Here, minors are the "property of the state", so they must not engage publicly in corrections of its political course, since "nowhere in the world" is their step allowed. This is how, in short, the government tried to dissuade high school students from joining the students who demand that the competent institutions punish those responsible for the death of 15 people under the collapsed canopy in Novi Sad.
High-ranking officials have shown in both mentioned statements that their ignorance of reality is at an even higher level than the positions they have occupied. Children are nobody's property anywhere, except in the illegal "white slave" traders. And the social engagement of "kids" is guaranteed not only by domestic regulations but also by international conventions.
In Belgrade, it was just demonstrated that the youth has matured so much that the government looks immature. Exciting 15 minutes of mass silence in Slavija, with the light from mobile phones breaking the eclipse, were more eloquent than the avalanche of politicians' speeches.
It was convincingly emphasized that there is nothing more to talk about until the demands of the students for the establishment of justice are fulfilled. It was, at the same time, another symbol, one might say, of boiling in national and international relations.
And the stamp on the world, according to my reading of his offers, was given by strong counters to the found or acquired states. So I'm getting involved in reducing the year 2024 to some of its landmarks, excluding, for this occasion, the endless horrors of war.
Feeling old - dissatisfaction. It was caused, in particular, by neglecting the interests of the broadest strata and by drastic inequalities. As well as by reducing the decision-making about the common fate to a narrow circle of often unelected characters.
Challenge of the year - internal polarization. In the absence of a solution to the accumulated problems, political opponents see each other as enemies. And while there is talk of the revival of the cold war on the international scene, the outlines of the internal cold wars are becoming more and more noticeable, along with branding for fascism, communism...
Process of the year - anti-establishment movement. Distrust in the authorities is rapidly spreading. Almost everything that all kinds of organizations tried proved to be deceptive and temporary. The flaws of classic parties are used by recent outsiders, ready to overthrow the order. Even in the most developed democracies, the roles of extreme right-wing extremists, whose main targets are immigrants, are growing.
Examiner of the Year - Europe. The best-ordered societies and the most peaceful regional community of states (EU) are going through painful re-examinations. The power that in many ways shaped the world and served as a role model, is now, as it were, a collateral victim of the competition between the USA, China and Russia. In an effort to unite the entire continent (outside of Russia), she was surprised by growing disunity within herself. Among the temptations of her own identity and attractiveness is the Western Balkans, which she would like to somehow attract to her, where most of her plots are concentrated in Serbia. Which em is "undefined", em lacks élan in fulfilling the criteria for membership, em is under pressure, is "proved" by lithium mining...
Comeback of the year - Trump. He is the first American who, in the last 135 years, managed to win a second non-consecutive presidential term. He prides himself on his unpredictability and willingness to change both internal and world relationships. He announces that he will quickly bring about a truce in Ukraine, expel illegal immigrants en masse, clean up the "deep state", replace officials who were not for him, increase tariffs, and with an excess of understanding for the main autocrats, "make America great again". As his biggest fan, Serbia expects that he will understand it better than Joe Biden in some respects, outside of the status of Kosovo. And the bait was thrown to him by giving his son-in-law to build a solitaire on the site of the demolished General Staff building in Belgrade.
Rookie of the Year - Elon Musk. The richest man in the world jumped into politics with all his might, so much so that some researchers estimate that he has become Trump's "deputy". He promised to drastically cut budget costs, along with mass layoffs, but he jumped into foreign policy, with open support for the ultra-right in Britain and Germany. He has a sense of a conflict of interest, because by cutting state arrangements with his competitors, he could increase the profits of his companies. And some, without disputing his entrepreneurial skill, his entry into the ruling structure, also see the personal embodiment of plutocracy, the supremacy of money in political decision-making.
Person of the year - voter. On various sides, but not here where it is often fabricated. Tired of all kinds of unfulfilled promises, he rushed to replace the authorities, even to the extent that in some places he preferred to vote for an unknown person rather than for someone he knew well. Such effectiveness is, for the time being, limited to democracies, but there are indications that he could also engage in the removal of autocrats.
This year, however, is only a part of a century, full of novelties and countering ideas about the immutability and infallibility of the system. And we are, whether we like it or not, a part of that same era.
The philological society declared us the word of the year - canopy. Its fall caused an unprecedented tragedy and inspired citizens, especially students, to look for what has been missing here for a long time - the responsibility of the guilty and the establishment of the rule of law.
It is the biggest attack against these authorities so far. And the most original.
With the dignified silence of the most massive gathering in recent history, she gave a strong voice to democracy and silenced the permanently too loud autocracy in the middle of the capital. Hush, hush, there will be more and more of this...
Bonus video:
