Belgrade Marijuana March
Six years since its first and, hopefully last, gay pride march, Belgrade is about to experience a Marijuana march. The international organisers' website has a plea for people to 'help promote the march', (theres actually 226 in various cities around the world). Of course Serbian drug addicts jumped at the chance of promoting a liberal and degenerate cause. And of course, just like the Exit festival, it would show that Serbia was back on the world map, emerging from its isolation, and progressing (by Western standards). So they were proud to organise the only such march in the Former Yugoslavia. As a result it seems that we are going to have drug addicts from Croatia and Slovenia flocking to Belgrade.The Serbian organisers want marijuana to be legalized, on the basis that Serbia would attract more tourists, that it doesn't lead to harder drugs, isn't addictive and doesn't have any negative side effects. Not surprisingly, the word on the street is that there is going to be a significant counter-protest in Belgrade. It's on the 5th May in the city centre, and starts at 3pm. I doubt these guys will get a similar reception to the gay pride parade of 2001. That was truly unprecedented, but I have a feeling that there could be some violence. Incidentally I found out that Wikipedia's entry for 'gay pride parade' features Belgrade as its first entry under 'notable pride events'. Interesting that it has become so infamous that they could not find any 'positive' or 'successful' parades that were more notable. The actual description itself is inaccurate. Although a huge group of football hooligans did charge the participants, 'clerics' did not 'storm the event'. That would be painting every single counter-demonstrator with the same brush. One can see the violent scenes on youtube here.
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serbia belgrade beograd marijuana march gay pride parade
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serbia belgrade beograd marijuana march gay pride parade
posted by serbialives admin at 9:20 PM
6 Comments:
I find it odd that you seem to equate the West with decadence. We in the West who still have faith are trying to undo the decadence seen spreading so rapidly since the 'Enlightenment', with varying degrees of success, it's true, but we are trying.
I disagree about marijuana. Taking a few tokes is not going to going to lead anyone to heroin or crack. The only way marijuana can lead to harder drugs is because it puts smokers into contact with criminals with a whole palette of "products". Those same criminals then offer them some harder stuff, and it goes from there - and this is caused by the illegality of marijuana, not marijuana itself.
On the other hand, I can just imagine what sort of people these protestors are, and they make me sick with their stands on many issues. But on this one, I definitely agree with them.
By the way, if something is wrong on Wikipedia, just change it yourself.
I find it odd that you seem to equate the West with decadence. We in the West who still have faith are trying to undo the decadence seen spreading so rapidly since the 'Enlightenment', with varying degrees of success, it's true, but we are trying.
I equate the present-day West with decadence yes, but then you agree with me since you are trying to undo it. Most of the negative characteristics of the contemporary Western sub-culture are being exported to Serbia. I don't doubt you are trying and I applaud your efforts but the cultural revolution that took place in the West is being emulated in the East. I'm just pointing that out.
I disagree about marijuana. Taking a few tokes is not going to going to lead anyone to heroin or crack. The only way marijuana can lead to harder drugs is because it puts smokers into contact with criminals with a whole palette of "products". Those same criminals then offer them some harder stuff, and it goes from there - and this is caused by the illegality of marijuana, not marijuana itself.
Contact with criminals is not the only way of going from Marijuana to harder drugs. It is a narcotic which removes people from reality and gives them a high. Once you have experienced one high, you can't tell me that you wouldn't be at least slightly intrigued, tempted, or more open to experiencing the more intense highs of harder drugs.
On the other hand, I can just imagine what sort of people these protestors are, and they make me sick with their stands on many issues. But on this one, I definitely agree with them.
Speaking of their stance on other issues a good deal of them want all drugs legalised, which means that this is the thin end of the wedge. On the wiki entry for the Marijuana march, the Spanish picture clearly has a banner on the front of the parade which seems to be advocating the legalization of all drugs.
By the way, if something is wrong on Wikipedia, just change it yourself.
If only I had time to change every wikipedia entry that I thought was incomplete or inaccurate;) And if I did I think touching up the entry for 'gay pride parades' would be last on the list:)
Contact with criminals is not the only way of going from Marijuana to harder drugs. It is a narcotic which removes people from reality and gives them a high. Once you have experienced one high, you can't tell me that you wouldn't be at least slightly intrigued, tempted, or more open to experiencing the more intense highs of harder drugs.
What do you think happens to monks during intense službe? :)
But seriously, if that argument is taken to its logical conclusion we should ban alcohol and cigarettes, because they alter someone's perception of reality (cigarettes not so much), and lead them to harder drugs. And maybe coffee too? Where do you draw the line? It's a pretty poor view of people, that they can't really control themselves. In fact, I would say that most people who try hard drugs don't get addicted to them.
I don't really have any strong feelings on this. It's not something that interests me personally; if people want to smoke it without affecting anyone else, why not? Also, you should be aware that a lot (most?) of the dope smoked in Serbia is grown in Albania - if it were legalised (which would have no harmful effects IMO), we could stop financing an enemy state and boost the economy, by making sure it was all certified domestic production! :)
But seriously, if that argument is taken to its logical conclusion we should ban alcohol and cigarettes, because they alter someone's perception of reality (cigarettes not so much), and lead them to harder drugs. And maybe coffee too? Where do you draw the line?
Personally I'm not sure that a ban would be the most succesful way to elimate cigarette smoking, but make no mistake I would be happy to see smoking eliminated. Having said that cigarettes don't induce the same type of hallucinations that marijuana can. As for alcohol, I'd argue that certain types in moderation are actually beneficial. I do however differentiate between say coffee and marijuana. Chronic use of marjijuana leads to a condition called Amotivational syndrome. It is defined as a condition characterized by a lack of ambition or desire to succeed. I don't think the future of the nation, the youth should be taking such substances.
It's a pretty poor view of people, that they can't really control themselves. In fact, I would say that most people who try hard drugs don't get addicted to them.
I agree it is a poor view, but is a realistic one which is vindicated by the evidence. Are we not greeted everyday by a multitude of examples that people are not able to control themselves. We even do that which we despise or that which we know is wrong. We succumb to temptation. Is it not human nature to be curious, experimental, to push the boundaries further then the last experience, to experience even more intensely the pleasurable experience you had with a milder drug? Even if marijuana were to be legalised then those that wanted to break the rules, live on the edge, or experiment beyond that which was allowed, would turn to harder drugs immediately. So whereas now the first option may be marijuana, were it to be legalised and therefore less glamorous, the first port of call may be cannabis. There is a strong urge in the young, especially today, to rebel, to break the rules, and as a result, harder drugs would be the first option as opposed to the current situation where they are the second option.
I don't really have any strong feelings on this. It's not something that interests me personally; if people want to smoke it without affecting anyone else, why not? Also, you should be aware that a lot (most?) of the dope smoked in Serbia is grown in Albania - if it were legalised (which would have no harmful effects IMO), we could stop financing an enemy state and boost the economy, by making sure it was all certified domestic production! :)
I've heard that argument before, and it is true that a lot is grown in Albania. But given that I don't agree with marijuana being harmless, I'd regard that as chopping off a leg to save an arm. Yes Albanian drug dealers make less money, but instead our youth degenerates even further.
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