and to an objective observer never hide the fact that their goal is separation.If it was Croats who would have had bigger guns than the Serbs there is no doubt in anybody's mind that today you would have Republika Croat in Bosnia.The Muslims in Bosnia must stop insisting on trying to dominate Croats or Serbs and agree to having 3 completely autonomous zones if Bosnia is to remain a country even if it exists in name only.If the Croats did not wanna be in a Yugoslav federation why would they wanna be in a Bosnian one?

Message for "a"
The FLQ "crisis" in Quebec was in 1970.
Things have changed quite a bit since then. Sure Quebec still strots out the separation threat in order to be bribed/rewarded by the federal government with tons of tax money from other grumbling Canadians. The Quebecois know how to play the game. The rest of Canada only plays along bcause all the gorgeous women are from there. oo-la-la! ;-)

Anglophones who left Quebec for Ontario did it solely for economic reasons and better wages. I have never met an anglophone friend who left for Ontario or Alberta for the reasons you give. Of course, we had fights then between francophones and anglophones, just as between Muslims and Serbs, but I would have never left Quebec because of a fight here and there. You certainly don't know much about Anglophones and Francophones from Quebec.

"a"
Your comments are nothing but a stack of lies. You keep trotting out data from the 1970's-80's. I've lived in PQ during the 90's and never saw any of this extremist fascist you push as truth. I wore the Cdn flag proudly and without any problems there. I respected them their wonderful history/lifestyle and they mine.

Maybe you and your "a" friends are the only ones spreading such hatred there.

Why not leave before you destroy yet another country.

When I said that it has to be divided I meant partitioned. It's obvious to everyone who looks at the country that there are huge divisions that can not be fixed.

Luciano,
The Croats did have their own breakaway republic called Herzeg-Bosna where they commited war crimes against Bosnian Serbs and Bosniaks. I am not sure what forced marriages you are talking about unless you mean to prevent out of wedlock pregnancies and then all countries have that. Brcko is a prime example of how right things could go if all this red tape and political nationalism would be eliminated. It reminds me of the southern United States of America in the 50's and 60's. You might want to read about the Little Rock Nine in wikipedia.

« And Parizeau's rage against "Old Money" (ie. Jews) »

You show your ignorance of Canadian politics. What Parizeau meant that night he lost the referendum is simple. Chretien who was the Federal PM had spent so much money in Quebec to 'buy' votes from new immigrants, that Parizeau lost the referendum by a few votes.

You certainly read about the scandal of sponsorship that came as a result of a Canadian federal government "sponsorship program" in the province of Quebec... Many are in jail because they simply put the money in their pockets.

Ive spoken to a member of Quebec's Jewish community and that exactly what Parizeau meant.

In the concession speech given by Parti Québécois Premier Jacques Parizeau after narrowly losing 50.58% to 49.42% in the 1995 Quebec referendum on sovereignty, he blamed the defeat on "money and the ethnic vote" and called on Quebec sovereignists to adopt a strategy of gearing their efforts only towards French-speaking Quebecers in future referendum campaigns. Parizeau practically "committed political suicide" and would resign as premier the next day. The former premier
never apologized for his statement, which caused some to accuse the separatist movement of being racist.

From the Steven Roth Institute for the study of Anitsemitism and racism:
It is well known that the Jewish community of Quebec overwhelmingly supports Quebec remaining a part of Canada. Former Quebec Premier
Jacques Parizeau even reinforced this notion in 1997 during a speech in Calgary when he attempted to clarify his controversial remarks of the night of the 1995 Quebec sovereignty referendum when he blamed
his defeat on "money and the ethnic vote." In Calgary, he pointed the finger directly at the Jewish community as one of three ethnic groups
that he had referred to, along with the Italian and Greek communities.

«Ive spoken to a member of Quebec's Jewish community and that exactly what Parizeau meant. »

If we lost our referendum in 1995, it is not because of the Jews; it is because of Jean Chretien. Ask any Canadian who follow politicis and he will agree with me!