I saw this somewhere this morning and all I could was

If an assassin is a national hero, something is wrong with that "nation."

The Balkans were seeking independence from the Aus-Hun Empire. Although Princip probably didn't anticipate assassinating Ferdinand would result in a war encompassing all of Europe, the end result was independence for the Balkans. So naturally he's viewed as a national hero there.

Granted, I'm sure Princip never could have anticipated the ultimate outcome of his choice to become a murderer, any thinking, feeling person NOW would see that his legacy is NOT something of which to be proud.

Although he didn't intend to start a world war, merely to assassinate the ruler of the foreign empire that colonized them, the end result was independence for the Balkans. Naturally he's a hero there.

If they want this fuck to be a hero, let them stand on their own.

Fuck 'em all.

And, one could argue that his actions led to the Balkans being under the dictatorship of Tito, and part of the Soviet Block.
Hardly "independence."

The independence they have now is the result of the Soviets losing the Cold War, nothing this loser did.

KNOW what his actions helped cause.

They could at least put a line on the monument's text acknowledging that most of those who died in the war had had nothing whatsoever to do with Serbia's status as a Hapsburg colony and apologizing for helping start that utterly pointless conflict.

that caused the massive conflict

The Serbian nationalists goal was ridding themselves of foreign imperial rule. What caused that to escalate into WW1 was many entangling alliances, imperial intentions of Germany and Russia, and the opportunity afforded by a weakening Ottoman Empire.

There were a whole slew of DUers who were disgusted he was ever "free". They saw his latest (false) arrest as some sort of "vindication" of his (never proven) ties to the IRA.

When I protested that to many Irish, he was actually a peace activist who managed to find a resolution with Britain, I was majorly slammed.

For them, Adams (without a shred of evidence), is a terrorist.

What's even weirder is that most of those most passionate about his latest arrest were AMERICANS! Not Brits OR Irish.....

For the Balkans, Princip achieved their goal. The human cost however was disastrous and its worth having a conversation about whether it was worth it or not.

I hate to say it but all those who take "bold" action are neither heroes nor saints.

Adams has been examined and re-examined and has never been found to have been directly involved in any murders or assassinations.

Not only that, but he dedicated himself to bringing about peace.

Princip, at best, is like Mrs. O'Leary's cow. A dimwit who brought about a catastrophe.
But, he did set out to do deliberate harm, and anyone who would raise a statue in his honor is morally bankrupt.

Adams, whatever his crimes may or may not have been (and he's been gone over with a fine-tooth comb, so I don't think he ever did anything heinous) has done his best to bring about peace and reconciliation.

I, personally, would have no problem with a statue erected to honor Adams.

I know I should read up on it at some point.

But here is a good capsule summary of events:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Archduke_Franz_Ferdinand_of_Austria

Germany likely would have emerged the winner, as several more years of gaining economic and military strength couldn't have been countered by England and France.

It's entirely possible that ALL of the decaying empires of Europe(and Hohenzollern Germany was just as decayed as the rest by then)would have been overthrown by workers' revolts, producing a pan-European socialist revolution that would never have degenerated into tyranny, regimentation, militarism and right-wing ethnic supremacism, as the USSR did once Stalin took over.

The US should shun Bosnia over this.

But, I agree, anyone who would erect a statue to that murderer should be shunned by anyone of thought or feeling.

England had quite a different view of our patriots than we do. Native Americans have a different view of Sitting Bull than we do... and they have a different opinion of George Custer than others do. Its all a matter of perspective. You think you should be the final arbitor of who each country's heros should or shouldn't be? That's mighty arrogant and ignorant.