What’s in a name? Resistance to genocide
- The destruction of cultural landmarks in Bosnia during the 1990s aimed to erase the history of the people.
- The renaming of places, such as the water fountain Fejzina Česma to Zmajevac, reflects a trend of imposing foreign names.
- This struggle against name erasure is crucial for preserving cultural identity and memory.
The erasure of names is a significant aspect of genocide, as witnessed in Bosnia during the 1990s. The destruction of cultural landmarks, such as libraries and religious buildings, aimed not only to eliminate the physical presence of a people but also to erase their history. A personal anecdote highlights the importance of names, as the author recalls visiting a water fountain known as Fejzina Česma, which was renamed Zmajevac after the war. This change reflects a broader trend of imposing foreign, nationalist names that do not resonate with the local culture. The author argues that these new names feel alien to both locals and those who use them, as they lack roots in the land's history. The struggle against this erasure is a fight for identity and memory, emphasizing the significance of names in preserving cultural heritage. The author draws parallels with Israel's efforts to recover and invent names, illustrating the universal nature of this issue. Ultimately, the fight against the erasure of names is a stand against the broader implications of genocide, as it seeks to uphold the spirit and love tied to historical identities.