On behalf of my family members, missing, found, buried, my father, grandfather, uncle, cousins and many more…. Srebrenica is not a white flower; it is not changing your profile photo or posting a story. Srebrenica is much more; it needs to be much more.
Srebrenica stands as a warning, as an indicator of the dark side of human behavior. However, its role even though acknowledged, has not been fully comprehended.
Srebrenica is not just July 11th; Srebrenica is all year long, not for mourning and sadness, but as a warning and a source of motivation.
Srebrenica is lack of applicants for numerous civil action projects looking for volunteers, either due to low interest of youth or the fact that the same select few are awarded these opportunities;
Srebrenica is a scene from public transportation, where we all sit in silence and listen to rare conversations with topics full of despair, sadness, problems and misery.
Srebrenica is streets in the old town, filled with bodies and empty of souls, with bystanders commenting on each other with malice, grabbing every opportunity to judge and shame everyone who is different.
Srebrenica is also an empty ballot in the elections. Srebrenica is also Ahmici and Prijedor and Visegrad.Srebrenica is also a critical mass that is indispensable for changes in this country, which we obviously do not have.
Srebrenica is learning how to investigate guided by facts, get to the hard truth, talk openly about the causes and context that precede awful events; move away from retelling biased versions of events verbally, without any facts or logic, and poison every new generation with false, bigoted narrative.
Srebrenica is nepotism, desire to separate select few families to have all and rule all.
Srebrenica is also a fear of Fatima and Alexander being in the same social gathering, fear that we must abandon.
Srebrenica is also a peacebuilding workshop, where I had a chance to meet a soldier of the Republika Srpska Army, embrace him and cry together, not being scared for the first time.
Srebrenica is every comment below the news on the portals filled with hatred, nationalism and fake patriotism.
Srebrenica is also the absence of concern for the other, lack of awareness of the other, because society cannot be founded on the principle of ‘me, myself and I’ and finding ways where it’s only good for select few.
Srebrenica is also ongoing ignorance of refugees seeking a better life, transiting our country.
Srebrenica is this mass lethargy inflicted on all of us.
Srebrenica is … I could go on and on … but why would I? You and I, we know all this, we acknowledge everything that is written and much more than that. Let us do less of what is perceived as ‘popular’ for July 11th and do more of what is right for BiH; and let us look at mine, yours and ours Srebrenica for the will, strength and desire needed to make the changes we all need.
Let’s wake up from passivity because nobody will help us if we do not help ourselves.
My Srebrenica, every white tombstone, these hands of mine embrace you in the hope of comming change.
Nejra Lilić, CNA peacebuilding training participant