The birth of a new country

This country is now 7 days old. They have survived a whole week. Now what? Some flags are still flying high, some people are still greeting each other with congratulations, the news is still about Independence, but lives have gone on.

Independence was declared on a Sunday, and Monday was a day off for almost everyone. For those two days the streets were crowded and much celebrating occurred. Little traveling bands wandered the streets and went in and out of coffee shops. There was dancing and singing everywhere you went.

Now the conversation has turned to the history of what these people have been through to finally get to this point. They suffered a lot. They waited a long time. They shed a lot of blood and tears. Finally the day has come. Finally they have their own country. Finally they have a name to call themselves. Finally they have real passports. Finally they will be able to participate in international events as who they really are, no longer under another country. It is an exciting time.

It is also an uncertain time. There are still many countries that have not yet recognized this country’s independence. The country that used to have power over this land is not relinquishing it easily. Although their people no longer live here they still want claim to it. Their people are protesting in their capital and around the city. They have burned embassies, destroyed stores, and knocked down border crossings.

Why do people fight over land so much? Why do people want claim to a land they are no longer living in? Why do people get upset when countries split up when they were often put together by officially living somewhere else? I admit that I am not a history buff, although I am trying to read more the longer I am here in Europe, but I don’t understand how you can put different nationalities together, draw border lines for one country around them, and expect them to be all happy under one law, one flag, and one government. No wonder there is so much fighting and the worry of break-away states. Everyone wants their own freedom and their own identity.

(I typed this sitting outside on my friend’s porch in a small village. Life is good and I am enjoying this warm weather before I head to snowy New England at the end of this week.)