In 1389, the Ottoman army faced off against the Christian forces led by Serbian Prince Lazar Hrebeljanović on the plains of Kosovo. Exactly 600 years later, on June 28, 1989—the anniversary of the battle—about one million Serbian nationalists gathered at the same site. The most notable event of the day was a lengthy and fervent speech by Serbian President Slobodan Milošević.

Speaking in front of the 25-meter-high monument (Gazimestan), built in 1953 to honor the Serbs who died in the battle, Milošević began by reminding everyone of the significance of the Battle of Kosovo for both the Serbs and all of Europe. He stated, "On this anniversary, Serbia has regained its state, nation, and spiritual integrity. Today, it's hard to distinguish the facts from the legends of the Battle of Kosovo. But this no longer matters." He then turned to the topic of Serbia and the Serbs being "marginalized," saying: "The Yugoslav Constitution declared in 1974 has limited Serbia's power. The Battle of Kosovo and the Constitution are assaults on Serbian national consciousness. The divisions among Serbian leaders have led them to break their promises to their people. The Serbs have not used their greatness to their advantage. Today, however, Serbia is united and equal with the other republics. Six centuries after the Battle of Kosovo, we are facing new battles. None of these are armed conflicts yet, but we are not ruling out the option of armed conflict. Six centuries ago, Serbia heroically defended both itself and Europe in the plains of Kosovo. At that time, Serbia was a fortress defending European culture, religion, and social structure."

Today, historians regard Milošević's Gazimestan speech as the "starting signal for the process that led to the breakup of Yugoslavia and the subsequent bloody civil war." The aggressive and fanatical tone of Serbian nationalism deeply resonated with and motivated the masses.

In a strange twist of irony, the date of June 28 also marked the day in 2001 when "war criminal" Slobodan Milošević was handed over to the International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague. The then-Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić's unilateral decision to send Milošević to The Hague infuriated Serbian nationalists, prompting them to declare, "We haven't experienced such a disgrace since the Battle of Kosovo."

For us, the Battle of Kosovo may be a minor detail in the pages of history, but for the Serbs, it is a colossal turning point on which they base their entire national identity and claims. Although the Ottoman Empire has long since fallen, the "Turkish shadow" still looms large in the minds of the Serbs. This fear and paranoia were so intense that they felt as though they were avenging the Ottomans while slaughtering Muslim Bosniaks.

In the Balkans, the Serbs, in the Middle East, the Zionists, and in Asia, the Hindus—despite their religious and ideological differences—compete and collaborate in their enmity towards Muslims. They share certain common traits: They live in the corridors of history, constantly revisiting the past to give meaning to their existence. Rather than forgetting or making others forget their differences, they continuously remind and emphasize them, focusing on raising their generations within this framework. Their relentless drive to increase their power in every field is fueled by an unextinguished flame of hatred and vengeance. While modern narratives like "coexistence" or "looking to the future rather than being stuck in the past" confuse us, their national consciousness remains highly relevant and vibrant.

In my previous article, in response to the question, "What does Srebrenica mean to us today?" I emphasized the concept of a "lesson in memory." To truly grasp this lesson, we need a comprehensive renewal of consciousness that spans the past, present, and future. Deeply understanding the past, emphasizing differences with thick lines, and strengthening in every field can be summarized as "wearing history." If we fail to achieve this, we are inevitably doomed to be crushed under the boots of powerful nations or become mere appetizers on their tables.