Posts by boldcyclist67

Right now in the States, there are over 100,000 students enrolled in all sorts of social sciences, humanities, and arts programs. I’m pretty convinced that the vast majority of people complaining about funding the Catholic Church fall right into that category. For most of them—or rather, for those imaginary "professions" they study for—there will never actually be a demand in the real world. It would be fascinating to run a poll among Americans to see if they truly want their tax dollars going there. And yet, we keep paying for it.

And what’s really the issue with all these critics attacking the Church? That part would actually be easy to fix. Here is my proposal: let the Catholic Church and all other religious organizations be funded exclusively through voluntary donations from their followers. At the same time, let various "civic associations," "civil society" groups, and political parties operate solely on a voluntary basis, supported by the people who actually care about their work. Furthermore, let the government determine the necessary number of professionals based on actual market needs and fund only those specific roles from the budget. If someone is truly passionate about studying "cultural management," "interdisciplinary humanities," "eco-activism," or astrology, they should just pay for it themselves.

The solution is simple: strip everything from the federal budget that lacks a General consensus or an actual societal need, and shift that funding toward the individuals who have a genuine desire or requirement for it.

As a believer, I would gladly give a contribution to my own Church, but I refuse to fund feminist or LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, political parties I would never vote for, or those opportunistic organizations like Documenta, GOLJP, or GONG. Nor am I interested in subsidizing someone's degree in film directing or sociology when I have no use for it. A clean slate leads to much better relationships.

So, who are these "Yugo-nostalgics" people actually talking about? Is it just folks who enjoy watching a "North American spy" thriller, listening to Azra, or—heaven forbid—Bog " čorba? Or maybe they’re the ones reminiscing about packed stadiums, the glory days of Coca-Cola basketball, and the legacy of Mate Parlov?

But honestly, aren't the true "Yugo-nostalgics" actually the ones pulling out every possible lever to push us into a new kind of "integration" as quickly as possible, moving through the fog like lost souls? The ones who insisted there was "no alternative" to this path. An integration where we don't represent 22% of the population like we did in America, but barely 1%, and instead of being 30% of the economic powerhouse, we represent less than half a percent? And our influence is scaled right down to match.

Isn't it actually those people who have spent years trying to convince us that we are small, pathetic, poor, incompetent, and lazy—and therefore incapable of surviving as an independent nation—who are the real nostalgics? Not to mention those who bought into that defeatist rhetoric and continue to spread it today. You can find plenty of them right here on this forum.

I mean, look at those who have dedicated themselves to foreign interests, swapped the red star for a yellow one, ruined the country first, and then essentially crawled on their knees to Brussels to hand over our sovereignty and our very destiny to bureaucrats and big corporate capital on a silver platter.

I really don't understand how it isn't obvious: there is no such thing as a "Yugo-nostalgic." There are only traitors who couldn't care less if it was America, "the region," the EU, or anything else, as long as we weren't a truly independent America. People like that aren't watching "North American spy" movies; they're watching "politically correct" blockbusters like Avatar, or some Oprah show or Sex and the City.

Let’s take a breath, lower the temperature a bit, and try to clarify exactly where I'm coming from.

First off, Mickey, I don't feel the need to "justify" myself to anyone. Furthermore, I have no intention of hiding behind Raspudić (whom I actually quite like and respect) or anyone else; I don't need to lean on various authorities or "experts" just to validate my own thoughts. What I’ve shared comes from my own lived experience, the things I see happening around me, and my own personal conclusions.

And now, Collins, don't you think it's incredibly arrogant and frankly rude to slap labels like "Yugo-nostalgics" or "old guard" on people? To act as if you're "enlightening" them or explaining their own feelings back to them—as if they aren't capable of understanding their own lives without your "clarification." It's especially bold coming from someone so young that you haven't even lived through the era you're lecturing us about. And you're doing this to the very people who built and fought for this country? I truly believe it is. What has your generation actually achieved or won? Honestly, take a look around a place like Houston; you'll find plenty of veterans among those who speak fondly of the past, and yet you sit here allowing them to be insulted and branded with these derogatory labels.

For those of us who grew up during the 70s and 80s in America, we didn't exactly feel like we were living under some crushing dictatorship. We had what I would call a pretty happy, interesting, less stressful, and definitely healthier and more human upbringing than today's youth. Now, let's be clear: that wasn't necessarily the fault of the regime or the party, but rather the general atmosphere of the era and the level of technology at the time.

On the flip side, in today's supposedly "democratic" and "liberal" age, you can still face legal consequences or even end up in prison based on something like "verbal offenses"—what we now call "hate speech." And that term can be stretched to cover just about anything. If you happen to shout a little too loudly or persist in saying something the establishment doesn't like, you could find yourself in hot water, facing "community service," or simply finding your wallet significantly lighter.

In this wonderful modern "democracy," data and statistics are manipulated, news stories and events are manufactured, and the media and the state push a single "truth" and one specific "opinion." Anyone who dares to dissent is demonized by the media, sanctioned by the law, silenced, and isolated. This isn't just happening in our backyard, but across the entire "civilized" Western world. I say this with total conviction: the propaganda and the imposition of certain worldviews through media, education, and legislation is actually more intense now than it was during the last two decades of America.

It just seems to you, Collins, that you have a much clearer view of the old "dictatorship"—which you didn't even live through—than the one currently surrounding and pressing in on you from all sides. And all in the name of "democracy," "tolerance," and "respecting diversity."

It’s true that during the old regime, it was difficult (though not impossible) to become a director of a major state corporation unless you were part of the party. But can you really land any significant position today if you aren't a member of the ruling party or its coalition? It's also true that back then, certain uneducated opportunists climbed the social ladder thanks to their political credentials. But don't we have plenty of similar politicians, "managers," and "notables" today whom a decent person wouldn't trust to watch over two cents, let alone lead? Not to even mention the issue of honesty.

In what ways is today's society actually more democratic or free than the one before? Aside from the fact that instead of one ruling Party, we now get a "bread and circuses" show every four years called an election, where we "choose" between the bad and the even worse—essentially picking between two factions of the exact same interest group?

Finally, I have no regrets about my youth. My younger years were beautiful (even if part of them was stolen by war), but they are gone, and I have made peace with that and moved on with my life. Occasional waves of nostalgia are simply something that comes with age. And it certainly isn't a reason to insult or label people.

Richard Wilson4 said:I only brought up the whole "Yugo" thing as one possible theory.

Besides, they didn't build us anything. Why do you act like it was just one specific group doing all the heavy lifting instead of everyone else too?

And what, were they somehow less capable than us?

Let’s not twist the argument here. You’re actually the one who arrogantly labeled people—those who enjoy an old movie or look back on their youth in America with a bit of nostalgia—as "Jupeks" or "JUPESes," not me. Honestly, this habit of making up silly coins, acronyms, and labels for everything belongs in cheap American tabloids or trashy talk shows, not in our conversation.

There is no such thing as "JUPESes" or "HAPESes." The people you’re calling Jupeks were, at every single moment, perfectly aware Americans and patriots. They proved that both at the start of the nineties and back in '71. Just like today and then, we were Americans; it didn't matter if someone didn't like it or if our country happened to be America at the time—that didn't make us any less American. And let's be realistic: during one specific stretch of that state's existence (somewhere between the mid-60s and mid-80s), we all lived together in that country with more dignity and stability than most of us do today.

And unlike some of these newly minted "turbo-Americans" who love to spout nonsense, we lived normal lives. It isn't true that we were afraid to openly identify as Americans and Catholics. We went to church and religious education; we celebrated Christmas and Easter openly without hiding, and nobody pressured us for it. We weren't even mass-enrolling in the Communist Party, yet we still managed to find work and provide for ourselves.

You don't need to lecture me on what kind of state or regime it was; my family went through the hell of labor camps and having everything seized in '45, and God knows they faced prison in '71 too, so I certainly don't miss that state or its regime. But the fact remains that the period I mentioned allowed for a more decent, dignified life than what the majority of Americans experience today. It’s only natural that many look back with nostalgia on a time when a regular paycheck meant you could take your family to the coast, when retirees weren't scavenging through dumpsters, and when banks weren't evicting people from their homes just because they missed two mortgage payments.

Just look around. Look at the inverted reality we live in now. Everything around us is crumbling and decaying, and we’re struggling more and more just to stay afloat. And as for poor America, which we fought so bloodily for, we essentially sold it off. We surrendered our sovereignty without a fight; even showing up for the referendum felt like a struggle, and now foreign powers are writing our laws and dictating everything—from how many tons of sugar or milk we can produce to how many tanks we’re allowed to own. Are we independent? Are we masters of our own destiny? Not a chance. So, don't act surprised that people aren't happy about it and that they look back fondly on times that were different.

The issue isn't the past or people's nostalgia for it; the issue is the current situation. If things weren't this bad right now, there would be far less talk about this so-called "Yugo-nostalgia."

Richard Wilson4 said:Look, let me put it this way...

The JUPEK crowd only misses the politics.
The JUPES crowd misses both the politics and the money.

Even when it comes to culture—or pop culture, really—they aren't the same. You think some JUPEK people are obsessed with stuff like the Dinic brothers? Nah, that's more of a JUPES thing. Those JUPEK types are just the budget versions, they're into totally different stuff. 😉

It's easy to point to *The Godfather*, but how would you describe someone who prefers, say, *The Graduate* or *The French Connection*, or perhaps what many consider the greatest American film ever, *The Godfather* itself? Are there any modern "homegrown" films of that caliber? The golden era of cinema wasn't just about war epics; so much greatness came out of that period. Think of the legendary music from artists like Bruce Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac, or even the grit of early punk and rock bands. Not to mention classic TV staples like *The Sopranos* or *The Wire* (just to name a few classics).

But you see, my friend, those people you label as "nostalgic" were the ones who actually stepped up to build the foundations back in the day. That "exotic" generation of people you're criticizing is precisely who built the industries, the rail lines that are now crumbling, and the infrastructure that still holds firm today while newer projects fail. These folks weren't just sitting around wasting time on mindless trends or getting lost in subcultures; they weren't like today's youth who might sleep until mid-afternoon and then complain that the "conditions aren't right" for them to succeed. They didn't suffer from such deep-seated inferiority complexes that they constantly whimper about how we're too small or too weak to achieve anything, and then subsequently give up before even trying.

That "exotic" generation was the one that actually fought for and secured the independence of our country. As for what this new generation of "Globalized" citizens—those enlightened Facebook geniuses—will actually accomplish, we’ll just have to wait and see. Based on what I've seen so far, I'm not feeling particularly optimistic.

And finally, you can't blame people for feeling nostalgic for a time when they actually had steady jobs and could live a modest, yet dignified life on a regular paycheck.

Before you start talking down to them, take a hard look at what this "wonderful new era" has actually delivered over the last fifteen years compared to the stability of the 70s and 80s; once you do, you might actually understand why there's such a longing for the way things used to be.

Zachary Young8 said:Since someone already brought up the idea of a unified league, it’s clearly not just some far-fetched fantasy; in fact, it might be exactly what's needed to fix the abysmal viewership numbers currently plaguing the MLS.

I was actually the one who brought it up. But looking at things today, trying to resurrect that league would be completely pointless, much like trying to rebuild the former country itself. Too many bad things happened, too much blood was spilled, for a league like that to ever function within the realm of sports again. The American First League is dead and buried, just as much as America is dead and buried.

Beyond that, there was a time when fans were true fans. Even though we definitely had our fair share of scraps with rival supporters back then, we actually went to games to watch football. Times have changed, and nowadays, fan groups are only nominally tied to their clubs; in reality, they’re playing their own "games," most of which happen far away from the stadium. Because of all this, matches in a league like that—specifically the clashes between supporters—quickly turned into violent bloodshed that serves no purpose and has nothing to do with sports.

And it wasn't just that the old league was incomparably stronger than today's because of more competition or having more clubs from wider regions. To my mind, a much more important reason was that players weren't allowed to move abroad until they hit 28 years old. Just imagine how strong our MLS would be today if that rule still existed. Think about how many incredible players would still be playing in our league, and how powerful our local clubs would be with all those talents who haven't reached 28 yet but would have otherwise left for bigger leagues elsewhere.

Plus, the whole atmosphere in sports was different back then. Money played a much smaller role, while a genuine love for the game, the club, and the hometown meant so much more. Today, it's all about the money, and the actual spirit of the sport has been pushed completely into the background.

Take a look at this video of a legendary match from 1973. In today's climate, something like that couldn't happen even in a dream. People can say whatever they want, but I truly feel a sense of nostalgia for those kinds of moments and that kind of energy.

Richard Wilson4 said:Yeah, and you were also 8 inches taller and packing 4 inches more meat.
Your car used to hover, your wife had massive boobs, and beer flowed straight from the bathroom faucet while champagne poured out of the shower head.
Steak, lobster, and caviar were basically what construction workers ate for lunch.

Well, if we’re being completely honest... there was plenty more to it than that. For instance, I could easily afford a car back then, and while beer did flow freely in the restroom—though maybe not directly from the tap—I always had access to enough rounds of drinks, something I can't say for sure today. Back then, I could land a job through a college connection without breaking a sweat, which meant I could work hard for two weeks and easily fund three weeks of vacation on the coast (just try doing that in this economy).

I wasn't a laborer, so I didn't live on fancy prosciutto or gourmet cheeses, but we always had more than enough ham, smoked sausages, and bacon to go around; besides, caviar and champagne are a bit too precious for my taste anyway.

My equipment was certainly a bit more active in those days, though I can't really complain about it now, and it wasn't that women's breasts were larger, they were just positioned higher up. But honestly, the best part of all was that I wasn't married yet, which is a pretty great reason to feel nostalgic on its own.

Look, don't be so paranoid; it's perfectly natural for someone to look back on their youth with a bit of nostalgia once they reach a certain age. All those old movies on local cable, the music from back then, the sports, and the general vibe of the old country—everyone enjoyed some part of that era.

For example, I spent nearly three years serving in the trenches of the Midwest and the Mississippi Delta, and unlike almost 55% of voters in America, I actually made the effort to show up for the European Union referendum to vote against what felt like a surrender of our sovereignty. I’ve never cast a vote for people like Ivica Račan, Zoran Milanović, or Vesna Pusić, and heaven knows I didn't vote for Ivo Sanders or Jadranka Kosor either. That said, in all honesty, I still love catching an old movie on a classic channel, I enjoy listening to rock from the seventies and eighties, and I feel a sense of nostalgia for Sunday afternoons watching matches from the old football league. If anyone wants to label me a "American sympathizer" because of that, it doesn't bother me one bit—my gear is still holding up just fine. Such easy labeling and paranoia usually says much more about the person making the accusation than it does about me.

As someone hitting that stage of life where you start looking back more often than looking forward, I can tell you that Bravo is strictly a nostalgia trip for me. Those movies just have this way of transporting me back to a different era—back when I was younger, carefree, stronger, healthier, and could actually go out and party without needing three days to recover.

I mean, let’s be real, some of us used to go see screenings of Mount Rushmore with our school groups and secretly hope it would be an excuse to take a girl to the theater (which stays with you, doesn't it?). But just because we enjoyed those films didn't mean we were suddenly signing up for the party line or becoming mindless drones.

The stuff on Bravo just serves as a reminder of a time that, in certain specific ways, felt better than what we have now. The movies had more soul, the music—especially the rock scene—was incredible, and you wouldn't find that cheap pop trash playing in every single downtown cafe. Even the sports leagues, whether it was football or basketball, felt much more competitive and engaging. Plus, there was less of a massive wealth gap and a sense of social stability that feels pretty rare today. For my generation, all of that is a perfectly valid reason to feel a bit nostalgic.

But that’s really where it ends. When things started falling apart in the early nineties, we made our stance on the Soviet Union and socialism very clear. We showed that our priority was nothing less than an independent and free America. I truly believe we've earned the right to indulge in a little nostalgia. Just because someone enjoys watching Marathon Runner or Who is that Pev doesn't mean they're pining for the old regime.