Article

2004-03-29 Europe

Balkans â the war that dares not pronounce its name

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Steve 2004-03-29 10:10:05 AM|| || Front Page|| [1 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Excellent snark factor.

Posted by Shipman 2004-03-29 12:42:24 PM|| 2004-03-29 12:42:24 PM|| Front Page Top

#2 The international community has made repeated attempts to render the Balkans conflict easier to follow. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said last night the Security Council would convene in New York on Wednesday to consider Kostunica's request and whether he was the same guy that used to team up with Goran Ivanisevic in the doubles. However, it was later confirmed that this was Slobodan Zivojinovic.

That and the hyphen part are my favorites.

Posted by Super Hose 2004-03-29 12:56:35 PM|| 2004-03-29 12:56:35 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 Was this the humour column?

Because if not, this was one of the most annoyingly parochial articles I've ever read. How many jokes of the "Haha, I can't pronounce the names of Slavs and that's *their* fault" variety can one fit in an article?

Posted by Aris Katsaris 2004-03-29 3:19:38 PM|| 2004-03-29 3:19:38 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 I tried to say Imre Salusinszky out loud, but broke a tooth...

Posted by Fred 2004-03-29 3:49:51 PM|| 2004-03-29 3:49:51 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 most annoyingly parochial articles I've ever read

Does this mean you didn't laugh Aris?

Posted by Shipman 2004-03-29 4:39:45 PM|| 2004-03-29 4:39:45 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 Shipman> Pretty much, yeah. I mean, perhaps the native English-speakers find a name like Kostunica to be unpronouncable, but I live in a country where we pronounce names like Chrysanthakopoulos and don't flinch...

So, no, I didn't really understand where the joke was. Reminds me a bit of some equally parochial jokes in an old 60s Greek movie where the Chinese were being mocked for similar perceived similarities between their names (something like Ching Chong, Chong Chang, Cheng Chung and the like -- back in the 60s people may have laughed with these jokes, but nowadays they just annoy and even offend)

Posted by Aris Katsaris 2004-03-29 5:12:51 PM|| 2004-03-29 5:12:51 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 (something like Ching Chong, Chong Chang, Cheng Chung and the like -- back in the 60s people may have laughed with these jokes, but nowadays they just annoy and even offend)

Ruh Oh.... I still think that's funny. If you will examine my name you will find a multitude of houmorous possibilities and it's actually my name! I used to blush. ;> But then puberty. LOL!

Posted by Shipman 2004-03-29 5:19:54 PM|| 2004-03-29 5:19:54 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 The Age of Organized Touchiness is full upon us.

Memo to World:
Nothing is funny. Nothing. Anymore. Ever again. Someone will find it offensive, so humor, both high and low, left and right, up and down, and spot-on dead solid perfect bull'seye have been banned. All of it. You have been warned.

Posted by .com 2004-03-29 6:35:56 PM|| 2004-03-29 6:35:56 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 Aris get a life,you are so snotty its sickening.

Posted by djohn66 2004-03-29 7:31:10 PM|| 2004-03-29 7:31:10 PM|| Front Page Top

#10 Was this the humour column? Because if not, this was one of the most annoyingly parochial articles I've ever read.

No, it was an editorial done by Australians. I think they summed it up pretty well, albeit a bit snarky: the Balkans are a dog's breakfast; beyond any concept of normal human understanding. Always have been and pretty much always will be.

Posted by Pappy 2004-03-29 10:39:07 PM|| 2004-03-29 10:39:07 PM|| Front Page Top

23:00 Loyal American TROLL
22:58 JB
22:58 JB
22:50 JB TROLL
22:47 James Smith TROLL
22:43 James Smith
22:43 James Smith
22:38 James Smith
22:38 James Smith
22:37 James Smith
22:37 James Smith
22:35 James Smith
22:35 James Smith
22:33 The Terminator
22:33 The Terminator
22:29 The Terminator
22:29 The Terminator
08:07 Howard US TROLL TROLL
08:04 Canadian TROLL TROLL
08:02 Jack TROLL TROLL
07:59 Moshe TROLL TROLL
07:56 Moshe TROLL TROLL
07:54 Jackson TROLL TROLL
07:51 Jones TROLL TROLL