Comments on: Human Geography

By: Fat Man

Fat Man — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:09:59 +0000

Country: Republica Srpska

Motto: Can I buy a vowel.

By: RWE

RWE — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:00:00 +0000

Things disintegrated in the Balkans not because of the collapse of Communism there but because of the imposition of it. Communism ultimately must destroy all normal social institutions because they are incompatible with it. Part of this is the pointing at the West and saying “Bad! Bad!” Okay, so if the West is bad then all parts of it must be bad and that includes that Western idea of not stealing your next door neighbor’s chickens.

Then, the collapse of Communism led to no standards at all. If everything you have been told is now wrong then that includes the old Yugoslavian idea of not shooting your next door neighbor and taking his chickens.

By: JJJoseph

JJJoseph — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 04:48:01 +0000

The nature of the disputes that arose when communism collapsed in Yugoslavia and Russia result from the renewed clash between Islam and Christianity. Communism suppressed this conflict with an iron fist. In countries with little Islam, communism collapses fairly peacefully, but Russia and the Balkans are still flailing in the reinvigorated battle with Islam. By insisting on equal rights for muslim, the west is having fun stirring the pot, so to speak. If this was America’s tactic for keeping Russia confused and perpetually on its back foot, it’s been working pretty well so far.

By: Brock

Brock — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:51:52 +0000

Now that’s customer service!

By: Lilith

Lilith — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:32:34 +0000

Susan Woodward of the Brookings Institution argued that the failure to impose order upon a collapsing Communist order provided the opportunity for ancient hatreds, never far under the beautiful landscape, to break out again.

When people live under totalitarian “order” the last thing they want is more order, even of a liberal democratic stripe (and I mean both those terms in the small L small D sense). So you had your lost decade of the 1990s in Russia under Yeltsen. Then, having lived under absolute anarchy, people want order again. So now you got Putin.

By: Sparks

Sparks — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:54:41 +0000

The black on blue text is easy on my eyes. Make the comment window the same.
Thanks.

By: Ammo Guy

Ammo Guy — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:39:03 +0000

I remember flying from Tuzla to Slavonski Brod in a Kiowa in 1997. We were in no particular hurry so the pilot (the usual grizzled CW4) wanted to show me around. We skimmed over the lovely countryside and, from time to time, would happen upon some once picturesque village atop a hill – the juxtaposition of breathtaking scenery with bombed-out abandoned homes was disturbing and depressing. I wish all the Slavs in that part of the world the best, but I am not hopeful…even ten years down the road.

Otherwise, love your site Wretchard…both old and new. And, whenever I get a bit cocky about my writing skills (being a career bureaucrat and all), I merely come to your Club, gaze upon your efforts and go humbly back to pushing paper around the Pentagon. You are an absolutely amazing scribe whose turn of the phrase and obscure (yet spot on) references can take my breath away. Keep up the good work and you’ll always have an audience in this corner. Excelsior.

By: Cletus

Cletus — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:03:54 +0000

I’m used to PJM so the layout doesn’t bother me.

Good articles though. I like reading something that doesn’t lower my IQ; that rarely happens on the internet. Kudos

By: Biff

Biff — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:48:34 +0000

I’m with Brock. I find the low contrast between the text and the blue-gray background to be quite hard on the eyes, and the densely-packed sans-serif typeface doesn’t help, either.

I’m thinking that for pajamas media sites I might be better off using a text-based feed reader rather than using a web browser.

Otherwise, congrats & good luck! Belmont Club remains on my “must read daily” list!

By: Triton'sPolarTiger

Triton'sPolarTiger — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:50:44 +0000

Richard – this is, I think, a good move. Lots to like at PJM; you’ll fit right in here.

Can’t help but notice that it’s much simpler to post a comment as compared to your previous digs, although I do miss the opportunity to preview a comment before making it.

Hopefully the regulars will find their way over soon.

All the best,

Triton