Most states look inward into their own unique history when erecting a statue. However, Serbia lately has had an endearing tendency to look instead at Hollywood. They've already erected statues honoring Rocky, Bruce Lee, and Tarzan (played by Johnny Weissmuller). And now as a symbol of peace with his right fist raised firmly in the air, Bob Marley posthumously, with "Bob Marley - fighter for freedom armed with a guitar" inscribed at the base, has the honor of joining this esteemed statuesque league.
Still, historians will be hard pressed to explain away the Balkans’ strange taste for idolatry. Even now, the meaning of the string of statues is hard to comprehend. Last November, Bojan Marceta, a 28-year-old Serb who raised money for the Rocky statue, offered The New York Times a reason. “My generation can’t find role models so we have to look elsewhere,” he said. “Hollywood can provide an answer.”
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