Little Bosnia: Power of Attorney
Ask a child what they want to be when they grow up and the response is probably something fairly awesome and far-reaching—astronaut, baseball player, veterinarian. There could be any number of reasons behind their dream job, but for some children it’s about being deeply inspired.
Growing up in Bosnia, Nedim Ramic probably didn’t think about becoming a lawyer. He was a good student who loved soccer. But the Bosnian war changed everything and Nedim and his family had to flee to Germany. They stayed there for six and a half years.
Nedim describes Germany’s immigration system as an ultimately frustrating and unwelcoming one. He says that immediately after the war ended in 1995, his family was told they would have to go back to Bosnia, despite the fact that Serbian refugees were living in their old house and “detentions were still very high.”
As Nedim says in this video, “Germany kind of set me up to become who I am today.”
Nedim is referring to the immigration lawyer who helped his family procure the extensions they needed to stay safely in Germany. And who inspired Nedim to want to study the law.
Nedim was 17 when he arrived in St. Louis. He studied English at Forest Park Community College and then enrolled at UM-St. Louis to complete his bachelor’s degree. In 2005 he started law school at Saint Louis University. Today he is a partner at the Bajric and Ramic law firm.
Law school would be a challenge for anyone, but especially for someone studying outside of their native language. But as Nedim jokes about it: “If I can do it, you can do it.”
Through our Homeland work, we’ve met many immigrants who have talked to us about the amount of time and money it takes to become a legal resident here. We’ve also met a lot of immigration lawyers who say that our system is in desperate need of reform.
What do you think? should it be easier for immigrants to live in the U.S. legally? Should there be less restrictions and a more simplified process?
Associate Community Producer: Sonya Stevenson.
Category: Refugees
After 20 years Europe still does not truly understand Bosnia. Old “experts” go and new ones come in. The European Union has so many different programs that it fails to bring a structure. There is a saying in Bosnia “ispravljas krivu Drinu” which means that you are trying to straighten the twisted Driva river, in other words it’s impossible. Europe/US have gotten Bosnia to where it is today. The Dayton Agreement was not a long term solution, however they have failed to embed the necessary changes in the 15 years of peace. Meanwhile the term “Bosanac ( a person from bosnia)” does not even exist, the further divide between the people was made by calling Bosnian Muslims Bosniaks. As long as you call the people of Bosnia Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats there will be no progress. Once and for all everybody must realize that they are BOSNIANS, peoples from the country called Bosnia. When a Catholic (croat) from Bosnia goes to Zagreb he’s to them the Bosnian, when a Orthodox from Bosnia goes to Belgrade he’s to them the Bosnian…however only in their own country they are not Bosnian to themselves.
Thank you for your comments.
I think the issue of identity is complex. Basically it is a shortcut people use to get to know someone (or to think they know someone). It comes down to intent, that is, what is the purpose of the distinction? Is it to get to know more about an individual or to divide and separate?
In St. Louis people ask ‘Where did you go to high-school?’ The question supposedly informs social ranking. While some may ask the question to get to know someone better, others may ask it to separate them.
Young children look for similarities and differences; sorting is the way they learn to understand the world. So while it may be in our nature to look at similarities and differences, I think it is how we respond to the differences that seem to matter most.