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A little bragging cannot hurt |
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Six months ago, our website was modestly launched. We hope that we are not out of line to note our accomplishments, although they are but a miniscule part of the task and much remains to be done. But as we survey the last six months and celebrate our half-birthday, we have much even now to take pride in.
Our web site adequately serves one of its basic purposes, which is to clearly inform readers about us and our goals. Essentially, we are trying to uncover the facts about what happened in Srebrenica, not just in July of 1995, but in the context of the entire war in Bosnia, 1992-1995, and to separate those facts from propaganda. After putting the facts in perspective, we would like to contribute to the reconciliation between the Moslem and Orthodox communities in the area which, we think, is the key to avoiding a repetition of the tragic war in the 90s. But, as we point out on our web site, reconciliation can only come about on the basis of a truthful narrative, the elements of which both sides can recognize and agree on.
The second feature of our web site that makes us proud is that it does not contain a single ugly word about anyone, that it is respectful of all sides which are involved in the Srebrenica controversy, and that it tries to focus on facts in an atmosphere poisoned with propaganda. Vituperation and hysterics have no place on our site. Our contributors, and commentators that we feel have something worthwhile to say on the subject of Srebrenica, are without exception characterized by a calm and civilized style.
We are proud because we approach a very complex and controversial, bitterly divisive, topic from a broad humanist perspective rooted in values that should be shared by all those who are committed to decency and truth. We present no lame excuses, and we make no wild and unsubstantiated accusations.
As Orwell wrote, situations may arise when standing up for the truth becomes a subversive act. Srebrenica is an issue so distorted by ruthless propaganda that a decade and a half after the fact not even all the right questions have been asked, never mind finding satisfactory answers.
We are happy to play the role of subversives, if we must, in order to rescue as mаny bits and pieces of the important truth of Srebrenica as we can from the propaganda mill mass graves of our unhappy age in which they were interred. |
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