Genes, genes made of stone

NEW YORK Here is what we knew about Marko Perkovic before he performed two concerts in Manhattan this weekend:

He's a popular Croatian rock star, accused for years of stoking fascist sentiments among fans in his homeland. Some of these fans show up at concerts wearing T-shirts and symbols that celebrate the Ustase regime, which collaborated with the Nazis during World War II and operated two concentration camps. We know, too, that the Simon Wiesenthal Center denounced Perkovic, who was slated to appear here in a hall attached to a Catholic church, leading to this memorable headline in the New York Daily News: "Jewish Groups Protest Show of Nazi Band at Church Hall."

So what do we know now that the concerts went ahead, as planned?

The man digs British heavy metal, circa 1975.

And he looks good in black.

"Nazi band"? Nuh-uh. Perkovic, 42, did not "sieg heil" nor did he rant against the Serbs, Jews or any other group, according to the many Croatians who were happy to interpret during the show. (Perkovic does not speak English.) Instead, in the community center of the Croatian Church of Sts. Cyril & Methodius in Midtown, he sang a lot of fervently nationalistic, mid-tempo rock songs, most of which sounded like Iron Maiden doing Eastern European folk. And he harped again and again on his favorite themes: love of God, family and Croatia. Especially Croatia, which in his music sounds like a place abused for centuries and still under siege.

"To battle, to battle for your people," he sang at one point -- that's a translation, of course -- and the words briefly turned into a chant for the room of 600 fans. Combat imagery is part of the brand that is Perkovic, a former soldier who fought against Serbian troops in the war that raged between 1991 and 1995 and who sings under the stage name Thompson, which he took from his submachine gun.

But somehow, the show Saturday night felt more like a family get-together than a flag-waving rally. Most of the attendees were in their 30s and 40s -- a younger crowd showed up on Friday night -- and everyone seemed to know one another.

"He's singing about how beautiful Croatia is," said Mary Ann Lakoseljac, who came with her sister and parents. Like a lot of people, she sounded a little offended by the fuss about Perkovic. "Seriously, they don't even call the Germans 'Nazis' anymore. But you hear that about Croatians all the time."

Now, it's quite possible, of course, that Perkovic delivered a bile-free act tailored for this city. You know -- ixnay on the Ascism-fay, or something like that. Certainly, he knew he was under scrutiny. In the lead up to the show, the Wiesenthal Center publicly asked Cardinal Edward Egan to block the event from happening in a church-affiliated venue. "I urge you to take the lead on this issue and to reaffirm the church's commitment against anti-Semitism, intolerance and violence," wrote Mark Weitzman of the center's Task Force Against Hate and Terrorism.

That did it. On Friday, the night of the first show, the controversy had drawn a handful of camera crews from local TV stations, as well as about 10 protesters, who were ushered by cops to the opposite side of the street, where they began chanting slogans like "Nazis out of New York, Nazis out, Nazis out!" You could sense the media and the protesters trying to turn this into a newsworthy spectacle, but it never quite jelled. There weren't quite enough protesters, for one thing, and none of them really had particularly compelling evidence that Perkovic is a Nazi.

"We actually got a call from the Village Voice about this," said Greg Pason, who helped organize the outing. "We got this white supremacist club in Bergen County shut down recently, and so the Voice called us and asked if we were doing anything about the show. We didn't know anything about it till all the papers started covering."

His beef with Perkovic: "We think this is an ultranationalist show and exactly the sort of thing that people should stand up against."

The protesters' chanting, naturally, infuriated the fans who had to wait in line and get jeered at for a good 20 minutes. A few of them offered an obscene gesture or two. Just one -- an immense 20ish guy who would not give his name -- turned up wearing an objectionable shirt, one that had a small "U" on it, under a photo of a former Croatian general who now stands accused of war crimes.

The "U" stands for Ustase.

"You know, this is all overboard, it's all a big hype," he said, with two news cameras filming him. "This guy's no different than Billy Joel or Bruce Springsteen. This is about pride. Nothing but pride."

Uh-huh. What's the U stand for?

"I don't know," he said, adding, "We're done."

But he was the exception. Most fans were eager to offer a lesson in a history that stretches back centuries and involves antipathies that seem fantastically complicated and deep-seated. The danger of a Perkovic show, it turns out, is not that there will be hate speech. It's that there will be lectures.

"Croatia is a very peaceful place," said Kathy Jurac. "We've been occupied by the Turks, by the Austrians, by the Hungarians, by the Italians, and we have for years. That's why our independence means so much to us. And that's why it hurts Thompson that generals he fought with are in jail, accused of atrocities."

For the organizers of the show, all the negative attention put them in a defensive crouch.

"No media are allowed in the show," said promoter George Corluka. "It's not my decision. It's up to the church." Perkovic, he added, was devastated by the terrible hubbub that preceded him in the United States and would not speak to any members of the print media in this country because no one would treat him fairly.

This reporter purchased tickets on Craigslist.com on Saturday afternoon.

"Okay, you're the only media in here," Corluka said, a few songs into the concert. "We'll see if you're fair. We'll see."

The attempted journalist blockade might have raised the expectations bar a little high. No offense, Mr. Corluka, but musically Perkovic and his band are kind of mundane; they sound, at moments, like the Gipsy Kings doing "Dust in the Wind." The charm of songs like "Geni Kameni" is perhaps in the lyrics -- and they don't translate all that well:

Genes, genes made of stone

A fire burns within me

Genes, genes made of stone

That's the way we are born

Take it or leave it.

This, of course, sounds different to Croatian ears. There, Perkovic is considered not just an entertainer but a political phenomenon, says Srdjan Dvornik, executive director of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights, who spoke yesterday as he was heading home to Zagreb.

"After the war with the Serbs, there was never a real confronting with the past," he said. "Nobody ever admitted that Croatia, as part of a defensive war, committed acts of ethnic cleansing. So the myth of the Croatians as collective victims is still alive. But now it's just left to people like Thompson to express that myth publicly."

By David Segal

Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, November 5, 2007

An Open Letter to Bruce Springsteen

After the wife of Croatian rocker Marko Perkovic, a.k.a. Thompson, wrote a letter to Efraim Zuroff (Israel Director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center) threatening legal action over his criticisms of the Ustasha enthusiasm displayed by the singer’s fans, the open letter from Zuroff appeared in Globus newspaper.

But let's assume for moment this letter was written by some USA hater group to a singer Bruce Springsteen... how is this different?

11 July 2007 “An Open Letter to Bruce Springsteen”

I am probably the last person you were expecting to hear from these days, but in the wake of the controversy and polemics surrounding your recent concert in USA, I thought that the best way to clarify the important issues being debated would be to turn to you directly. Before I pose my questions, I have to admit that you have inspired the love and support of Americans all over the world, many of whom have rushed to defend you against my criticism. I have received letters from Australia, Canada, Germany and other places as well as from USA. While some were stupid in an abusive way (spelling my family name in small letters with the exception of a big “U”) and a few were simply anti-Semitic (”Born in the USA” and nothing else or “What have you done to stop killing poor Palestinians?”), most were written by reasonably intelligent people who are convinced that you are neither a fascist nor an anti-Semite. They claim that your sole motivation is pure and noble American patriotism and love of family and the Church. They urged me to review all your lyrics to search for any trace of racism and some sent me the words of one of your songs. None of them could explain, however, why so many young people feel that your concerts are an appropriate place to appear in US Army uniforms and display US symbols.

Rather than attempt (without any opportunity to speak to you directly) to analyze your ideological philosophy and psychological make-up, which in my opinion hold the key to unedrstanding who you really are and being able thereby to determine whether you are part of the problem or part of the solution in insuring that USA will be a model democracy and not a proto-fascist state, I decided to share my concerns with you and offer you an opportunity to once and for all make clear where you stand on a number of critical issues.

Let me begin with the song “Born in the USA” Everyone knows that you have sung it in the past, although not at your recent concert in Zagreb (or any town). Do you have any idea how painful its lyrics are to members of minorities living in USA? Can you imagine how a "Yellow man", Muslim, or Arab whose families were decimated by the US must feel hearing someone like you, the most popular singer in USA, a veritable cultural icon, sing of nostalgia for US wars ? Can you understand that one can be a 100% genuine USA patriot and unequivocally reject the War and the US war's ? Or is USA patriotism, in your opinion, one indivisible package which begins with the US and continues to the present with every nationalist included, regardless of whether they behaved dishonorably and/or committed atrocities? That is something that urgently needs clarification.

In this regard, the fact that you have never apologized or expressed regret for singing “Born in the USA” is very telling. It basically means that you stand behind those lyrics which more or less glorify war murderers, call for the elimination of "Yellow man", the replacement of President Bush with an ultranationalist like NSM party and the reestablishment of the Nazi's. I would add that the fact that you have never spoken out against the ubiquitous displays of US symbols at your concerts is another indicator that you personally have no objection to such paraphernalia. This could be for two possible reasons. The first might be that you identify with such symbols and are a “true believer” in the US ideology of US ultranationalism. A more cynical explanation might be that you realize that those sporting US symbols are your greatest supporters and for practical/utilitarian reasons, you do not want to offend them and risk losing their support. Either reason does not put your behavior in a positive light.

Naturally this is simple fiction and have nothing to do with Bruce Springsteen singing, but idea is same. Even mr. Efraim Zuroff admit that Thomson didn't sing "Ustashi" songs he claim that "Everyone knows that you have sung it in the past, although not at your recent concert in Zagreb." again without any proof as some myth over Thompson head. Once again mr. Zuroff look for real issues like current anti-semitism in Serbia leave patriots alone.

Julia Gorin say: All European are Nazi's !

Looks like Julia Gorin is fealing happy she finally found someone fat as her in reunited Spice Girl... But that doesnt stop her to publish lies again and again. In her latest posts she is stunned by finding that Croatia have anti-Fascists, wooow what a shock ! You can all guess here fealings when she realize where was Serbs during WW2. But lets analyze what she discovered this time:

What a curious thing that I never got any complaints about my writings from this group. And please — don’t hurt these Croatians; they are an endangered species!

Umm could it be that honest people don't want to have anything with chetnik writer? Or maybe you are avoiding answering truth and pick only fabrications and well paid articles. Maybe if you put price list on blog they will gather money so that you actually once in your life write truth !

Croatia did get to sit at the victors’ table as if they were Hitler’s victims too, along with the rest.

Dear Julia Croatia didnt get to sit , Croatia earned that seat!

Both Croatia and Serbia had pro-Axis governments during World War II. All of the nations of Yugoslavia had elements which supported the Axis and all had elements that were anti-Axis during the War. However, it was the Croatian dominated Partisans, led by the Croatian Josip Broz Tito which formed the only true anti-Fascist fighting force in Yugoslavia and the most formidable Allied force in occupied Europe during World War II

While the majority of the Croatian people favored an independent Croatian state, many did not support the Ustase regime. 'When the war broke out there were fewer than twelve thousand members of the movement representing less than one per cent of the Croatian population. At its height in 1942, there were only sixty thousand Ustase. Over sixty per cent were from impoverished Western Herzegovina with a strong anti-Serbian sentiment from the dictatorship of Alexander. Some twenty per cent were Muslims who joined in direct response to Serbian massacres in Bosnia. The leader of Croatia's popular Peasant Party was jailed by the regime during the War.

Many members of the Croatian officer corps were pro-Allied and supported the Croatian Peasant Party. In September 1944 pro-Allied officers attempted a coup against Pavelic. The plotters had been promised an Anglo-American landing in Dalmatia and would have turned the Croatian Army against Germany to support the Allied invasion. The landing never took place. Dr. Ivan Subasic of the Yugoslav Government-in-Exile learned of the plot and informed the Soviets. Stalin immediately contacted Roosevelt and informed him that any such, action would be a violation of the Tehran agreement dividing Europe into spheres of influence. Roosevelt canceled all plans for the landing but British secret channels withheld the information from the Croatians on the premise that any revolt, even one doomed to failure, was better for the Allied cause than nothing.

The Partisans, founded by Josip Broz Tito, a Croatian Communist, represented the only true resistance to the Axis in Yugoslavia during World War II. Hundreds of thousands of Croatians joined the Partisans and thirty-nine of the Partisan's eighty brigades were Croatian. On June 22, 1941 Croatian Partisans began what would come to be known as the War of Liberation in Yugoslavia.

On July 13, 1943 a Democratic Republic of Croatia under the leadership of Andrija Hebrang was declared in those areas occupied by the Croatian Partisan forces. As the war progressed more and more Croatians, especially from Dalmatia, joined the Partisans.

Serbs joined in great numbers late in the War as entire Cetnik units changed their allegiance. By 1943 Allied support shifted to Tito and by 1944 the Partisans were the only recognized Allied force fighting in Yugoslavia. The complexities of World War II saw Croatian fighting Croatian, Serb fighting Serb, and both fighting each other as well as German, Italian, Hungarian and Bulgarian forces.

Both Serbia and Croatia, like Finland, Hungary, France and virtually every other nation in Europe, were occupied by the Axis and had governments which collaborated with the Axis. Both Croatia and Serbia also had Partisan governments fighting for the Allies. A half century later Germany and Japan were again great world powers and Italy was a full partner in the European community while Croatia, having been occupied by Germany and Italy, continued to be tarred with the brush of Fascism by Belgrade's mythology.

So Julia calling Croatia Nazi state is same as calling Finland, Hungary, France and virtually every other nation in Europe the Nazi state.

As for your comment :

But apparently, as long as Croatians are saying “Za dom” instead of “Zeig Heil” while doing the Hitler salute, it’s OK.

Thompson became popular with their 1991 hit song "Bojna - Čavoglave", which was released during the Croatian War of Independence; a time when Croats were pitted against Serbs who opposed Croatia's Declaration of Independence from Yugoslavia. The song depicts a battle involving a battalion of Croat soldiers from Cavoglave, a village in the Dalmatian hinterland (and the birthplace of Marko Perkovic). The song includes the "za dom - spremni!" slogan which was used by the World War II-era Ustaše.

However the term did not originate as a fascist slogan; it has been used by Croats for centuries after it was used to salute Josip Jelacic,ban of Croatia - Za dom! -Spremni umrijeti!(For homeland! -Ready to die!).! So it isn't "Zig Heil" as you suggested !

And at the end :

Which still doesn’t explain why he sings about WWII death camps so happily.

Can you once in your life ask your serbian employees to show you that footage ? Ohh wait, they can't because it doesn't exist !

As for rest you can again read, hear and watch : Marko Perkovic - Thompson, true story about concert

Marko Perkovic - Thompson, true story about concert

Thompson became popular with their 1991 hit song "Bojna - Čavoglave", which was released during the Croatian War of Independence; a time when Croats were pitted against Serbs who opposed Croatia's Declaration of Independence from Yugoslavia. The song depicts a battle involving a battalion of Croat soldiers from Cavoglave, a village in the Dalmatian hinterland (and the birthplace of Marko Perkovic). The song includes the "za dom - spremni!" slogan which was used by the World War II-era Ustaše.

However the term did not originate as a fascist slogan; it has been used by Croats for centuries after it was used to salute Josip Jelacic,ban of Croatia - Za dom! -Spremni umrijeti!(For homeland! -Ready to die!).

Thompson often points out that he is not Ustasha or fascist, a patriot. He publicly says that he means no harm to any other nation, religion or people of different ideology. His songs talk about love for a woman, country, God and family. Thompson stated that there are three things that are most important in his life and in this order: God, family and country.

Thompson denounced Ustasha ideology numerous times.On his concert in Zagreb on 17 June 2007 he stated:

I can command nobody what to wear on my concert, and I have never encouraged anybody to wear a cap or shirt with letter "U". My message to all of them (and that I would say this evening too, if I saw [anything like that]): "Wear insignia of victorious Croatian army from Croatian War of Independence". It is sad that young people return so far in history and fall for propaganda.

During his last tour Bilo jednom u Hrvatskoj, his concert in Frankfurt,Germany(country with the strictest laws against fascism)was also protested against by Jewish Organizations.They determinedly requested that the German government to ban the concert on alleged fascist lyrics. When German government received transcript of Thompson's songs,request for banning the concert was immediately rejected.



Thompson also in the response to all the people who accuse him of being an Ustasha,wrote the song Neka ni'ko ne dira u moj mali dio Svemira (Let no one touch my small part of Universe). In this song he accuses those people of hiding during the war,like a mouse in a hole. He claims that they have no understanding since they never fought for their country, and they have no appreciation for the people who lost their lives in the War for Independence. And now after the war they try to say that every solider is a criminal, and they who were hidden all the time are righteous one. And that he is fascist for them only because he loves his country and was not afraid to give his life for its freedom.


On the 17 June 2007 at concert on Maksimir Stadium, Zagreb, Thompson in front of 60 000 people stated that he is not fascist.



English translation of his words:

I'm often attacked and accused, that we are fascists, nazis, and by this you also who listen my music and follow. And we here by say to them that we are not fascists, nazis, but Croatian patriots. We tell them that there are values that we live for. There were people that we will never forget. And there are dreams that we will never give up. Because this country was made, our Croatia, on the blood and suffering of this generation, victorious generation.

Audience in sign of approval shouted medieval Croatian battle-cry, mostly known from Ivan Zajc's opera Nikola Šubić Zrinski, today used mostly to boost moral on soccer matches, U boj, u boj - Za narod svoj, in English translation, To the fight, to the fight - For our people.

So Julia shut your mouth once for all, if you want to truth simply ask. Or if you don't believe me ask your employees to translate all this songs and mentioned speech ...