"Rocky to the Rescue!" Topic

Serbian village gets Rocky statue: link

A Serbian village is hoping to channel some of Rocky Balboa's fighting spirit with a 10-foot-tall statue of the fictional boxer portrayed by actor Sylvester Stallone.

Zitiste, a village about 35 miles north of Belgrade that has been beset in recent years by flooding and landslides, unveiled the Rocky statue in the village square late Saturday.

I could understand them wanting to promote their village by turning it into Rockywood/Slywood, but what are those chickens supposed to be? Some kind of living modern art that's only comprehensible to a select few?

The chickens are Serbia's acknowledgement that they have to make do with second best, as they weren't allowed to have a statue of "Walker, Texas Ranger". Chuck Norris is still an essential component of America's national defense, and we ain't sharin'.

Allen

For once, I was hoping that the quote was made up and the link was to a Zardoz photo.

That's weird…

Well it's certainly worked as a publicity stunt. It may even pay for itself through tourism.

They've got to be favourites for the Serbian Premiere of the next Rocky movie too. Rocky 6?

But weird…Oh for sure.

Chuck Norris is still an essential component of America's national defense, and we ain't sharin'.

Let me know when Norris stars in another action flick, until then Texas Ranger with a walker, can't hold a candle to John Rambo…

"Let me know when Norris stars in another action flick, until then Texas Ranger with a walker, can't hold a candle to John Rambo…"

OH CRAP, you shuldna said that laddy……

HAHAHA!!!

And here I thought you were talking about TMP's very own Rocky Russo!

It's been nice knowing you, C.

Chuck Norris is going to hunt you down and roundhouse kick you into the ground. This will in turn cause earthquakes in India.

Allen

A poultry producer was a sponsor. It was a good move, as it brought about 10 000 people to the village, and many 1st class musicians played. The festival lasted several days. I am sorry I did not go.

Also, another monument has been unveiled recently, of Brus Li in Mostar. He is les fortunate, some locals are against him and has been vandalised several times, I recall.

Ok, short of just making a quick buck from the tourists is there actually a reason for Rocky, and apparantly Bruce Lee, being immortalised in obsure parts of ex-Yugoslavia?

What next? A village in Montenegro raising a status of Zardoz on their main square?

Griefbringer

Hah, Rocky then Bruce Lee. Sounds like Chuck Norris could be next! And that would be quite apt…Chuck Norris always was third rate :o)

I did hear that Norman Wisdom (old British "comic") was really hot in Albania.

(and of course I'm sure that Germany is littered with David Hasselhof statues :) )

Yes, I believe that Norman Wisdom's 'comedies' could be interpreted, if you were so inclined, as an allegory of how to triumph over capitalism (he was always 'sticking it to The Man' or something) and so his stuff was allowed to be shown in Albania.

I suspect Norman was dubbed into saying something suitably Marxist.

I had the misfortune to be accosted by the Croatian national news network (HRT) whilst riding a horse near Dubrovnik. They told me to say a few words about how I was enjoying visiting thier country, which I duly did. When I latter appeared on the newstime "loony-Englishman-on-a-horse" slot I found that I wasn't just saying nice things about the countryside but I was also endorsing Crotia's immediate membership of the EU!

The reason for the erection of Brus Li in Mostar was that any local would not pass, the town is ethnically divided.
I suppose the motive is that they are the characters that noone can claim are inappropriate. They are to represent just fighters. But someone did mind Brus Li. It is probbably racism, there are many fashists, both among the Croats and Muslims.

Unfortunately, Zardoz is unheard of here. My first contact with Zed was through TPM, and I am grateful.

Nikola

"It is probbably racism, there are many fashists, both among the Croats and Muslims."

I did notice that you're a Serb.

I was in Mostar for a few days before they rebuilt the bridge and "community relations" across the river were not good, although the blue helmets had stopped the Croats and Bosniaks shooting at each other. So I guess your right, and a neutral hero figure was better than a devisive one.

Yes, a Serb. But it is not out of my animosity that I point to fashism. Simply, both the groups are promoting ideology from the WWII.
The same was reason for the anthem of Bosnia having no words. It's been composed by a Jew, none of the members of the main groups could be accepted. The attempts of reconciliation are not succesful. If anything unstabilises the world powers, or distracts them, war will break out again.

Nikola

I am sadened but not surprised to hear you say that reconciliation is not working in Bosnia.

Are the Bosnian Serbs still keen to join with Serbia?

"Simply, both the groups are promoting ideology from the WWII."

Do you think that is true of the Croats in Croatia or just the Croats in Bosnia?

I'd be very interested – as I'm sure would others on this board – in hearing your views on the independance of the province of Kosovo from Serbia. Do you see it as inevitable?

This may not be the place for such a discussion.
I will try portraying the views without becoming emotional or abusive.
The Bosnian Serbs are very eager to join with Serbia. That is the attitude of the whole population. There is nothing that holds them in presentday Bosnia. The government is imposed by foreigners, the country is occupied, and the poverty is great. The pressure by the Muslim and Croat entities, backed by the international community to disband military and police forces of the Serbs and outlaw Serbian national symbols is sensed as a huge threat. On several occasions the international representatives have forbidden democratically elected representatives to assume power. There is talk of removing the authonomy guaranteed by the Dayton agreement…
Another problem is the injustice concerning the war crimes investigation, that all the Serbs sense.

There is no difference between Croats from Bosnia and those from Croatia, just as there is no difference between Serbs from Montenegro, Bosnia, or Croatia, and those from Serbia. The same about Muslims from Bosnia, Serbia and Montenegro. Although, among ourselves we do distinguish, joke and hold stereotypes on our own natinals from other regions.

I do not dare predict anything on Kosovo, I have been wrong too many times in the past. Many Serbs are fatalistic, many determined to fight, but all frighthened. The international situation is improving, and legally, it is impossible. So, even if it does happen, we can wait. Last time it has taken us 500 years. And who can tell how the world will look like in 50 years. That is the general mood.

Nikola,

Thank you for your thoughts.

The Current Affairs Board is a good forum for discussing issues in the Balkans. It certain helps having someone on the board who has a stake in the issues and knowledge of the subject . If, of course, you strayed into CA from the Art board you may be wondering what you've let yourself in for!

For what its worth, I support Serbia over the Kosovo issue. I see no merit at all in promoting Albanian nationalism and a Greater Albania.

Thank you

But what happened to Herzegovina?

Sorry, whatever I wrote on Bosnia, applies to Hercegovina also. I don't distinguish the 2, nor know exact borders of the regions. Of course, they do distinguish.
I have seen a nice documentary that explains the Balkans:

A reporter is visiting a village. It has 2 bars. In each of the bars he is told that people who visit the other are horrible.

That's very funny, but probably not much different than any other locality, New York City included.

It's been nice knowing you, C.

Chuck Norris is going to hunt you down and roundhouse kick you into the ground. This will in turn cause earthquakes in India.

I don't know about that roundhouse kick…wouldn't want him to break a hip…

@nikola: Thanks for the clarification. I also thought the chickens were an advertisement for KFC, but assumed art related because of the event.

What do they need a Rocky statue for when they have those nearby "pyramids" that should be drawing all the tourism?

That village is very poor, and even those better off have a huge problem of emigration. The young people are all leaving for towns. Only those that have no way of leaving stay. The situation is desperate, and many such ways for entertainment are attempted. A good example is the Guca music festival.

nikola, I'm only joking…

Be careful, C. If you can see Chuck Norris, he can see you. If you *can't* see Chuck Norris, you may be only seconds away from death.

Allen

If Chuck Norris could see me, then I could see him. If I *can't* see him, the smell of Bengay, would give him away.