Slovenia should look into the mirror and see that the famous Slovenian saying about how good Slovenians are in their hearts, tellingly shows that many Slovenians don’t show this goodness outwardly but “carefully keep it locked with barbed wire in their hearts”, believes Novak.

Novak is one of four Slovenian writers and poets who have responded to erecting a wire fence on the border with Croatia during migrant crisis. The poet reminded of the inappropriate behaviour towards refugees of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as the erasing of people from the registry of permanent residents after Slovenia’s declaration of independence, describing the two as Slovenia’s greatest disgrace.

According to Novak, today’s situation cannot be reduced to past experience. It’s a new historical situation which calls for a new way of thinking when reflecting on our challenges. The poet believes that the traditional split into the left and the right has largely disappeared, yet there are some rare exceptions, such as the United Left, argues Novak. We’re witnessing a collapse of the self-declared left – not only in Slovenia, but also elsewhere. This sort of a technical barrier has a double effect, warns Novak. On the one hand, it prevents the world from entering our territory, but also prevents us from looking around the world and entering into it.

Svetlana Makarovič: We don’t want a razor-wire fence
Poet and writer Svetlana Makarovič has described erecting the wire fence as inhumane and inefficient. We don’t want a razor-wire fence, she added, posing a question whether or not Slovenians are aware of what words are being spoken in the national anthem, and how Slovenian politicians are desecrating those words with their actions. In her words, Slovenia no longer deserves its anthem, since the country is full of ignorance, lies and hypocrisy. That is why she proposes a new anthem, a parody of a children’s song about a pet dog that guards the Schengen, hoping for a pat from “Aunt” Merkel.

M. K.; translated by K. Z.