American writer, director of documentary films, and university professor Bill Carter (William Bill Stamford Carter) is well known in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also in more than 70 other countries of the world, where, as he says, he regularly mentions Bosnia. He stayed in Sarajevo for some time during the siege of the city. He is the author of several award-winning bestselling novels and books devoted to the most important global issues, such as climate change and healthy food.
U2 in Sarajevo
Carter's book "Fools Rush In" is dedicated to the decision to stay in besieged Sarajevo and share the fate of Sarajevo during the aggression against BiH. His documentary "Miss Sarajevo," which he produced with world star Buon Vox, is a multiple award-winning film testimony of that time. Carter also organized the famous "satellite" concert of the U2 group for the besieged city, and then in 1997, the live performance of this group in Sarajevo. He became an honorary citizen of Sarajevo in 2009. Exclusively for "Avaz," Carter talks about his disappointment with the election of Donald Trump (Trump) as the new US president. He also looks at the situation in BiH and explains why he thinks that in the future no one will be able to stop young Bosnians from bringing about changes in our country. What kind of America are we facing after the November presidential elections and the victory of Donald Trump? - I think that in the next few years, America will be a country that many people in it, as well as in the rest of the world, will simply not recognize. This man (Trump) in the Oval Office (the office of the President of the USA in the White House, op. a.) is extremely ignorant in many matters both domestically and internationally. We will be a country where people will ask to be heard, but they will not be heard. That makes many Americans sad. And I think that many of those who voted for Trump greatly regret that decision of theirs. At the same time, history is a monster. We are now going through that cycle, like many other countries that have already gone through it. It is time for America to show itself that the American system is capable of sustaining itself and, when necessary, rejecting someone like Trump. Did you even expect this victory, given the many predictions and polls that favored Hillary Clinton?- No, I didn't expect Trump to win, but at the same time, I wasn't convinced that Hillary would win. I think that now the Democratic Party realizes that they looked at their voters and their agenda from the chair of expectations, and did not do enough to get the vote of the citizens. The way of abuse But why did so many Americans vote for this kind of Trump? - That question is beyond my ability to understand. I'm terrified that he could do more harm than good in the next four years. Eight years ago we elected a black man for president, and last month we elected a white man, a racist, chauvinist, and misogynist who uses fear and disgust (of other people) as a means of abuse. So, we are an interesting country, struggling to regain a sense of who we are and what we are. Or I just hope so. Michael Moore, who once mocked Bush, predicted Trump's victory, but few took him seriously. Is this media culture in America and beyond complicit in the creation of a non-existent, almost ghostly virtual reality in which we lose our sense of primal correctness?- I think that is, to some extent, true. Our media allowed Trump to be invited to all their shows for half a year, just to get more viewers. This means that they put aside all journalistic instincts and responsibilities to cash in on Trump's popularity. And that gave Trump a voice. As for the "non-existent" virtual reality, this has been happening to us for quite some time. Ironically, when I was doing a satellite "link" from Sarajevo with the U2 band during the Bosnian war, many people thought we were "entertaining" the crowd. At that time, we were despised by many in Bosnia and throughout Europe. However, we claimed from the very beginning that we were doing what the news media was not doing. I want to say that the news has long since become entertainment, and we tried to make the original "raw" and human moments happen in it: to engage and connect young people in Europe with the people in Sarajevo without media traps on the way. And what about the Republicans?- They are just confused about who their base is. Republicans have no idea who their base is. And quite frankly, their base is furious, and I would even say that that base voted against their interests. I don't want or hope Trump fails because that would be stupid, but I don't see how he's going to, say, roll back the Obama healthcare law without raising insurance premiums and reducing healthcare coverage. It will be a wake-up call for many who voted for him. Likewise, Americans will pay out of pocket if he starts bilateral trade wars. I hope that, nevertheless, our country will manage to find a way out of this. Member of BHAAAS You recently became an honorary member of the BH American Academy of Arts and Sciences here in the USA, which is another confirmation of your connection with Bosnia. How much do you follow the events in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 21 years after the signing of Dayton, and why did Bosnia and Herzegovina fall into some kind of oblivion? - I am proud to be made an Honorary Member of the Academy (BHAAAS). I have a great love for Bosnia that goes back to the time I spent with friends on the ground during its darkest days. It doesn't go away, and when I die and am buried, that relationship will go to the ground with me. As for Dayton and Bosnia, I think there is no mystery that Bosnia and Herzegovina cannot find a way to function properly. Part of the blame for this can always be shifted to politicians and vested interests, but the Dayton Peace Agreement was a viable solution to end the war, just as it was no way to allow a free country to function. That needs to be addressed, but to do that, you need a coalition of countries to focus on the necessary changes, which I'm afraid is very difficult today in this international arena. Has Russia become the main brakeman in the Balkans, taking advantage of American preoccupation in other parts of the world? - Yes, I think Russia is trying to show its muscle and influence in many parts of the world and it will not stop while Putin is in power. Now, with Trump leading America, I don't see much prospect of a counterattack, unless a Republican Congress dominated by political hawks who see Russia as an outright threat forces him to pay attention. Will Washington do anything at all to correct the historical mistake related to Dayton, which is the creation of the RS, or will Bosnia and Herzegovina remain cemented in the Dayton status quo, at the moment, perhaps precisely because of Russia, it is unable to raise the issue again? - I think that Dayton is only occasionally on the State Department's agenda because everyone knows that it is further collapsing Bosnia and any viable future it may have. Only the engagement of someone at the top of the State Department or the White House who would advocate for changes would be effective. That person or political institution should convene from some important capital city and all the countries that were involved in the making of Dayton. Will it happen right now? I doubt it. First, I doubt Trump cares. Second, when it comes to Russia and its aggression, America will have to choose its battles, which I believe will be in other parts of the world. How do you see BiH and the Balkans in ten years?- I always have hope for Bosnia. I suspect that in ten years it will be a more prosperous country. Many in Bosnia and Herzegovina who read this will surely laugh at the message, "If only you could see what is happening here." I know, but any change work is hard. Complaining is easy. Believe me, Americans are in the middle of that process right now. People are complaining about Trump; well, then stand up and hold him accountable, and be sure to vote next time. What is the message to young Bosnians and Herzegovinians today, 21 years after this much-hyped Daytona? - I worked with wonderful people, at the "Bosana" Foundation, which started financing secondary education for smart young Bosnians. We know that education is not always a "sexy topic" or a topic that shines and in which you can get lost in a conversation about how to fix some things quickly, but it is the fundamental and strongest way to change an entire generation for the better. Nothing can stop that young generation if they bring their energy, motivation, and education (from the West and America, op. a.) back to Bosnia and look for changes. This applies not only to Bosnia but also to the USA and many other countries because recruiting good people into politics is a very difficult task. But we need even more of them.
BiH should not be part of the global problems of clean water and food, because there is enough water and unpolluted land. How do you see it as an American?- Bosnia is blessed with vast natural resources of clean water and food. I can only tell you that no industry is worth it if it contaminates your food and water sources. It's just pure survival instinct logic. America is in a bitter battle when it comes to this concept.
In your opinion, are there similarities between Sarajevo in 1995 and Aleppo in 2016? - Yes, I think Aleppo and Sarajevo are very similar. Aleppo is, admittedly, a much bigger city, so the number of dead and wounded is much higher. But the isolation and brutality of killing the city is similar. If there is a difference, it is minimal, but for me, it was always big. I never felt threatened by anyone who stood next to me or who was in the city of Sarajevo, except for those from the hills. I think Aleppo has a slightly different dynamic.
Did Hillary Clinton make a mistake by putting her "calling" to the fore to be the next in the White House, of course as a representative of the second most powerful American political dynasty, besides the Bushes? - I think Hilary is a very good person who has spent her entire life making the lives of others better. But in that process, she also became part of the political elite, and with that comes what Colin Powell called "hubris." She was certainly expecting something. I think her life and her husband Bill's have been hardened into a shared existence. That doesn't make them evil or anything like that. This makes them a typical political elite, which after a certain time takes things for granted. After all, we see it all over the world. You see it in mayor's offices, among police chiefs, directors of educational institutions, etc. People start to behave comfortably, but then they isolate themselves and suddenly lose their base.
How does it affect you, as a person who has met the mentality of Bosnian Muslims, when you hear general accusations against Islam from Trump's circle, which some, like General Michael Flynn, compare to a "cancer wound"? - I fear that this is the "nativism" that Trump proudly invokes from his base. But it is based on fear and chaos. A jump in the number of hate crimes has already been registered since the election. But if you spend some time in America, you learn that we are a country of immigrants and that we accept others. It is based on the fact that we are. I think the American people will be the ones to reject Trump if he continues to fuel these fears through his current policies. If, on the other hand, the Republican majority in Congress just lets Trump do what he wants, then they will probably pay the (political) price. Why do politicians in the West and America fall into these stereotypes about Islam and how dangerous is it for the USA? - Indeed, many politicians and citizens in America are appalled by how some, especially Trump, have used these stereotypes and broad strokes to characterize Islam. It's shameful, and many Americans are horrified by it. In political terms, it is so careless and dangerous because it only suits groups like the Islamic State, who feed their own interests. If you ask why Trump and those around him are the only ones doing it, the answer is arrogance and "nativism." They just don't know what they're talking about, but I doubt they'll change. Author: Erol AVDOVIĆ (http://www.avaz.ba/)
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