Humor&Insight

* This satirical story was originally published in the book "The Right to Vote is Wrong."  by Marina Aristo Markovic  I used to think nothing could be worse than greeting the morning dead. That was until it happened to me this morning, after which I stopped thinking altogether. Death knocked the wind out of me in an instant, like nothing in life ever had. The alarm started ringing, and I lay there cold and dead. I wasn’t bothered. In fact, I realized death was oddly soothing. A mountain of obligations awaited me, so my sudden death felt almost convenient. At last, I no longer had to invent excuses to postpone them, especially the most unpleasant ones, like the awkward conversation with my boss about the stalled business, or the even more awkward lunch with my recently ex-wife about the stalled marriage. And while we’re on the subject, I tell you seriously: “Till death do us part” has nothing to do with life. The alarm kept ringing. Next-door, my neighbor was renovating his ba...

Satirical story by Marina Aristo Markovic  * published in the Satirikon section of the Politika daily on December 11, 2021    I recently read that William Shakespeare might have been a pseudonym for someone whose identity was eventually lost over time. And, to be honest, it really worried me. Imagine this: Was Shakespeare Shakespeare?! If Shakespeare wasn’t Shakespeare, then whose works are attributed to him, if they aren’t his? I admit, the fact that people who didn’t exist back then are now debating his non-existence, creates a great deal of confusion. Although it’s true that for many, Shakespeare, who is now said not to have existed, never existed at all. Here, take a walk down the street and ask people one simple question: Have you heard of Shakespeare? Some might answer, “ Yes, I’ve heard of him, but I don’t know what he looked like.” Others might say, “ He never stopped by here.” “ I’m not from here,” would probably be the most common reply. And maybe it’s for the ...

Aphorisms  by Marina Aristo Markovic   Foreward In the realm of political thought, few things are as provocative and as disorienting as the aphorisms of a keen observer. The lines that follow are the product of a mind unafraid to expose the absurdities and contradictions of contemporary political life—especially within the framework of democracy. With sharp irony, they probe the tension between democratic ideals and the often grotesque realities they engender. These aphorisms are not mere musings; they are reflections on the paradoxical and, at times, self-defeating nature of political systems, particularly those that claim to operate on the principles of freedom and equality. The humor that pervades these reflections is not for the faint of heart. It is the kind of humor that forces us to confront uncomfortable truths: about the way we govern, the way we are governed, and the way we deceive ourselves into believing in progress. The themes that run through these lines are time...

I came across an interesting thought about relationships. What if the ideal marriage wasn’t about constant love, passion, or even communication, but about... well, not communicating at all? Here's a satirical take on what an 'ideal' marriage could look like, where silence, separation, and routine become the foundation of a lasting partnership. *** Ideal Marriage by Marina Aristo Markovic (Satirical story from the book "The Right to Vote is Wrong") I admit that I am not an ideal man, and judging by the woman I married, neither is she. And yet, our marriage is ideal. I don’t remember the exact date we got married, and I also don’t remember the last time we argued. Otherwise, we rarely talk. I’m not interested in politics, and I talk about women with my godfather. At home, I’m quite quiet, and I find out everything that’s going on from my godmother when she comes over to our house to chat with my wife and have coffee. Since the godparents divorced, we stopped h...

The Decline of Educational Standards in the Age of Technology by Marina Aristo Markovic  Remember the good old days when you had to actually think to solve a problem? You know, back when your brain was your best study buddy, and not just a device to recharge every night before binge-watching YouTube tutorials. Education has long been the cornerstone of personal and societal growth, a space where individuals learn to think critically, solve problems, and innovate. Yet in today’s classrooms, a concerning trend is emerging. Education is being reduced to a pursuit of quick answers, and technology is replacing the most valuable tool a student has, their brain. Not long ago, students were encouraged to engage in deep thinking, research, and discussion, and teachers were focused on nurturing creativity, logic, and independent problem-solving. Now, education often feels like a race to get instant answers from Google or AI rather than a meaningful quest for knowledge. Sure, students today c...

How One Man Became the Most Famous Anonymous Person in the World: A Journey to Invisibility In a world where fame and recognition are often seen as the ultimate goals, there’s another side to the coin, people who go to great lengths to avoid being noticed.  This satirical story explores the irony of anonymity and how, in trying to stay invisible, a man inadvertently became the most famous anonymous person in the world.  In this post, we delve into his peculiar journey, shedding light on the absurdity of privacy in a world that constantly demands attention. Anonymous by Marina Aristo Marković From the book - The Right to Vote is Wrong (2023) These days, people will do anything, shame themselves, their families, even their country, just to avoid being anonymous. I, however, did everything I could to stay anonymous. It almost killed me. The state and I had an understanding: I left it alone, and it returned the favor. I wrote for a foreign newspaper under a pseudonym, a name no on...