Domovina Urednistvo
When Holocaust deniers hunter himself falls into the category of genocide deniers then you really get a problem of pervasive moral decay being forced onto the world. After the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia ruled that Srebrenica massacres (1995) was genocide, Efraim Zuroff, of Simon Wiesenthal Center, had said repeatedly that Srebrenica was not genocide but politically inspired mass murder of men and boys! That this genocide was not history but politics! It took two days for Efraim Zuroff, relentlessly pro-Serbia Nazi hunter, who shuts a blind eye to Serbia’s WWII Judenfrei (Jew-free) status through extermination of Jews by May 1942, to falsely accuse – once again – Croatia of fascism because of massive expression of love for Croatia that filled the streets of Zagreb on Monday 16 July 2018 when the national football team returned triumphant from Russia, FIFA World Cup 2018.
On Wednesday 18 July 2018, the Jerusalem Office of the Simon Wiesenthal Center issued a press statement condemning the participation of Croatia’s most popular singer Marko Perkovic ‘Thompson’ at the Croatian celebrations in Zagreb’s main square, Ban Jelacic Square,which gathered over 200,000 citizens, welcoming Croatia’s national football team back from FIFA World Cup competition.
According to Zuroff:“Marko Perkovic has never missed an opportunity to transmit his hateful messages. It is no accident that numerous people show up at his concerts wearing Ustasha uniforms and/or symbols and give Ustasha salutes. He should not be an honoured guest anywhere, let alone at one of the biggest gatherings in democratic Croatian history to celebrate a magnificent sporting achievement. Luka Modric might indeed have deserved to be World Cup Most Valuable Player, but for inviting Thompson to sing he deserves a red card.”
Zuroff is the one who spreads messages of hate, not Thompson. It is by no mistake or accidental omission that Zuroff gave no evidence to support his claims regarding Thompson’s messages or people wearing Ustasha uniforms at his concerts. Zuroff in his long-standing and baseless accusations of fascism on the rise in Croatia stands out as a professional bully when it comes to Croatia. Had Zuroff cared to examine the lyrics of Thompson’s songs then his claims would indeed be different. They would actually confirm self-preservation, love of freedom and independence, defence against aggression, love for Croatia, patriotism…the stuff most national musical hits throughout the world are made of. I am not even going into details here that there are no people wearing Ustasha uniforms at Thompson’s concerts. So it truly sadens the mind that some of the world’s mainstream media outlets simply published Zuroff’s statement without bothering to check the facts!There is no doubt in my mind that Zuroff simply cannot tolerate well the love and unity for Croatia expressed so freely and openly by its people.
At the end of the day, looking at the truth – who cares about Zuroff’s deceitful and bullying statements. As long as there is widespread heartfelt, pure, love for Croatia and its freedom the bottom line stands: all is fine with love for Croatia and what its people stand for!
Ina Vukic
