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Three-finger salute (Serbian)

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Close-up of the tri prsta
This article is about a salute used by some Serbs. For other meanings, see three-finger salute.

The three-finger salute (Template:Lang-sr) is a salute with the thumb, index, and middle fingers open used by some Serbs.

Meanings of the salute

Salute is first represented on Paja Jovanović's painting Takovo Uprising. The picture represents folk Prince Miloš Obrenović, founder of the House of Obrenović pledging the oath in front of the people and saying the legendary words: Here I am and here you are: War to the Turks!. On the painting Miloš is saluting to Serbs with three fingers. [1] This act started the Second Serbian Uprising against Ottomans.

One popular theory of the origin of the salute is the way Orthodox Serbs cross, with the three fingers (which is associated with the Christian Trinity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit). There is a statement often used by many Serbs : Nema krsta bez tri prsta (English: There is no cross without three fingers). [2][3].

Members of Serbian Renewal Movement political party, say that it was popularized by Vuk Drašković during street demonstrations in March, 1991 in Belgrade, where the three fingers represented the three demands that the Serbian Renewal Movement has put before the government. [4][5] However there are other meanings of the salute and it is also used by some political opponents of the Serbian Renewal Movement.[6] Srđan Srećković, a vice-president of the Serbian Renewal Movement, said in an interview to Kurir that it can also symbolize "one finger for St. Sava, other finger for Njegoš, and third finger for Karađorđe." [7]

In Republic of Serbian Krajina salute was popularized by Jovan Rašković. His daughter Sanda said that he never gave explanation for using it.

Although there are photographs from WW2, which shows that alike salute was in use in Nazi Germany and Independent State of Croatia, these two salutes except likeness have no other connection.

Usage

Serbian three-finger salute was often used as a nationalist sign before and during the Yugoslav wars and it was often flashed by Serbian soldiers during their military operations. Croats, Bosniaks and Albanians widely used the V sign as a victory/defiance sign. This was brought about as a reaction to the Serbian three finger salute often raised by the Serbs.

During the wars, Slobodan Milošević, his party comrades and supporters have not used the salute. In contrast, it was widely used on the demonstrations organized by the opposition during 90's.

Three finger salute was widely used by unionists in Montenegro, during their rallies before Montenegrin independence referendum, 2006.

NBA basketball player Sasha Pavlović displaying the three-finger salute
Tri prsta at Kosovo is Serbia rally on February 21, 2008 in Belgrade

Today in Serbia it can be most often seen by some sport fans and even some players themselves when celebrating sport victories. When winning the European basketball championship in 1995, the entire Yugoslav national team displayed the three fingers. Sasha Djordjevic says why he flashed the three fingers "not to be provocative. Just: That's Serbia, that's us, that's me - nothing else. It's my pride. "[8] After Serbia and Montenegro won the World Championship in water polo in the 2005, team captain Vladimir Vujasinović stated "thank you for being there for us in hard times, you gave us the strength to go all the way and win the gold medal. I am proud of you, my country and all my people," and displayed the traditional three-finger Serbian salute.[9]. Mateja Kežman flashed three finger salute after he scored goal, which brought Serbia and Montenegro to 2006 World Cup, in decisive qualification match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Belgrade. [10] Vlade Divac is also known to have often shown the three-finger salute after wins and scores. More recently, Serbian tennis player Novak Đoković often shows three-finger salute after his victories.[11]

Also, the three finger salute is used by members and supporters of almost all Serbian political parties (excluding LDP and SPS), on their rallies during election campaigns. It can be seen at all kinds of street demonstrations, notably Kosovo is Serbia rally.

On November 9, 2008, Standard de Liège striker Milan Jovanović used the three-finger-salute after winning the match and scoring a goal against Germinal Beerschot. The GB-supporters chanted "Kosovo Kosovo" during the match to intimidate Jovanovic. After the match Jovanovic showed the three-finger-salute to the GB-supporters. In an interview after the match he said that he was grateful because the GB-supporters motivated him.

Eurovision 2007

Eurovision song contest winner, Serbian Marija Šerifović, while celebrating the maximum of 12 points that she received from Bosnian viewers displayed the three-finger salute. This has caused controversy as some Bosnian viewers have seen it as provocation. [12]

2008 Summer Olympics

During Parade of nations at 2008 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony, Serbian president Boris Tadić and Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić saluted to the Serbian Olympic Team with three fingers. Furthermore Belgrade tabloid "PRESS" scandalously altered Reuters original photo of U.S. President George W. Bush, to make him look like he is saluting the Serbian Olympic Team with three fingers.[13]

Connotations

Rade Leskovac, president of the Party of Danube Serbs, Serbian minority party in Croatia, caused a controversy in 2007 when election posters featured him giving a nationalist Serbian three-fingered salute were posted around the city of Vukovar. [14]

References

  1. ^ [1].
  2. ^ Hajdinjak, Marko. (2000) Yugoslavia - Dismantled and Plundered.
  3. ^ 1 THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL TRIBUNAL CASE NO. IT-94-1-T
  4. ^ Tri Srbije?. B92 Editorial. 10 October 2002.
  5. ^ "- Lepo ste se toga setili! Podignuta tri prsta jesu simbol koji je u masovnu upotrebu uveo Vuk Drašković na mitingu u Beogradu 13. marta 1991. godine. Tada je SPO imala tri zahteva, a jedan od njih je bio da se puste svi pohapšeni 9. marta. To je bio naš simbol borbe za promene, a iako je trebalo dosta vremena da se taj simbol prihvati, očigledno je da je uspelo. I kada ga danas koriste radikali, nemam ništa protiv - kaže Srećković.". Three fingers are a symbol that was introduced by Vuk Drašković during demonstrations in Belgrade on 13 March 1991. Serbian Renewal Movement had three demands, and one of them was to release all people arrested for 9 March. That was our symbol of fight for change, although it took a lot of time for that symbol to be adopted it is clearly now adopted. I don't mind Serbian Radicals using it today" - says Srećković. [2] from Kurir
  6. ^ Ni supruga lidera SPO, Danica Drašković, nije bila ništa manje zatečena radikalskim preokretom. Najpre je kroz osmeh konstatovala: "Neka, neka, uskoro će početi i da uzvikuju i "svi, svi, svi", pa dodala da "nema ništa protiv toga da i radikali mašu sa tri prsta". -- The wife of SPO's leader, Danica Drašković, was not less surprised by the Radical's turnaround (usage of salute). She firstly said: "That's alright, everybody will soon start shouting "all, all, all" and said that she "doesn't mind that the Radicals use three fingers salute". [3] from Kurir
  7. ^ [4] from Kurir
  8. ^ Prisoners of War by Sports Illustrated
  9. ^ Swimming-Serbia's water polo team get heroes' welcome by Reuters on August 2nd, 2005
  10. ^ [5]
  11. ^ [6]
  12. ^ Pincom.info: Tajni znakovi Eurosonga: Kome je Marija podigla tri prsta?
  13. ^ http://www.pressonline.rs/page/stories/sr.html?view=story&id=43897&sectionId=37
  14. ^ http://www.rtv.rs/sr/vesti/politika/balkan/2007_11_16/vest_40710.jsp
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