Talk:Benkovac

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[edit] Fair use rationale for Image:Benkovac (grb).gif

Image:Benkovac (grb).gif is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in Wikipedia articles constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images uploaded after 4 May, 2006, and lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.BetacommandBot 01:55, 1 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Serbian name

If the locality has significant Serbian population or for historical reasons it is important, Serbian name should be included. --Koppany 13:02, 15 September 2007 (UTC)

I greatly appreciate the fact that you used the talk page Koppany so I can explain. I'm not sure if you are familiar with Croatian or Serbian or Serbo-Croatian language, but they are very similar. Therefore, (with the exception of dialect-influenced terms such as Srijem/Srem) all of the cities or towns or villages in either country are intelligible to each language. Meaning, Benkovac, or any other city in Croatia (even Biograd) will be called the same thing in Serbian. The main difference in the languages, as I am sure most know, is the alphabet. Now, the language of Croatia is officially Croatian; Istra is the only place in which the area is officially bilingual (with Italian).

So what good will it do to just put the same word up again, but in a different alphabet? Serbian is not an official language, Serbs are a minority, and like the Czechs and other minorities, they have certain rights like learning their language in schools, etc, but the Serbian language is not used officially in any government business, legal documents, road signs etc. According to the last census, a vast majority of Serbs say they speak the Croatian language (not surprising, they live in Croatia and their speech is more similar to a Croat in Croatia than a Serb in Beograd). Unlike Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia is not a place in which Cyrillic is used officially.

My question now is, why is it so important that Cyrillic writing be up there? What good does it do on a geographical page about a town in a country that does recognize or use that alphabet and that most Serbs in the country don't even use? You mention historical reasons; the city and area was never a part of Serbia. Serbia had no impact on the area with the exception of the war. Serbs were just barely over 50% of the town. I'm sure most normal Wikipedia contributing Serbs will not bother with a trivial matter like this; it is only the extreme (now banned) users that made it their agenda to insert everything and anything Serbian they can onto the Croatian pages, which was for their own personal satisfaction rather than anything useful. Cheers! --Jesuislafete 17:47, 15 September 2007 (UTC)

Thanks for your answer. I appreciate your explanation, however can not accept it completly. I am not a Serb and unfortunately had a lot of conlifcts with a certain ultranationalist Serbian user of Wikipedia and I also consider unnecessary to add a Serbian Cyrillic name of every locality in Croatia. I can also understand the feeling of Croatians against Cirilica that may be a symbol of Serbian agression against Croatia. Nevertheless, in the case of a town where Serbs formed about 50 % of the inhabitanst, furthermore it was part of Rebuplic of Serbian Krajina (yes, I know it was an unrecognised puppet state, but de facto it was a historical entity) Serbian names should be mentioned. I am also adding the Hungarian name of Croatian towns and villages where they are relevant, and I think it does not disturb any Croatian users, as I also add Croatian or German name of Hungarian towns. I will not add it again, but if someone wants to do so I will support it. Laku noc! --Koppany 20:24, 15 September 2007 (UTC)