Published: January 31, 2001
View the Original Newsletter: Iskra-74.pdf
About This Issue
Iskra No. 74 opens the new year with reflection, realism, and resolve. The tone is steady but determined—acknowledging Croatia’s political, social, and moral challenges while reaffirming faith in truth and perseverance. Editor Valentina Krčmar uses this issue to encourage unity, decency, and strength among Croatians both at home and abroad.
Editorial: “Let’s Not Lose Ourselves”
Valentina begins the year with a call for patience and perspective. She notes how, in the wake of political change, many Croatians have fallen into pessimism—believing that nothing can be improved or trusted.
“It is not our politicians who make Croatia great—it is our people, our families, our faith.”
She warns that losing faith in one another is more dangerous than any political setback. Iskra, she writes, will continue to speak honestly and without fear, defending truth “even when it is no longer fashionable to do so.”
“Let’s not lose ourselves while chasing what we’ve already found—freedom.”
Motrišta: “The Power of Words”
In her Motrišta column, Valentina returns to a familiar theme—how words shape character and community. Reflecting on recent political scandals and public discourse, she laments how easily truth is twisted and how cynicism has replaced conviction.
“There was a time when our words built bridges. Today, they often build walls.”
She reminds readers that the Croatian people survived wars, regimes, and propaganda precisely because they held onto language as a vessel of truth and identity.
“If we allow lies to define our vocabulary, then our silence will soon define our history.”
National Outlook: A Country in Transition
The issue surveys political life at the start of 2001:
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Prime Minister Ivica Račan’s government faces growing criticism for weak leadership and unpopular economic reforms.
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President Stjepan Mesić attempts to balance diplomacy and national pride amid tensions with The Hague Tribunal.
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Public debates intensify over the status of Croatian war generals and cooperation with international courts.
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Inflation and unemployment continue to test household resilience.
Valentina frames these struggles not as despair but as part of Croatia’s maturing democracy—“the slow work of becoming what we once dreamed to be.”
Community Highlights
Croatians in Canada began the year with optimism and faith-driven charity:
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Bedem Ljubavi Toronto organized a successful Christmas drive, sending humanitarian aid to Croatia’s war widows and orphaned children.
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The Croatian Martyrs Parish in Mississauga hosted a spiritual concert featuring youth choirs and traditional music groups.
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The Croatian Cultural Centre in Hamilton announced plans for a spring festival to celebrate two decades of cultural preservation.
Valentina emphasizes how these gatherings keep the heart of the homeland beating far from its borders.
“In every song, every shared meal, we rebuild a piece of Croatia.”
Health Column: “The Gift of Sleep”
Dr. Darko Desaty turns his attention to the importance of rest, calling sleep “the body’s daily resurrection.” He explains how fatigue weakens immunity, impairs concentration, and raises the risk of illness, while adequate rest restores balance and clarity.
His message carries both scientific and spiritual resonance:
“When we close our eyes in peace, we allow life to heal us.”
Faith and Renewal
A reflective piece titled “Faith Is the Only Constant” ties together the issue’s themes of endurance and self-examination. Drawing from Scripture, the writer reminds readers that every generation faces its own trials, but the strength of the nation lies in its moral foundation.
“A people that forgets to pray will soon forget who it is.”
Closing Words
Valentina closes Iskra No. 74 with a quiet but resolute statement:
“Croatia will rise again—not through shouting or politics, but through honesty, compassion, and work. We are not tired; we are only learning how to endure.”
