10.28.12 On the second day of Halloween.....

Adam Lambert ‏@adamlambert

TRESPASSING IS NOW ON Z100NEWYORK request here: tl.gd/jqcd1g ”

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There are many, many reasons why Yugoslavia fell apart. One of them was that Serbia was under a dictatorship of a socialist leader who tried not to let Slovenia, Croatia, BH.. get closer to European Union, progress in any way, cultural, economic... Keeping people in the dark is the prerogative of any dictatorship. So they voted for separation. In response, Serbian dictator started wars.

People of Serbia managed to get him off the 'throne' through democratic elections and later demonstrations when he refused to go. While other countries blossomed, Serbia was under the embargo, struggling to maintain fragile democracy, recover from the wars and the bombing. We are still behind in economy and human rights issues. So many years spent in the dark, when every bit of information was checked and served only if approved; not being allowed to travel for so long and now that we are, not being able to due to poor finances, have left their toll.

There are many gay people here, but few of them are out and proud. Gay parade was forbidden this year, because there were riots when it was held a couple years ago. They were attacked by extremist groups, nationalists and skinheads, even though there were members of the government who joined it as a way of support. The ministry of police said they could not guarantee safety to them this year.

I live in a very small town where little boys are teased if they take ballet classes or if they look 'girly'. I don't know anyone who is openly gay. It's different in Belgrade ( the capital), though. There is a vocal LGBT community there, but not vocal enough, imo.

Last week, I took my class on a two-day school trip. At one point , a boy came all shocked and told me that he saw two men kissing in a cafe, where he went to get some water. I told him that it was ok and asked him why he was so upset. He said that it was not natural to him. I did not push the matter further, other than telling him it was (natural), since his parents could report me for inciting him to homosexuality, or corrupting him (?!). I don't think I would have lost my job, but I would probably be punished.

One of my colleagues ( therefore an 'educated' man) keeps telling me that the Americans are trying to spread the homosexuality through the TV show Will & Grace, thus lowering our natality until all Serbs disappeared, so that they could come here and start their world domination. (?!?!?!?)

In spite of all this, there are so many great, successful, open-minded people here. It's just that they are minority. We have a very low percentage of people with college degrees. Ignorance and poverty are devastating. A lot of young, educated people are doing what they can to go and live somewhere else.

In conclusion, I have to say that I love my country ( I did not touch any great aspects of it here) and I do believe that being enlightened has nothing to do with Geography. If you came here, I'm positive you would have had just as great time as anywhere else, with kind and hospitable hosts:)

I truly believe that US elections are of vital importance for the world. You have to lead by example.

That Sandy storm is scary! You all in the East Coast, stay safe! And post whenever you can, to let us know you're okay! I will be thinking about all of you.

Great find! Yes, pricey! However, if we could replace one of the numbers with a pic of Adam, and maybe a #1 in the second, it could be worth it!! ;D