NET Journal; 216; Conversation with Milovan Djilas

are She calls her sisters. She gives up and she told her mom to come through. I love her, mother. And this man from Christian science modator that I told you, very fine. You know Americans always want to know, what do you think of America? Of America, I didn't see much, Princeton isn't completely America.

But you know it's a problem in America, this is a quiet, beautiful place with serious people. But even students themselves sometimes must ask, is this really society, is university a place for society? It's maybe different in Europe, this is a question. Yes, but I remarked that those intellectuals, this graduate students and even other graduate, in essence now they are not much different from European intellectuals. And this is the best impression from America.

The nature of the students. The nature of those young intellectuals, which are now not so black, white as they were 20 years or 15 years ago, they are better informed, more sophisticated. And more refined, in every way. You know I wonder if American faculties even understand this. I think students have changed faster than the faculties in America. Maybe. It's possible. Maybe. But professor everywhere I would say. And he could consider too much too slow and established too wise. No, but it's maybe you're right. You still look at universities as they were 20 years ago when they were very isolated in America.

Very isolated. My impression about these young people are very well. Very well. This is new generation which will change America and maybe America developed. Here we are. Well, it's good to get out of the rain. Yes, I would be rainy. But you've had good weather. Indian summer. Indian summer. We said in my country, grandmother summer. When you were a student at Belgrade, radicalism, and when I was a student and so forth, how this has changed. Or is it in the nature of God? No, he's sorry about that. They think the best is about Belgrade to them.

We spoke about differences. Yes, I don't know how much difference there is between, let us say, Yugoslav students and American students. But surely there must be a difference because of affluence, don't you think? Not only affluence, there are approach to the society's difference. I think our students in large mass are more inclined to democratize our society. And in America there are some groups or some circles of student differentiate the orientate. Of course, in Yugoslavia there are leftists or groups like in America. But I think there are so many common traits between them. Well, surely more common traits today than there were 20 or 40 years ago.

Absolutely. Because when I was in college, the idea of student descent was nothing at all like European universities. There are differences in ideas between students in Yugoslavia and USA in Europe. But there are some common psychology, some malcontent with this world. But you have that here too. I think this world is a phenomenon. A world phenomenon. Yes. Well, it may be indeed. This is the first international. Ah, really. In the world. Well, here we are. Yes. The first real creation. The first international creation. Something Marx didn't think of. Marx didn't succeed. This is dream even.

Ah, it's good to be inside. Yeah. Fire. Fire. About Casca. You know, who is one of the plotters? Yes, I know. He said he has a lean and hungry look. Such men are dangerous. I should experience Marx. Wait a minute. It's okay. Well, you won't be sorry to leave America after a rainy day like this, I suppose. But I know I'll be sorry to see you go. I must go home at 10 December. 10 December. There will be two months all together. Two months all together. And five weeks here at Princeton. Five weeks at Princeton. And then a little rest.

No, I think I will go direct to Belgrade. Oh, you will. You all stop in Europe. No, I think not. And perhaps another visit. You'll be able to get beyond the east coast. Being a westerner, you know, I am never convinced that this is all of America here. No, of course it isn't. And I must tell you in Europe, somebody asked me. Ask me if I like to live abroad in Yugoslavia. I said, I like more in prison in Yugoslavia then. Actually, you're Yugoslav. Yeah, but they didn't understand me. They thought that I'd compare wester countries and prison in Yugoslavia. No, of course.

You were simply saying that you are Yugoslav. And that I must be there. And you must. Because this is my destiny to be there. From Yugoslavia. But this is misunderstood. Yes, of course it is. Nothing separates people more than language. Yes, this is true. Here we are. Maybe when we would have the same language, not so much war, but maybe civil war. I think it will be worse. It will be worse. Maybe we will understand each other too well. Yes. Then civil war. Then... Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.