I really don't know what to make of this article found by Rita, but the fault with Vojvodina is not because of the present government, but the problem originated because of that great (barf) man Tito. Part of Vojvodina was considered the bread basket of Europe. When all the D.S. were no longer around to work the land, it simply fell by the wayside because the new inhabitants were not capable of working the land. Shortly afterwards, Tito had to appeal to the World Food Banks. Then several years later, he had considered asking the D.S. to come back. I don't think anyone came running. I haven't been through the entire region, but what I saw of Vojvodina I would not consider beautiful. I was a shocked because at the time warn appearance of the area. The villages were extremely neglected and quite primative. The people do not have money and don't even pay taxes. I found them very nice and friendly and most accommodating. I actually took pity on them. They came from the mountains in Croatia and had no idea how to how to cultivate the land. They also never knew what a stove was, nor an electric light bulb. The grandfather of the present owner told him that when they first came face to face with the electric stove in our former kitchen, they simply opened the oven door and lit a bond fire to heat the elements. When that didn't work, they cut a hole in the kitchen floor and lit a bond fire. The mattresses were burned in the court yard. This was not their fault, as they had never been exposed to anything like this. They had no one to guide them and still don't. How would they know any better? But a monument in Belgrade still stands dedicated to Tito. To me, having this is like having a monument of Hitler in Munich. Both evil! Helga Kiely -----Original Message----- From: Justine Zentner Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2014 12:09 PM To: donauschwaben-villages@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [DVHH] Serbia Statistic These statistics are too sad coming from my father's place of origin. It goes to show that change just for the sake of change is not always good. Sadly, we are finding this in our own country too. Justine Zentner On 6/10/2014 11:13 AM, Rita Schiwanowitsch wrote: > > > Just ran across this interesting statistic on the Web today. I knew the > poverty and unemployment were high in Vojvodina. The locals complain of > lack of opportunities and the corruption of the government as a > contributing factor. Sad. It is such a beautiful area. > > Rita from Colorado, Jabuka, and Bistritz > The world's most miserable countries > Many factors lead to extreme unhappiness, including finances and > well-being. These nations report suffering a withering degree of these > conditions. > > > No. 5: Serbia > Positive experience index score: 54 (tied – 4th lowest) > Percent smiled or laughed: 45 percent (3rd lowest) > GDP per capita: $11,085 (65th highest) > Life expectancy: 74 (49th highest) > The Serbian people have not had a particularly pleasant recent history, > starting with the Yugoslav wars in the early 1990s and later the Kosovo > War. These bloody, armed conflicts were accompanied by war crimes > committed by most parties. > The Republic of Serbia, its most recent formation, was established in > 2006. The country's political corruption and weak economy likely only > added to Serbians' lack of positivity. Nearly one in four Serbians are > unemployed, among the highest unemployment rates of the countries > surveyed. Just 45 percent of Serbian respondents said they laughed or > smiled in the previous day, and 49 percent said they felt well-rested — > both among the lowest of all of the countries. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > DONAUSCHWABEN-VILLAGES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to DONAUSCHWABEN-VILLAGES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Thank you Helga. That was a helluva good story. And it is true. The people that came down from the mountains to take the Schwabos homes away from them were very primitive. -----Original Message----- From: Helga <kandhkiely@rogers.com> To: Justine Zentner <jzentner2573@comcast.net>; donauschwaben-villages <donauschwaben-villages@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wed, Jun 11, 2014 12:21 pm I really don't know what to make of this article found by Rita, but the fault with Vojvodina is not because of the present government, but the problem originated because of that great (barf) man Tito. Part of Vojvodina was considered the bread basket of Europe. When all the D.S. were no longer around to work the land, it simply fell by the wayside because the new inhabitants were not capable of working the land. Shortly afterwards, Tito had to appeal to the World Food Banks. Then several years later, he had considered asking the D.S. to come back. I don't think anyone came running. I haven't been through the entire region, but what I saw of Vojvodina I would not consider beautiful. I was a shocked because at the time warn appearance of the area. The villages were extremely neglected and quite primative. The people do not have money and don't even pay taxes. I found them very nice and friendly and most accommodating. I actually took pity on them. They came from the mountains in Croatia and had no idea how to how to cultivate the land. They also never knew what a stove was, nor an electric light bulb. The grandfather of the present owner told him that when they first came face to face with the electric stove in our former kitchen, they simply opened the oven door and lit a bond fire to heat the elements. When that didn't work, they cut a hole in the kitchen floor and lit a bond fire. The mattresses were burned in the court yard. This was not their fault, as they had never been exposed to anything like this. They had no one to guide them and still don't. How would they know any better? But a monument in Belgrade still stands dedicated to Tito. To me, having this is like having a monument of Hitler in Munich. Both evil! Helga Kiely -----Original Message----- From: Justine Zentner Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2014 12:09 PM To: donauschwaben-villages@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [DVHH] Serbia Statistic These statistics are too sad coming from my father's place of origin. It goes to show that change just for the sake of change is not always good. Sadly, we are finding this in our own country too. Justine Zentner On 6/10/2014 11:13 AM, Rita Schiwanowitsch wrote: > > > Just ran across this interesting statistic on the Web today. I knew the > poverty and unemployment were high in Vojvodina. The locals complain of > lack of opportunities and the corruption of the government as a > contributing factor. Sad. It is such a beautiful area. > > Rita from Colorado, Jabuka, and Bistritz > The world's most miserable countries > Many factors lead to extreme unhappiness, including finances and > well-being. These nations report suffering a withering degree of these > conditions. > > > No. 5: Serbia > Positive experience index score: 54 (tied – 4th lowest) > Percent smiled or laughed: 45 percent (3rd lowest) > GDP per capita: $11,085 (65th highest) > Life expectancy: 74 (49th highest) > The Serbian people have not had a particularly pleasant recent history, > starting with the Yugoslav wars in the early 1990s and later the Kosovo > War. These bloody, armed conflicts were accompanied by war crimes > committed by most parties. > The Republic of Serbia, its most recent formation, was established in > 2006. The country's political corruption and weak economy likely only > added to Serbians' lack of positivity. Nearly one in four Serbians are > unemployed, among the highest unemployment rates of the countries > surveyed. Just 45 percent of Serbian respondents said they laughed or > smiled in the previous day, and 49 percent said they felt well-rested — > both among the lowest of all of the countries. >