There have been, there and there will be always two Albania-s! This week there were two developments that could illustrate this paradigm very well. One of them caused a lot of attention and media coverage. The other not so much.
The Central Elections Commission released the electronic self-declaration forms of high level officials in public duty including MPs and mayors where they state their past, any problems or encounters that they might have had with the justice system in Albania and abroad as well as any sentences and investigations.
The reaction to the publication of the self-declaration forms have been very different. Some have been disappointed that the majority of the declared “crimes” are mostly in the nature of small misdemeanors and traffic rule abuses. Some have expressed outrage that the declarations hint to much more problematic cases such as drugs trade, prostitution and human trafficking, racketeering and involvement in organized crime gangs, mostly undertaken while residing in Western Europe. Finally some people have found it a leisure activity to make fun of the trend to change names, since the papers showed some mayors and MPs have done so more than twice. Some for aesthetic reasons, since they didn’t love the names that their families assigned them at birth and some for hiding their pasts, avoiding to get caught at borders and taking the opportunity for a fresh new start at public office.
Smell closely and you will catch the whiff of the fraternity of thugs!
The reaction for the political parties’ media rooms have been ludicrous. As if in dark humor, absurd theatre, one side asks the other: where are the criminals that you claimed I have? The other side responds: you have more criminals than us!
In the same week, the Different Trains festival was also held for the fifth consecutive year in Tirana with performances of classic music in three different venues. Talented and bright musicians born and educated mainly in Albania, then specialized and qualified abroad visit their capital each year, stopping their activities abroad, to bring some wonderful music to Tirana, often premieres never played before. They are so successful these young artists! It is impressive to read the leaflet of the festival and their bios: their achievements in the orchestras and events all over the world, their prizes and their recorded CDs, their performances for the most selective audiences, their masterfully accomplished professional profiles. They are pure reasons to feel proud.
The reaction to these concerts is a general feeling of awe, a lot of warm emotional and genuine applause, but most importantly a solid sense of pride we take in these sons and daughters of this country: that they are so good, that they have made it so far, that they get the applause of audiences all over the world and that they come back to Albania each year to play some music for us.
Look carefully and you will see the fraternity of light!
As with all initiatives that try to shed light on the dark, the decriminalization law and its impact also casts a long grey shadow. One can only imagine the impact that this revealed truth, which was known and discussed over cafes until now, has on the youth of this country. The fate of politicians in a small place like Albania tells a lot to youngsters about their role models, how to become rich and powerful, important and influential, how to make a mark and secure a future. It presents to them the public office institutions, including Parliament, municipality and political parties as the redemption places for all previous sins and crimes, just like finding God and religion. Campaign and you shall be absolved! Get enough votes and you will rise!
Not enough young people are sitting in the concert halls of the wonderful music of events such as the Different Trains festival to make up for a counterweight of the bad model above. Not enough young people are exposed to the success, prestige and applause that you can get if you work hard, respect the rules, impress the elders of a profession with your talent, integrity and professionalism like these musicians have done! Study hard and you shall shine! Practice every day and you will succeed!
There have been, there and there will always be two fraternities here: the fraternity of thugs and the fraternity of violinists!
