Bruce Lee a symbol of unity in divided town

dr. what · Post by **dr. what** » 2005-09-12 01:24pm

SARAJEVO (Reuters) - The ethnically divided Bosnian city of Mostar has agreed to erect a new symbol of unity -- a statue of kung fu legend Bruce Lee, worshipped by Muslims, Serbs and Croats.

A group of enthusiasts came up with the idea of honoring the childhood hero of the city's ethnic groups in 2003, on the 30th anniversary of his death. They launched the project, found donors and waited a year for the city's approval.

"We plan to erect the statue in November in the center of the city," Veselin Gatalo, a member of the Urban Movement organization, told Reuters by telephone Monday.

"This will be a monument to universal justice that Mostar needs more than any other city I know."

He said Mostar, scene of fighting between Muslims and Croats in 1993-1994, needed a symbol of justice, mastery and honesty -- virtues upheld by the late Chinese-American actor.

Born in San Francisco, Lee starred in several kung fu movies, including 1973's "Enter the Dragon." He died at the age of 32 from swelling on the brain.

A German organization agreed last year to sponsor the project with a 5,000 euro grant.

The statue, cast in bronze and showing the martial arts master in a typical fighting pose, will be designed by a local sculptor and put up in central Mostar.

Lee's widow Linda will be invited to attend the ceremony.

For years, reconciliation in post-war Mostar was slower than anywhere else in Bosnia. But the reconstruction of the city's Old Bridge last year has helped reunite Muslim and Croat communities separated by the river.

Link

Jason von Evil · Post by **Jason von Evil** » 2005-09-12 01:45pm

Is there anything Bruce Lee can't do?

That NOS Guy · Post by **That NOS Guy** » 2005-09-12 01:53pm

It's nice to know in an age of strife, terrorism, and death we can all agree on one thing.

I'm curious as to how kung-fu films got so big in Bosnia of all place. Fucking unreal.

Perinquus · Post by **Perinquus** » 2005-09-12 02:14pm

Well, as curious as this is, Lee himself, would no doubt be pleased. He seems to have been a genuine egalitarian. At a time when a great many people in the Asian martial arts community were dead set against teaching those arts to non-Asians, Lee defied tradition by teaching anyone who came to him that sincerely wanted to learn. He received a lot of condemnation for this from the Chinese martial arts community, but he stuck to his principles. Moreover, as a non-white actor working in Hollywood in the 1960s, and a Chinese married to a white woman, he directly experienced racial discrimination on many occasions. No doubt he resented it, and was angered and hurt by it, but he never became embittered by it, which stands to his credit. I think he'd be pleased to see his image used as a symbol for unity and the shedding of ethnic hatreds.

SyntaxVorlon · Post by **SyntaxVorlon** » 2005-09-12 02:15pm

Surreal and wonderful. At any rate this'll make wonderful conversation.

KrauserKrauser · Post by **KrauserKrauser** » 2005-09-12 02:46pm

Just like in Shoalin Soccer.

Kung Fu can solve all the world's problems.

Perinquus · Post by **Perinquus** » 2005-09-12 03:03pm

KrauserKrauser wrote:Just like in Shoalin Soccer.

Kung Fu can solve all the world's problems.

But let's not forget, in the Cantonese dialect spoken by Bruce Lee, it is Gung Fu, and that's how he always referred to it.

JME2 · Post by **JME2** » 2005-09-12 03:05pm

Bah; What would Brian Boitano do?

Netko · Post by **Netko** » 2005-09-12 06:07pm

I also honestly don't know how kung fu films became so big here and in the neighbouring countries but they are. Just today I saw some Z list hong kong kung fu movie being advertised next to (admitedly low A or B quality) hollywood stuff. Hell, we even have a local Bruce Lee copycat, Bore Lee!

(Not sure if I should have put the inline images in or just linked, I apologise if I made a mistake)

More seriously, Bosnia has come a long way in resolving it's ethnic tensions in the last ten years. Today, altough there is still a backdrop of ethnic tensions (think US race relations if you want a comparison), the main problems are economic and their horribly overcomplicated, buerocratic, corrupt and overlayered (they have a full cabinet at every level of goverment, from the mayor's office on up) system of goverment which is a product of the Dayton accords which ended the war there and is also IIRC the most expensive both relativly and absolutly per capita in Europe. And, of course, the fact that for now they are essentialy a protectorate of the UN/EU since the High Representative (of the UN/EU) can overrule any decision or institute any policy he wishes. Their political system is, essentialy, a "sandbox" which has no consequences since any bad decisions can be overruled by their overlord(s) (

).

Mr. Coffee · Post by **Mr. Coffee** » 2005-09-12 09:33pm

Even in death... His Kung Fu is strong...

Molyneux · Post by **Molyneux** » 2005-09-12 09:59pm

I think I may have just found religion.

When you're in trouble, just ask yourself - WWBLD?

Post by **fgalkin** » 2005-09-13 03:06am

There was Bruce Lee, who was great, and Bruc Lee, who was not.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

mr friendly guy · Post by **mr friendly guy** » 2005-09-13 07:32am

Obviously another example of Bruce Lee's power to affect things from beyond the grave. Haven't you guys seen No retreat, no surrender?

Ford Prefect · Post by **Ford Prefect** » 2005-09-13 08:32am

Bruce Lee just bloody well rocks. All must read the Tao of Jeet Kune Do. Brilliant.

Prozac the Robert · Post by **Prozac the Robert** » 2005-09-13 02:33pm

The ethnically divided Bosnian city of Mostar has agreed to erect a new symbol of unity -- a statue of kung fu legend Bruce Lee, worshipped by Muslims, Serbs and Croats.

Did nobody else thing this was an onion thing from that? I actually clicked the link to make sure it wasn't lying about not pointing at the onion.