Voices for Croatia

Published: February 15, 1999
View the Original Newsletter: Iskra-28.pdf

About This Issue

Iskra No. 28 captures a moment of reflection and perseverance. Editor Valentina Krčmar opens with a message about enduring hardship and finding purpose through community. With the echoes of war still fresh, she reminds readers that strength is not found in bitterness, but in the resolve to keep moving forward. The issue also includes updates from Croatia and the diaspora, poetry, letters, and cultural features that blend nostalgia, faith, and determination.

Motrišta: “We Continue On”

In her editorial, Valentina Krčmar reflects on the passage of time and the weariness that comes after long struggle. She describes how, after years of fighting for Croatia’s freedom, many now face disillusionment — not from defeat, but from fatigue and disappointment in leadership and social division.

Valentina compares this emotional exhaustion to the feeling of “being forgotten,” as though the sacrifices made during the war are fading into silence. Yet she rejects despair, urging readers to remember that Croatia’s greatest strength lies in its people — in their capacity to care, forgive, and rebuild.

“We must not allow cynicism to replace faith,” she writes. “The same hands that defended our homeland must now build it again — with honesty, patience, and love.”

Her words balance hope and realism, reminding Croatians both at home and abroad that unity and persistence remain the foundation of national recovery.

From the Editor’s Desk

Valentina begins this issue’s letter by thanking readers who supported the recent Vukovar fundraising dinner in Mississauga, which she helped organize. The event drew more than 400 attendees and raised funds for the city’s rebuilding efforts. She expresses gratitude for the generosity shown and shares how moved she was by the community’s response, calling it proof that Croatians abroad have not forgotten their homeland.

She also comments on the growing role of women in community leadership, highlighting the quiet yet powerful influence of mothers, organizers, and volunteers who keep cultural and humanitarian projects alive.

Valentina closes with a simple reflection: “Sometimes we continue not because it is easy, but because it is right.”

News from Croatia

Compiled by Slavko Butković, this section covers major events from early February 1999:

President Franjo Tuđman visits Osijek, reaffirming the government’s commitment to economic reconstruction and returnee programs in Eastern Slavonia.
Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina finalize an agreement on the Port of Ploče and transit rights through Neum.
The Croatian Parliament debates privatization reforms aimed at curbing corruption and improving economic transparency.
The Hague Tribunal demands the extradition of Mladen Naletilić “Tuta” and Vinko Martinović “Štela”, Croatian military commanders accused of war crimes in Bosnia.
A massive storm along the Adriatic coast causes flooding and damage in Dalmatia, prompting emergency relief efforts.

Letters from Readers

The Letters section continues to offer heartfelt insights and debates from the Croatian diaspora:

A reader from Toronto praises the success of the Vukovar dinner and urges the community to focus on humanitarian projects rather than politics.
A correspondent from Rijeka criticizes growing corruption in local government and pleads for stronger moral leadership.
An anonymous writer from Hamilton contributes a poem titled “Zemljo Moja” (“My Land”), expressing longing for Croatia and the ache of exile.

Cultural and Community Highlights

The community pages celebrate Croatian Heritage Month activities in Canada, featuring concerts, folklore performances, and art exhibitions.

The Croatian Parish of Our Lady Queen of Croats hosts a lecture on Croatian Women Through History, emphasizing their role in preserving faith and identity.
Hrvatski Dom Mississauga announces a charity concert for Croatian orphanages, showcasing local musicians and dance groups.
The Croatian Women’s Association Katarina Zrinska organizes a traditional Fašnik (Carnival) masquerade ball, reviving folk customs and humor.

Arts and Poetry

A cultural feature celebrates Croatian poet Tin Ujević, whose introspective verses on loneliness and love continue to resonate with readers decades after his passing. The article highlights Ujević’s influence on modern Croatian literature and includes translated excerpts of his work.

Other contributions include:

“Molitva Majke” (“A Mother’s Prayer”) — a moving poem dedicated to mothers who lost sons in the war.
A short essay titled “Ostati Čovjek” (“To Remain Human”), reminding readers that compassion, not victory, defines true strength.

Sports

The sports section notes Croatia’s growing achievements on the international stage:

Goran Ivanišević advances to the semifinals in Dubai, regaining form after injury.
Janica Kostelić continues her strong season with consistent top-10 finishes.
Cibona Zagreb secures another EuroLeague win, keeping Croatian basketball in the spotlight.
A feature article revisits Croatia’s bronze medal at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, still a source of immense national pride.

Closing Thoughts

Iskra No. 28 radiates resilience — the courage to continue even when hope feels distant. Through Valentina Krčmar’s steady and compassionate voice, readers are reminded that rebuilding is both a physical and spiritual act. Croatia’s path forward, she insists, must be guided not by cynicism or politics, but by memory, love, and faith in one another.