Truth and only truth, so help us God

By Rasim Belko

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Truth and only truth, so help us God. We at Patria use this sentence, typical for court testimonies, as a motto in every form of journalistic expression. That is why we did not have to change our practice too much with the advent of the coronavirus.

Truth, however difficult it may be, does not lead astray. It is a firm rope that keeps us on the right path. A path that leads to those who know what to expect when they type www.nap.ba. There are more and more of them, and in their reactions, we see confirmation that we are heading in the right direction.

Scoundrels are increasingly present in this journalistic profession, with various motives, goals, and interests. Because of all this, and most of all because of those who trust us, we promise that we will not falter.

Truth, however, is never alone. Lies and deception have followed truth throughout human history. For many years, humanity has stopped the truth with death sentences and imprisonment.

It is no different today. Because of the truth, we are targets of those who exploit lies for their existence in positions of power, authority, and elite status. We are sworn enemies and a great nuisance to such people. Therefore, they do not shy away from any means in their attempt to get rid of us.

Until a few months ago, the world feared the nuclear power of countries that possessed such weapons. Month after month, they scared us with Kim Jong Un, Putin, China, America...

And then the world was struck by an enemy invisible to the human eye. History soon took over the world and imprisoned humanity in their homes.

It also came to Bosnia and Herzegovina. And again, we acted first.

We were the first to break the story that the virus was not an exclusive, extraordinary, or breaking news item. We were the first to ask where the tests were, why they weren't testing, and so on. We asked the authorities if we were ready for what had entered our home-country.

We responded responsibly to the crisis. Before anyone else, we decided to close the newsroom and work from home. In a way, we went into self-isolation before the state did.

And then those whose lies and deceit brought them all worldly blessings decided to twist the truth.

"The media are the problem, the media are spreading panic, the media are to blame," without specifying which media, they lumped us in with the scoundrels-agitators with whom these very authorities collaborate the most and deceive the public.

They did not hesitate to pick up the phone to correct the truth and "spin" it to the "right" side. We resisted again and anew.

And we will always resist the embellishment and "spinning" of the truth. We have already paid a certain price. However, regardless of the price, we will NOT give up on the truth. And we will continue to point the finger of truth at those responsible for the situation where the state is unable to respond to challenges.

We have already pointed out to them that we have only one respirator for 35 vehicles. It is not our fault, gentlemen, that you behaved irresponsibly.

Nor is it our fault that most hospitals in this country are not equipped according to standards. You, gentlemen in power, are to blame for what the director of KCUS said at the beginning of the crisis, "we will have to decide who to put on ventilators."

That, gentlemen, causes panic and chaos.

Look, gentlemen in power, towards Livno and Goražde. They can have the best doctors in the world, but without equipment, their hands are tied. And they don't have equipment, they send panicked appeals and beg for help from anyone who comes to mind. Even from Aleksandar Vučić. Heroic Goražde is begging Vučić. You gentlemen know what that means, but you will still present multiple truths. You will lie again, because you cannot do otherwise.

And now you are convincing us that you have done everything to procure this equipment. The question is, gentlemen, why is our healthcare at the lowest level? But, you gentlemen will again, when this is over, boast from the screens that you have done everything.

It won't work, gentlemen.

The coronavirus will pass one day, but the moral cancer of this society will not evaporate with a vaccine for the malignant microorganism.

We, gentlemen, will strive to combat that cancer. We, whom you characterize as the main culprits.

And as Balašević wrote in "Računajte na nas" (Count on Us), "life ahead still hides battles and threatens us, threatens, like a deep whirlpool. I know that a hundred more offensives await us, because we must preserve peace."

We will fight for the truth only with peace, because it is the best guardian of both social and moral peace.

We, gentlemen, will be Husein captain Gradaščević, and we already know that you are the reincarnation of Omer Pasha Latas. That you will cut off the heads of anyone in this nation who opposes you.

Only this time, we promise you a different outcome.

Because in that fight, we will not abandon the principle of speaking the truth and only the truth, so help us God!