“The fight occurred during a night the bar devoted to Serbians.”
I cannot think of a worse place for a non-Serbian to be (says he who worked as a barback in a Serbian Club in western PA one summer). When those guys would get deep into their cups in the wee morning hours, if someone uttered the phrase “field of crows”, it was time for me to pop smoke. Guys who had been friendly and generous a few hours before were entirely different.
Americans can be very naïve. Memories are very long in that part of the world and cultural slights get magnified easily, especially if there’s booze around.
The openness in this country is the exception, not the rule, but I don’t see anyone telling the kids that. While this young man’s death is tragic, it unfortunately won’t be the last as long as the Kum-By-Yah/We Are the World crowd is in charge of education.
> I cannot think of a worse place for a non-Serbian to be (says he who worked as a barback in a Serbian Club in western PA one summer). <
I can sure relate to your story. As a young man I used to occasionally frequent a Serbian bar. It was in Western PA, as yours was. I’m not of Serbian decent, but that bar had the best burgers in town.
Anyway, one night the bartender asked me my opinion of Serbia’s involvement in WW II. I said I had no opinion. I was there just for the food.
Wrong answer. Everyone within earshot turned towards me and started muttering. I exited, stage right. And future burgers were bought at McDonalds.