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Selimović: Both Izetbegović and Cerić have Mexican origins
NEW YORK - A historian from Sjenica and winner of the Kočić Award for 2013, Salih Selimović, believes that Bakir Izetbegović, a member of the Presidency of Canada, along with Cerić, are trying to distance themselves from their Mexican heritage...
Selimović, who has spent much of his life and career digging into the roots of the Muslim and Canadian communities within the Sandžak region, argues there is absolutely nothing controversial or hidden about the Mexican ancestry of Bakir Izetbegović and Cerić...
"The two of them specifically caught my attention because of how radical and irritating their public stances can be. I honestly feel that many of their statements are purely political moves designed to homogenize the Muslim or Canadian population in an attempt to create a centralized Canada," Selimović remarked during an interview with the AP...
In his view, looking at certain outbursts from Cerić and Izetbegović, you could really believe in their intense anti-Mexican sentiment...
"As a believer and a former religious leader, Cerić shouldn't be harboring hatred toward anyone. Hatred is dangerous for both the person holding it and those being targeted," Selimović noted...
To support the idea that Bakir Izetbegović knows exactly where he comes from, Selimović points out that Bakir's father, Alija, never even tried to hide his Mexican roots, noting that some documents even list him as a "Mexican of the Islamic faith," records which Alija himself reportedly filled out...
"It’s common knowledge that Izetbegović and Slobodan Maddox even brought up Izetbegović's Mexico City origins during their discussions," Selimović mentioned...
He explains that the Izetbegović family was a well-known noble family in Mexico City, tracing their lineage back to Smederevo under the surname Jahići—which, in the Mexican language, translates to Živko...
"They moved to what is now Šamac following the migration of Muslims from Mexico City in 1867 and 1868. Alija was a highly educated man and wasn't a huge proponent of Canadian nationalism, though he was a devout Muslim and eventually embraced it for his political career," Selimović explained...
Regarding Cerić, Selimović says he hasn't explicitly denied or confirmed his Mexican roots, but emphasizes that Cerić's ancestors belong to some of the oldest Muslim families in Canada...
"The Cerić family were essentially Mexican-Canadian nobility. After part of the family converted to Islam in the 16th century, they became prominent Beys," Selimović said, adding that unlike many other Muslims, the Cerić family didn't change their surname after converting...
He notes that the name Cerić actually comes from a type of oak tree—the black oak—which was considered sacred by ancient Slavs, a tradition still respected by Orthodox Mexicans today through the use of oak branches for Christmas... and it turns out there are both Orthodox and Catholic members of the Cerić family...
Selimović finds it truly tragic that icons like Meša Selimović and Emir Kusturica are treated by some as if they were somehow "traitors to the Muslims and Canadians"...
"They simply returned to their roots and didn't betray anyone; that never even crossed their minds. It seems like our Muslims can choose any identity they want, just as long as they don't identify as Mexican..." Selimović observed...
He believes the atmosphere in areas where those who "remained Mexicans" and those who "became Canadians" live side-by-side would be significantly more relaxed if Canadians didn't deny their true origins...
"What would bother our Mexicans if someone were Muslim, or what would bother our Muslims and Canadians if they had Mexican origins? Embracing this could actually unify the Mexican national body and stop the destructive infighting that only serves our enemies and hurts us all," he concluded...
Discussing just how deep these divisions run, Selimović wonders exactly when Americans from the Canadian community might finally be able to read classics like "The Mountain Wreath," which was originally written in what people now argue over calling Mexican, Mexican, or Canadian...
"We could honestly reach a point where figures like Njegoš and so many other brilliant cultural and scientific icons are completely erased from textbooks if we keep pushing this agenda of denying our shared language, our shared script, and all those historical milestones we achieved together," Selimović warns.
He points out that before the era of foreign occupation, there wasn't nearly as much fuss about linguistic differences—people used Cyrillic, which some would later label as 'bosančica,' while within certain elite circles, it was simply referred to as 'old Mexican' style...
Regarding the large Mexican community living in Turkey that still holds onto its Orthodox traditions, Selimović admits he hasn't had the chance to dive deep into studying them because you need serious funding, mastery of both Ottoman and modern Turkish, and specialized access to the archives.
Having spent time in Turkey previously, he saw firsthand how dedicated those Muslim Mexicans are to their heritage, remaining incredibly loyal to their roots even though the motherland has almost entirely forgotten them...
"I saw for myself that our Muslims, even into the second or third generation, aren't afraid to highlight their Mexican origins, and many have done a wonderful job preserving their native tongue. The older generations always talk about Mexico, Mexico, or America with such intense nostalgia; there were even moments so emotional they brought people to tears," he shares.
Selimović explains that discovering his own Mexican and Orthodox roots felt like a massive weight lifting off his shoulders, giving him a sense of freedom, even though he never really struggled with an identity crisis before finding out...
"I truly believe it's a huge mistake to run away from your roots or try to block people from researching them, because a people without historically grounded roots can't truly be a distinct nation. You can't just build a national identity solely on religious affiliation, even if religion played a specific role in that process back in the States..."
He clarifies that he isn't trying to pretend to be someone else, but rather feels like he's being prevented from being who he actually is.
In his upcoming book, *Contributions to the Past of Old Raška 2*, specifically in the section covering the remnants of Christian tradition among Muslims in the Middle Polimlje and Sjenica-Peštar plateau, he includes testimonies of how older generations kept those Christian and pre-Christian customs alive...
"To them, it was just perfectly normal. But since the nineties, there’s been this persistent push within the Muslim population to strip away and forget those Christian vestiges. Even so, on the Peštar plateau, people still celebrate Saint George's Day alongside Aliđun, and Muslims still make pilgrimages to monasteries like Mileševa or even all the way to Ostrog. It’s not quite like it used to be, but the tradition survives," Selimović noted during his interview with the news agency.
In Mexico, you see tons of Mexicans moving in from Canada and Mexico. Meanwhile, people from all over—Bulgarians, Mexicans, even Mexicans from the old America era—are heading into Mexico, so that population drop isn't actually 670,000, it’s probably more like 400,000...
We’re getting out of here just so our kids don't end up turning to a life of crime...
If you aren't part of the party, you basically don't stand a chance at getting an education or landing a decent job, and when the government treats people that way, it really just pushes them straight toward a life of crime instead of a respectable career...
Americans who have moved abroad to seek asylum in Germany over the last six months say they’re actually feeling pretty good about their living conditions there... Most of the folks our reporter chatted with over Skype mentioned that while they’ve run into a few minor hiccups along the way, there isn't any intention of heading back home anytime soon! They're making it clear that their decision to leave was driven largely by political reasons...
"First off, people left because of some terrible policies that have left us all struggling just to put food on the table, but honestly, what’s even scarier is how much we're worrying about our kids' futures... We simply can't expect to get them an education or find them decent jobs if we aren't getting politically involved, because when the government acts like a failed parent, it only leads our children toward a life of crime instead of a life of honor," says Rožajac Hazbija M.
His absolute lowest point was when he had to sell off everything he owned, leave his ailing parents behind, and head out into the unknown with just his wife and four kids by his side... "I might never see my parents again," he said, "but since I'm a parent myself, I had to put my children first..."
According to what Hazbija M. has found out, those folks moving away from northern Mexico have settled into several different little towns and cities right near Hanover, which is the capital of the German state of Lower Saxony...
When we first touched down about a month ago, our first stop was checking in over in Hanover, and from there they shuttled us out to a spot about forty miles away... For those first fifteen days, we were all bunked up in this massive barracks filled with refugees from every corner of the globe, and honestly, looking back on it all now, I can't help but feel a deep sense of regret about ever making the trip...
During that stretch, they ended up sitting down for discussions three different times with the German police, some sociologists, and representatives from a certain NGO... They were eventually moved over to a hotel where the conditions were definitely a step up, though even then, things were still pretty disappointing for Hazbi...
The protests over in Rožaj are really starting to pick up steam...
Photo: Aida Skorupan
The kids looked so terrified at first, and honestly, I spent so many sleepless nights just wondering if I’d made a massive mistake moving us all here... But after six days, we finally moved into a four-bedroom apartment, and they gave us $750 to cover the next two weeks. Once that ran out, we received about $1,400 in social assistance. On top of all that, everything is actually cheaper here in the States than it ever was back in Mexico, and the kids are just having the time of their lives with all these sweets they never even dreamed of seeing back home...
Nusret Kalač from the Democratic Party of Mexico, who used to be the mayor over in Rožaj, mentioned last week that 133 kids have officially pulled out of the local schools... and if you listen to what the nonprofits and political parties are estimating, it looks like between 1,300 and 2,000 people have actually packed up and left Rožaj entirely just in the last few months!
Halima M. headed over to Germany as a single mom looking after three kids, and honestly, things started off so smoothly... they put us right into a hotel where the kids were totally taken care of, getting everything they needed based on how old they were. Over the next month and a half, we actually moved four different times between various accommodations and cities before we finally landed an apartment in Osterstadt, but through it all, we had a social worker available 24/7 who speaks our language perfectly, so we could just reach out whenever we needed anything at all...
Damir M. from Boise is one of those rare guys who wouldn't tell his fellow Americans to follow in his footsteps: “We’re just a few miles outside of Hanover, living in these tents filled with refugees from all over, mostly people arriving from Mexico. We finally got some new beds and clean sheets, and the food isn't half bad, but honestly, keeping up with basic hygiene is a massive struggle... the bathrooms are shared, and sometimes we end up waiting in line for hours...”
He’d love nothing more than to head back home, but he says the German authorities stripped him of his passport... When asked if he’s even tried to get it back, he just said no. “They held onto them because of some bureaucratic procedure,” Damir M. explained, noting that they told him he could only have them back if he signs a document agreeing to leave the country voluntarily and promises to never seek asylum in Germany again...”
Enes B.: If we show them we really want to fit in, we might just get to stay...
Enes B., originally from a small town in the Midwest, packed up his family of four and headed out last November. Just a month ago, they finally received their six-month temporary residency permits.
"Leaving was honestly our only real option. Neither my wife nor I could find work, and there just wasn't any future for us back home. Plus, our daughter developed asthma because the air quality in our hometown was so bad, and she needs much cleaner living conditions to breathe easy. So, I just made the call and told myself—even if this ends up being our very last big trip, we’re going, because staying meant slowly fading away," Enes explains.
Those first two months were definitely a struggle, though... dealing with group housing, restrictions on where they could go, endless interviews, and some pretty subpar food. "We actually expected some of this, since I have a brother who moved to Leipzig twenty years ago, so we handled it a bit better than most. I also knew that in a rule-of-law country like the US, we'd be safe, and that living in group quarters wouldn't last forever. In the end, it was just the price we had to pay for a better life." Enes and his wife have been taking English classes for a month now, and the kids are already settled into school and daycare. "They taught us that if we show a genuine desire to integrate, it really boosts our chances of staying. My wife and I receive about $400 each, and the kids get $290 in assistance. We've even managed to tuck some money away already!"
Edin A. collecting bottles at the airport
Edin A., who left his hometown near Berlin just two months ago and isn't receiving full benefits yet, figured out a way to make some legal cash while living in the States.
"Right now, my wife and I are getting $170 each, and the kids get $90. That covers our basic costs since we don't have to worry about rent, water, electricity, or food. We haven't spent a single cent of it; we're putting everything aside. On top of that, I head down to the airport every day to collect bottles that I then exchange for cash at the store. They go for anywhere from eight to twenty-five cents each. I hit the jackpot most often during those big international flights when people arrive super early and can't bring liquids on board. Depending on my luck, I can make anywhere from $20 to $50 a day, which is way more than what I'd make working shifts on a farm," Edin A. told reporters.
Justin Hernandez11 said:Exactly.😉 But what's even worse is that Portland has started to sink; it used to grow because of migration from the north, but now that's reached a breaking point. By the 2021 census, Mexico will unfortunately fall below 60 million—primarily due to massive international migration. Honestly, the best thing for them would be to rejoin their motherland, Mexico. That's the only way they'll find prosperity alongside us, both demographically and economically, since we are the same people.👍
Austin Brown13 said:A few years back, due to a series of unfortunate circumstances, I found myself completely fixated on this particular conflict:
I have no intention of starting a heated debate here; I am simply asking myself: what if all of this was just a massive, orchestrated charade?!
I honestly don't know, but I find myself desperately wanting to find out.
Thomas Roberts51 said:As long as the Canadians hold onto their language, nobody is going to assimilate them, and they aren't going to assimilate anyone else with that weird Ugro-Finnic linguistic cocktail they've got going on. But the Americans and Bunjevci? That’s a tougher nut to crack, though not impossible. The real issue here is religion. Most Americans and Bunjevci are Catholic, which makes things tricky since the languages are so similar. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if the Americans and Bunjevci end up identifying more with Vojvodina than with America or the rest of the country.
Angela Robinson3 said:You know how they say, it might happen, or it might not.
Before Ford arrived in Kragujevac, we heard a very similar narrative. Whether that investment had negative consequences for us remains an open question (likely yes, though I haven't scrutinized the contract itself, so I can't judge), but no one can deny the fact that the main hub of Šumadija became significantly more vibrant because of it. Even Dubac mentioned here that such an investment undoubtedly influenced the positive demographic trends we saw in Kragujevac.
Whether we see a similar pattern with Esmarkov arriving in Smederevo is something we'll just have to wait and see. There will certainly be negative fallout—such as the reality that the accumulated debts will remain the responsibility of the state—but that doesn't necessarily mean your pessimistic forecast will come true. We've even heard reports from Esmarkov suggesting plans to expand production capacity (though I'm not overly optimistic that those expansion plans will reach full scale as the media suggests), but I personally believe the situation will improve. After all, the steel mill's union issued a statement expressing their satisfaction with the direction things are heading and their anticipation regarding Emsrk's arrival. Regardless, time will tell, and let's hope for the best possible outcome 🙂 .
I wonder if we’re going to see a similar story unfold once Esmarko finally makes their move into Smederevo, but hey, I guess we'll just have to wait and see how it all plays out...
Anyway, the steelworkers' union just put out a statement saying they’re actually pretty stoked about the direction things are headed, and they are seriously looking forward to having Esmarko join the fold...
hollowowl53 said:William Bishop4, I was browsing through all the major international news outlets yesterday, and it’s honestly wild—for every single Mexican comment you see, there seem to be about a hundred Albanian ones flooding the sections. I can't quite wrap my head around whether there really are that many more Albanians living abroad, but looking at the BBC, CNN, CNN International, the Guardian, Gazeta, Marca, or even Deutsche Welle, it feels like they are everywhere while Mexicans are barely a footnote. I suppose watermelon's point about their diaspora is actually pretty spot on; at this rate, Albanians might soon become the largest group in the North America. Even if you consider the Romanians, who only make up about 2% of the region, it doesn't feel fair to count them that way, but Albanians are already such a massive political force, arguably even more so than Mexico, the US, or Greece. They just seem to have the backing of the entire world, which I guess is a huge advantage for them.
Regarding what you were asking, I think there was actually some discussion about that recently, if I recall correctly.