Photo: Marija Janković"When I was 46 years old, I turned into an old man twice as old who glumly mutters about some ancient, braver, more awake city that is no longer there. And then that lost Belgrade came back to me violently."
This Saturday, Zoran Kesić, host and one of the authors of the show "24 minutes" will be among those who will come to the "Serbia against violence" protest. He was also at the previous ones. In an interview with the "Vremena" portal, he says that it was these protests that gave him back hope that after everything we can create a fairer, safer and more beautiful society.
VREME: How does Belgrade seem to you these days? Do you have hope that it is possible for something to change here for the better?
ZORAN KESIC: Belgrade is waking up. I thought, I admit, that I would never experience it again. I have turned from my 46 years into an old man twice my age who mutters sullenly about some ancient, braver, more vigilant city that no longer exists. And then that lost Belgrade came back to me violently. After those incomprehensibly terrible crimes at the "Vladislav Ribnikar" school and in Mladenovac, the town was quiet. Sad, confused, ashamed... Sadness will never go away, but now it is already mixed with anger and determination to change this society for the better. To a fairer, safer, more beautiful one. Where I started my television career, where as a kid I also started my "career" as a protester against Milosevic's regime, there the other day I felt that Belgrade had decided to stop being silent. On the street. I have hope, how can I not have it, especially when I finally saw a huge number of young people at a protest against violence.
What annoyed you the most after two tragic events?
As someone who has worked in the media all his life, I am most sensitive to the nastiness of our industry. I don't even want to list all the examples of dishonor and vulture after two tragedies. It is enough to recall one item in the requests of the parents VII 2, which is the determination of responsibility for the publication of the list with the names of the students intended for shooting by the boy who committed the crime. That list was held in the hands of the head of the Belgrade police, Veselin Milić
He allowed the media to take pictures and record him. The media then decided to make the list of children's names exclusive. We are still waiting for an answer to the question of why this was done and whether anyone thought about what the publication of that list could do to the families of the injured children and the surviving students.
Your invitation from the show to come to the "Serbia against violence" protest was also reported by the media in the region. How would you now invite people to Saturday's protest?
I was a guest the other day with my colleague Nataša Miljković on N1 and commenting on the atmosphere at the last protest I said that it was nice to see a large number of smiling people of all ages. That smile was specific and important to me, especially in light of the tragic events in Vračar and Mladenovac. That sentence of mine was used by the bots of the progressives as the crowning proof that "I am calling for a protest of sadness and piety, and I am talking about laughter and gossip". On the contrary.
The smile on people's faces is an expression of hope. After indescribable pain, an irresistible need for change is born, to prevent something like that from happening again. I don't think I'm the only one who was surprised by the massiveness of the gathering. In that word of people, hope broke out through smiles. And that's why, before the protest on Saturday, I invite people to watch the Impression of the Week again and hear the father of the murdered Sofia Slobodan Negić. To hear his words about empathy and eye contact. And then, if they have the need to say something - to do it. If something bothers them in this society - to shout. What do they think is necessary to change - to change. Who should be helped - to help. And to look into each other's eyes. Because unlike some others, we have nothing to hide and nothing to be ashamed of.
What do you think should be done so that the positive energy of the protest remains strong?
The will to change should be strengthened. Practice disobedience. Train courage. Build stubbornness. You should tell your colleagues, friends, classmates, and relatives how important it is to be part of the wave that has started today and has no intention of stopping. Others should be encouraged to be encouraged. You should make lists of people you haven't seen for a long time, and with whom it would be nice to go for a walk. Children should be told about the importance of civic awareness and civic responsibility. That they know that the fact that dad and mom are now going out into the street with thousands of other people is something important and good for our city and our country.
A lot of flags should be printed. And give young people our flags. Because in previous years, it seems that the worst scum subscribed to the flag. It is as if the most aggressive, the most violent, the most arrogant have acquired the exclusive rights to flaunt the flag and the title of Serb. Therefore, steal the flag from the criminal bastards because they are not worthy of it. And laugh! A little sadness for those who are no longer with us, a little hope that we will still leave a better country for the children.
You postponed your performance of "Priče i Pesme" after two tragedies, as you stated, the reason is emotional breakdown and that you cannot guarantee that you will not be emotionally broken on Tuesday, May 30. In the meantime, incredible gatherings of stolen goods took place. How do you welcome your performance now?
I can't wait to get out in front of the audience. In front of acquaintances and comrades from the protest. And I'm looking forward to performing the stories and poems I've written in the past few days, precisely under the impression of the new hope I felt in the streets. It will be a love affair. Because I fell in love with my city again.
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