Man-woman.

The use of the masculine gender in the names of professions is a reality in Montenegro. Such use has become so prevalent that led up to be accepted as normative and the only right path. Should the question of sexism and stereotypes in language be ignored? Language as a mean of communication is a living organism, which, according to its nature, changes over time. The concept of social beings includes the concept of linguistic beings, and the topic of the relationship between language and society becomes inexhaustible. Formed together, society and language can only survive like that, the possibility of existence of one without the other. Every human culture has the kind of language according to their needs, to effectively achieve the basic role of an instrument of society and culture. Any changes that are happening in society necessarily reflect in the language, especially in its lexical-semantic level.

Montenegrin society, with its linguistic determinants shows a high degree of discrimination based on gender division. Montenegrin culture, with its specific codes of behavior, which are deeply rooted in tradition, legends and myths in which women are considered to be subjected. That type of culture spawned the construction of man-woman a phrase used for the woman which is characterized by the best human characteristics. Female children in Montenegrin society are not children but šćeri (a word used in colloquial speech to say it’s a daughter), so in Montenegrin language phrase that has been established I have two children and three daughters (šćeri) for two sons and three daughters.

However, we are witnesses that in the media and in everyday life, more and more encounters with the use of the feminine gender forms to indicate titles and women. Also, various studies have shown that in recent textbooks strictly take into account that in the language, illustrations, texts, maintains the equality of the sexes. Gender-disaggregated orientation in textbooks reflected in his address to the students consistently in the forms of both male and female. Despite all the efforts to combat stereotypical determinants of language in Montenegro shows still resistance to this kind of expression. Many argue that such frequent use of certain terms of representing and forcing reliance on the emancipator trends, rather than a real need for these expressions. Again, there is a problem, many of these terms are not pronounced properly, so there is an even greater confusion, because everyone makes his own coin: prvoborkinja (a female which fought in a war), female surgeon, philosopher, academician, Secretary, Chancellor - many sound clumsy and strange. Names for female occupations are just one of them, but very visible. Psychologist with us or female surgeon in Croatian can cause great tonal repulsion due to the unaccustomed  use of these words. Hence qualifications that these words are clumsy and contrived can cause a real resistance.

People are not afraid of words, but because of what use of such a word symbolizes. So the word, it is not dangerous, but its metaphor. The use of such words, clumsy, or not, means something much bigger. Acknowledging the word, we recognize the woman. Acknowledging a woman, we change somewhat the order of things in the society. By changing the order of things in society, we are changing our universe. And, it is a large-scale earthquake. This earthquake is best controlled at its very root, that is, to accuse a word that is ugly, and that she herself is discouraged and to be withdrawn to the mothy, dusty dictionaries and books. Ideological background of linguistics is invisible, but it is an essential part of the story. Give the woman a word and find the word for a woman's occupation, means to empower women, and empowered woman, either economically, or professionally, either through their awareness, there lays the power, and can be potentially dangerous. By empowering women, in one radicalized form, it could mean to strengthen the enemy. Therefore, male vulnerability due to threat to their domination, becomes understandable only when interpreted in terms of power relations and distribution of power.

picture taken from www.cdm.me

Who guards them?

Summer in Podgorica. How long have we waited for the Sun to shine upon out capital after long months of winter rain. To breadth in some sultry summer air that smells of hot asphalt and  burning grass and trees from some of the surrounding hills or Ćemovsko field, but this year was different. Arriving in Podgorica after a brief excursion abroad, what I encountered arriving home was the smell of moisture in the air and some melancholy. As if the air itself regrets that it’s not warmer, and that it could not provide us with enough sun to save our tourist season, but instead it began to rain. And so in the midst of a very unusual summer for Podgorica they arrived. Conceived as guardians, those who watch over us, with shining eyes and an unbeatable attitude, I have to correct myself, when in contact with us everything is breakable, so their attitude was obviously unsatisfactory. Maybe we do not need and guardians. Who knows?

Anyway, 7 Transformers sculptures are set in the center of Podgorica with its heavy bodies, which seem like transferred from the big screen and onto our streets to rule them. It's nice to see confused faces of people who are unconsciously smiling and looking at giants that rise above mere mortals like ancient statues in temples, giving the city a note of modernity and uniqueness.

Last Transformer was placed today on the main square. At the point where everything intersects, the square from which everything begins, where people meet, and part where we witness the changes and celebrations ... and they are there to remind us to, beautify our city and put a smile to our children faces. After a decade and a half that’s behind us, in which flourished construction and occupation of each green space that exists in Podgorica, subtraction of parking space for the construction of another building that will meet the needs of the growing population of Podgorica. Now that finally guards have emerged, we do not need them.

Yes they were late. They should have been placed at the time when concrete Podgorica replaced green Podgorica, but then the artist was still too young. Instead they depict ecological consciousness of an  ECOLOGICAL STATE, made ​​from recycled parts of vintage cars, trucks, etc. ... in fact they are the targets for attacks of local vandals. How else can we name people who are able to knock down Transformer that weights a tone, chop off his head and walk away calmly like nothing happened. I still do not understand why people are so evil, what drives them to destroy what they have not created themselves, and certainly in the company of his friends he must be praised as great hero because it takes courage, but not the kind they think they showed. You needed the courage to show our true colors. You needed the courage to touch something that is finally so unlike Podgorica, that stands out like all those interesting places that we  admire in big cities, but not ours. You needed the courage to prove that  Podgorica lacks in cosmopolitan attitude, and that in our city there is no room for new, fresh and progressive. You needed the courage to put a stamp on our society that marks us as a society of limited capabilities.

I guess it is so.

How is it possible that we as citizens are not affected by such rudeness? Has Podgorica grown into such a city in which everything has to be judged and condemned? How should the other artists who would like their artwork to adorn Podgorica understand this? While millions of thoughts and questions run trough my head, the only consolation is that Transformers will soon start to visit other countries in the Balkans where they will, I sincerely hope, find more understanding and respect, to teach us that we must respect the work of our artists in order to be respected by others. In the end, I just need to say – Congratulations to the artist!

         pictures taken from www.pobjeda.me

The right path

Looking at one side of the world we forget everything else that is happening around us, we are stable in our pursuit to become like them. Perhaps we can never achieve it, but we hope they will at least allow us to socialize with them. It’s them, that embody the ideals of modern civilization and mankind, there where is no violation of human rights, freedom of speech is inviolable, human dignity is above all.

Why should there be any doubt, why the voices of disgruntled would be heard, our officials know to which ‘empire to bow’. Russia is a country that does not respect international agreements, constantly trying to split neighboring Ukraine. Of course the Russians have no business there; the identity and history of Ukraine are not of such importance since Kiev is on the way to Europe. Even though they headed that road with carts full of problems they know that redemption will be waiting there.

According to all of the above the Government's decision to join the sanctions to the Russian Federation is completely understandable, as we show our devotion to democratic and above all principles of humanity. Honestly, except ideal there is a bit of opportunism, but only indications. Everyone enjoys praise, not to mention the ones that come from our friends in the European Union and transatlantic ones.  After the sanctions we are one step closer to the European family of nations, at least our rulers think so. Implement the reform of the legal system, to prevent the influence of organized crime in politics are some of the requirements of the European Union, but they are not as easily accomplishable. So we should start from simple things, boldly and confidently say to Russia, “because of your shady business in Ukraine we bring you sanctions.”On top of everything Montenegro respects international law and one’s inalienable territory; it has been shown in the year 2008 in the case of Kosovo.

In this case, the parties have put to side economic interests, shared past, and forgotten the words of Montenegrin prince –bishops, the Golgotha of Montenegrin communists. It is needed to make the cut sooner or later, get rid of the burden that is holding you back in achieving the objectives. Undeniably, today Montenegro has two objectives that cannot be questioned, membership in the European Union and NATO. Because of this the power holder must have free hands, they have the right to make mistakes because those are the mistakes made ​​in good faith. Evil tongues will say that there is no difference between the relations between Montenegro and the EU on the one hand, and relations with the former colonial metropolis on the other, they do not realize that it is not a shame to learn from the better. We have enlightened European community that fights for the rights of Ukrainian citizens, who wants to help them in achieving European standards. How to succeed in that, it takes years and years, also there is a need to achieve unity between quarrelling population in Ukraine, but Europe is ready as always to help. Support is shown in the warm words and sweet promises that heat better than Russian gas.

Sure Montenegro is rightfully condemned desire Putin of Russia to protect its strategic interests in the region, to save fellow rage Galician Ukrainians, deeds to stir in other people's affairs by any state having a democratic and freedom-loving country. Therefore Montenegro should not be of the Russian capital (which is never destroyed profitable KAP) of Russian tourists of the Russian flag. Negligible is  the fact that without Russian and Serbian tourists our beaches would be empty, that the great economic growth of the middle of last decade was caused by the Russian purchase of real estate on the coast. Such things should not be mention because rubles cannot buy people's freedom and democracy.

State-building elites chose the path we walk in the future; the question is if we will ever get to do it. There are two ways, dignified as humans, not forgetting who we are and where we are from or will we crawl on all fours like some.

It's up to us.