CROWN – Croatian World Network

Wonderful, enlightening, and educational discussion which I didn’t get to read until now due to Easter preparations. I grew up in Miami (where my father still lives) and love it there, too. Great city…however crime-ridden it is! Much of what you both (Davor and Adrianna) say is very true. How to change it is another story. I think we all do what we can, on however a small scale that may be. I am an elected school board member so I try on a daily basis to encourage our school district to begin foreign language instruction at early ages for our children. What I am finding is that everyone (here) agrees with me, but money—-as usual—-is a huge obstacle. In America, we depend on the taxpayers for monies to run our schools and we (my school district/community) have a huge levy ($$$) on the ballot for May because our state (OH) supposedly has run out of money for education. It is very frustrating! The diversity issue and the racial issues are ones with which we contend on a daily basis. Educated people fight the system and the social mores but again, it is difficult to see any major progress so we can only do what we can do….inch by inch, person by person. True, there are many “ugly Americans” but then again, there are many wonderful people who live here who are educated and compassionate sorts who try to buck the system. I guess what I would like to say is that there are social ills and political problems and economic sores in all countries and if we all can take the time to get to know one another on a person by person basis, then we will be able to break through those barriers and find that we have more in common than we may think. All I can say is that people had better start getting along in the future or we won’t have anything left of our world. It’s a scary place right now, as we all know. I understand what you say about perceptions of America politics/military might and I agree with most of it. Again, how to change it is mind-boggling. So I continue to dance kolos and play tamburitza music. I believe that Croatian people not only have a very rich and beautiful folkloric heritage but that part of the reason that this heritage has been so much a part of everyday life, is that it truly is an escape from the realities of life. Melissa Pintar Obenauf Distributed by www.CroatianWorld.net. This message is intended for Croatian Associations/Institutions and their Friends in Croatia and in the World. The opinions/articles expressed on this list do not reflect personal opinions of the moderator. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, please delete or destroy all copies of this communication and please, let us know!

 “…once we conquer our fears and open the way for our creative energy to rush out and blossom into life.” Dear Suzanne and Jean, you’re both right and both wrong. I don’t think…