Hertao Blog

This post will stray a bit from martial arts:

My wife and I just returned from a trip to Croatia, where among other things we kayaked along the coast around Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik is an incredible city, and if you ever get the chance to go in May or June, do so. We brought our folding kayaks, which I would also highly recommend to anyone who likes to get off the beaten path.

While we were in the south of Croatia, we decided to make a short trip to Medjugorje, the former Yugoslavian town now in Bosnia and Herzegovina known around the world for the supposed siting of the “blessed mother” by 6 people in 1981. It’s incredible that so many people fell for this hoax and continue to do so. At least one of the 6 people who “saw” Mary in 1981 still sees her monthly, in front of hordes of religious tourists mostly from the United States. She makes goofy faces as if she’s having a conversation with the virgin mother, acting as if she’s having a hard time understanding, etc.

To get to Medjugorje you have to drive through small towns along horrible roads, full of shot up and bombed out houses and buildings from the last of the Balkan Wars in the 90’s. Medjugorje is an oasis of B.S. in this sad country. The contrast between what surrounds Medjugorje and the town itself couldn’t be more striking.

How many of these “believers” who visit Medjugorje even pay attention to Bosnia and Herzegovina or think about what happened there just a decade or so ago? Do they really think buying a statue of Mary most likely made in China, with dirt supposedly from Medjugorje is going to do them any good? Apparently so! You can get holographic pictures of Mary, “holy water” bottles, etc. It’s amazing…how so many people can believe such lunacy! With such a lack of thought and questioning, it’s no wonder people can be led to war so easily.

So how different are martial arts? Not much. Ever heard of a no touch knockout?