So What's 'Inat' Anyway?!
‘Inat’ describes a trait- a rare word bestowed on the Serbs by the finally-beaten Turks. A kind of fierce, clever and unyielding tenacity in the face of injustice.
Inat doesn't let go, no matter the cost to self.
Unvaxxed, oddly-hated Serbian tennis champion, Novak Djokovic embodies Inat.
"The GOAT of tennis and bodily autonomy." declares Yuri Besmenov.
"Inat lies at the very quick of our being" asserts writer Momo Kapor (who I crush on as I do Sage)
As an Inat-infused writer, I could have made the big bucks cranking out sweet, inoffensive metaphysical or inspirational goo. Instead, I write expose’s like "Psycho Taxi Boy on a Terribly Hot Sunday Night with the Southern Baptist Convention."
As a Thai therapist, when I saw how doctors and chiros, treated patients in pain, especially the elderly, my Inat came into play.
After giving the docs the best Thai massage for their ills (which they would not recommend for their patients) I would tell them plainly that I was going to put them to shame every day of the week. I would take time, heart, wit and wisdom and figure out how to make the people better and I would expose them for what they were…
Inat.
Now...am I against good doctoring? Not at all, but for myself and my people, learn to think, use common sense and exercise your will.
My next post “Parting Gift” will give a behind-the-scenes look….from a dying doctor.
Till COVID came along Federer would have been my tennis GOAT, because he was on paper at the time and he also represented the epitome of educated high class polyglot controlled sophistication that is admirable and aspirational. Not that I'm an elites worshiper, I actually belong to and am more comfortable in a working class setting. But being controlled educated and a top performer is not a bad aspirational goal. No one could go wrong telling his son "if you want a standard, be like Roger Federer." He even had a normal wife. Not a supermodel or a starlet celebrity. Just a normal wife and what seems to be a normal family
All of that is still true I suppose but I must say I was very disappointed how silent most tennis players (including the women) were in defense of Novak. Does not matter if they agreed or sincerely disagreed with his clot shot stance. THEY SHOULD HAVE DEFENDED HIM. It is particularly disappointing when it comes to Roger Federer and Raffa Nadal. BOTH have more money than they'll ever need and in my book they should have stood up for their comrade. Being "sophisticated" and elite should include knowing when silly game competition should be secondary to the things important to your whole tribe. Raffa and Roger (in my opinion) should have seen that and stepped up to defend Novak.
So now I have to agree. Novak is the GOAT both on paper and in the iconic sense because he stood firm. Some day the other tennis players (if they ever wise up) may be glad he did. Compliance can be a good thing most of the time when it really does not matter much But compliance on a body sovereignty issue should be non negotiable. Now that almost every one has complied where is the line now? If mandated Needle rape is ok today to be admitted to the Tennis Club...What will it be tomorrow? Conventional rape? Slippery slopes tend to only get more slippery. ALL of tennis should have organized a walk out or something. Instead Novak has had to stand almost alone. Some day they ALL may regret their choice
Since the beginning of the Covid op my best friend turned out to be a Serbian acquaintance. The Balkans are definitely a special part of the world and I’ve appreciated your posts about them.