This is the story of mam, dad and their countrymen

directs public opinion. The American public is sympatico, but their ad-
ministration has been completely usurped by Wall Street, the military
corporations and at the CIA (much of whose financing originate from
Afghanistan drop (opium) sales... For them, continual war is endemic.
The public knows this but their resistance has been rendered impotent
by the omnipotent media.
Dad would often speak of this Balkan(ization) dilemma. His Mil-
itary Region had endured centuries of conflict, challenging Moslem
Turks. Then the Moslem hegemony was replaced by the Austro-Hun-
garian incursions.
Which was the worse – having Moslem overlords or Germanic-
Hungarian Catholics in control?
Take your pick. Both intruders contributed to Balkanization, aided
and betted by intolerant Catholics and militaristic Moslems-all who
infused deadly conflict upon the established Christian Orthodox. But,
in the history of mankind, only the Catholics had introduced factory-
like killing centres. Only the Catholic’s mentality was able to counten-
ance and foster such malice.
Every school boy knows of the Serbian, Gavrila Princips and the
Bosnian (Sarajevo) assassination. This triggered a war that consumed
more than thirty million lives and went on to change Europe.
In April, l941, the Serbs challenged the Third Reich and were the
first European nation to launch an open insurrection of defiance. This
challenge forced the Germans to delay operation Barbarossa by more
than a month. By the time the reorganized Fascists arrived at Moscow,
winter had set in and the attack that was intended to totally destroy
was blunted. Russian survived the onslaught and went on to destroy
the destroyer. It can be said that the Serbians saved Russia.
In 1999, Serbia was bombed by the Americans for three month
because they refused to accept American hegemony. The whole world
watched as the American ‘superpower bullied little Serbia. While
Serbia was extolled, the Empire of Chaos was besmirched and their
image was tarnished. Russia and China were restrained. (That might
not happen next time.
Serbia produced outstanding patriots and leaders. Whereas many
of their contemporaries produced Quislings and the likes of Joseph
Tito and their capitulators.
The more one knows of Serbia, the more one has reason to be proud
of this legacy and of their historic role.

The world is in desperate need of intelligent, rational, reasonable
and tolerant leadership
Society remains in flux. Empires come and go. Technology improves.
But new technology facilitates greater destruction. A Russian rocket
can be launched from a submerged submarine and hit a target 2000
Km. distant and the accuracy is within two meters of target. Civiliz-
ation sits on the edge. Perhaps these ‘check and balances’ will provide
some assurances of peace. Any opportunistic attack could very well
doom the attacker.
These are some types of problems that my parents, born in a dis-
tant village had never had a need to face.
The world is in desperate need of intelligent, rational, reasonable
and tolerant leadership.
Classic concerns continue. – when the invader comes, what can a
peasant (seljak) do? Run? Fight? Or Collaborate.
This is the story of Mom, Dad and their countrymen.
Over time, many of the Yugoslav immigrant descendants joined
Canada’s mainstream. They pursued higher levels of learning, entered
the trades, commerce and politics. The ‘smarts’ were there and they
were utilized. Some, such as myself, have continued with multi- lin-
guistics, their extended families’ and their acquired culture. Doing so
rendered a feeling of privilege.
North America was distant from the European conflict. Sadly,
Europe’s conflict nurtured North American industry. While Europe
burned, America prospered. Cynicism? Canada shared much of this
fortune. We had space, resources, a work ethic and security. (The At-
lantic and the Pacific served as huge protective moats). We could sally
forth, seize and return safely to our fortress.
You’ll notice that the Americans rather enjoyed fighting from the
air. Their bombers would sow destruction, come home and the crews
could enjoy their “wine, women and song”.
USA received immigrants from all over the world. Some came by
choice, many came as slaves. The original peoples were genocided. The
most prolific immigrant was the English and the German. Both covet-
ed Russia’s vast expanses and diverse resources. Both worked to seize
this wealth. Both failed but both continue to aggressively pursue this
plan. The English (American)-German media constantly demonize
and denigrate Russia and Russians. Their long-term military continues
to aim at Russia and its destruction. The rise of China is altering thee
equation.
The defenders had ‘their boots on the ground. They fought, suf-
fered, and resisted. Attacks on Russia involved total war. Men, women,
children and old folk were victims and these people also defended. It
was ugly. Civilians were not respected by the invaders.
I spoke to a Russian general. He casually mentioned that they were
compelled to defend and defeat the invaders on many occasions. He felt
that the threat will end only when their enemies are totally defeated.
Our land never had these concerns. We seem to little understand our
good fortune. And when we become profit-motivated involved in an-
other’s military ambition, there is much reason to sober up and clear
our brain. Currently, the Canadian government is considering adding
troops to bolster the American goals in Latvia. Latvia? What injury
have they ever inflicted on us? Remember Operation Belgtation? Not
user-friendly.

In the end, me and my family
Being raised in remote Surrey, working land that had never in the his-
tory of mankind had ‘ever been touched by anyone else,’ was a privil-
eged role. Over the years, the demand for land escalated. Success and
profits came readily. Luck was the significant requisite. Skill, know-
ledge and perseverance helped.
I found that I was one of the community’s first who had access to
and wanted to attend university. There was only one provincial uni-
versity (UBC); the enrolment was relatively small. It would appear that
I was lucky to have access to some twenty years of formal education.
Following secondary school, I was one of the first in our commun-
ity to attend university. It was socially and academically challenging
but worth the effort... I managed to earn several degrees. In spite of
the formal education, I managed to do the physical work required in
maintaining a farm, the fences, the fields, the berries, dairy, chickens
and garden. As a result, we managed to keep the farm and all the re-
lated buildings: house, barn, garage-even the outdoor toilet. No other
similar farm remains. – This was a very diverse life. Finances earned
through teaching and administration enabled me to invest in real
estate. This, I managed and used the profits to further acquire addi-
tional revenue-generators.
The result is that the next generation can claim a part of early
Surrey.” It is easy to sell it is difficult to buy.”
Personally, I have enjoyed sports. Football, basketball, volleyball,
swimming, golf, etc. are media that I participated in and coached. I
had experienced both piloting and parachuting. Both involve a ful-
filling challenge.
I have had an interest in travel as well as the opportunity. Frankly,
there is not a country or a region in this world that I did not visit, to
studied, or enjoyed -at least once.
My children are professionals, married, have their own homes and
involved in research, management, technology, teaching. Our family
has some fourteen teachers.
My wife is a very special person attending to the needs of family,
possessing social skills, academic insight and a good grasp of property
managment.