Well, the Balkans was at war with itself for a good chunk of the 90s. As have a lot of the old Eastern Bloc since the USSR fell apart.
The experiences are far more fresh in the minds of those who live in those countries. There has been little time to heal the wounds (many of which go back centuries and have had recent refreshment). Most likely due to internal strife (usually ethnic) as a result of oppressive regimes (post invasion/colonial absorption). It'll take time, and with sensible education of the most recent generation(s) by enlightened fresh governments, those wounds will heal. Diplomacy is hard. Fortunately, it seems the world is becoming more in tune with harmony as nations' wealth increases. More distribution needed obviously, to prevent serious disparity in wealth that would lead to more conflict.
That’s because it is made up. A few years ago there was a to do with some locals in some other Northern town who had decked their house out in England flags and the council had asked or something about taking it down because the flagpole was too high. The National papers got hold of it, twisted it and that was it. Or something. Then as Ernie alluded to, they start whinging about being called racist for having a St George cross in the window or wearing an England shirt. Then some other people made a really bad Facebook meme that looked like it was done in MS Paint and said it offended a certain religion. Which then made some people want to be more patriotic out of defiance. When really, nobody ever complained and nobody really gives that much of a ****.
There should be far less excuse for conflict, as we've been fortunate enough to live through what has to be the most peaceful time in history, and certainly in the UK, we are all far more affluent and have access to things even our recent forebears would never have dreamed off, including technology, fuel and medicines to alleviate ailments that were previously fatal.
Except not all of it was nonsense, but some prefer to make a noise about a few examples that they can spin that way. I took the time to check out a few of the claims that had been claimed as nonsense, and speak to parties from a variety of sides. The media dismissal was probably bigger nonsense than the initial claims in quite a few cases.
As a Greek bloke said to me years ago in Corfu We get on well with the Albanians As long as they stay over there and we never go over there.
I used to go in a pleasant little bar/cafe every day on the seafront in Acharavi when on holiday there. Run by a couple of really nice lasses. Then one day a van pulled up and a man and woman got out and tried selling tee shirts. These nice lasses ran out and went ballistic. Much arguing went on and they left. Someone asked what the problem was. She simply said "Albanians" and spat on the ground.
Sat in a lovely Italian in Tenerife and the owner was a gorgeous Roman She had a fantastic arguement with an Italian woman customer and her family! Proper arm waving raised voices etc Brilliant fun When they left she came over and went They’re from Naples! They’re an embarrassment and want everything for nothing
Was in Lloret De Mar in 1973. There was a long outdoor table selling cold drinks and I got in the queue. A bloke walked down and asked what I wanted. I pointed to the ones in front of me and said they were here first. He just looked and said "Germans. They supported Franco. You are first." Bear in mind Franco was still in power then. Of course over time those attitudes have changed and German money became as good as ours. And more wanted in some cases.
When you consider the percentage of Greeks who died under the German occupation equated to 5 million of our population you can understand why. The Cretans have a lot of time for us after what we did for them in the war. Though in Acharavi there were a lot of Germans, probably as many as Brits if not more, and they were well received. Could live on Corfu. Or even better, Paxos. Unfortunately that isn't practicable.
It's not time, castro said his old man went to Europe 20 years after the war and all was good. The balkan war and the iron curtain coming down were over 30 years ago and theres still trouble.
Yes, there is still resentment, anger and ethnic bitterness. Castro's point is valid, but it's a different context, and later than the end of WW2. The tribal conflicts in the Balkans & Russian confederation (USSR) go back much further than the Pre-Weimar & Nazi/European conflicts. The Serb/Croat conflict is essentially yesterday. As are the Russian /Ukrain situation and Chechnya issue. The wounds will take longer to be purged from the underlying nationalities subconscious/memory. It's all about time/generational/ educational awareness & stability.
I went with him. It was great. Though I once said to my dad how come your brother isn't as well disposed to the Germans as you. My dad said, well, I spent the war in the navy going from North Africa to Gibraltar, Sicily and Italy. Your uncle went across Europe and into Belsen. Fair point.
The Balkans has always been a tinderbox. Artificial nations didn't help. Tito kept a cap on things but old tensions and hostilities resurfaced when he went. Don't think you will ever get Poles to love Russians either. Ukraine hasn't forgotten the millions who starved in the 1930s. That is percei ed as Russian Communists doing though Stalin was not Russian he was Georgian. I remember back in the 1970s Moscow Dynamo were drawn against Real Madrid. Due to bad weather the game was switched to Kiev. 100,000 Ukrainians spent 90 minutes cheering for Real, much to the authorities displeasure. Ironically, the USSR national team, which commentators insisted on calling Russia often contained Ukrainians as well as Georgians as they picked from the leading clubs, which were often Dynamo Kiev and Dynamo Tblisi so no Russian speakers were in the team.
Even though some countries disputes have gone on for years the older generations didn't do stupid mindless violent things. Today there are youngsters who weren't even born at the time of recent conflicts doing stupid things like damaging foreign registered cars and attacking foreign speakers on the street.
