So I was pleased earlier this week when I submitted an article to The American Thinker reflecting on the changes that are occurring, and have occurred, since my first visit there in March 1994 - just a few years after the country emerged from one of the most oppressive Communist regimes ever. During those dark years, Albania was officially atheistic. After Communism, religious struggle was unheard of; today, that is no longer the case, as I discuss in my American Thinker article published this morning, "Albania and the Perils of the 21st Century".
Prompted by a recent Washington Post article by Mary Jordan, "Albanians Discover God, If Not Old-Time Religion", in my article I discuss the growing conflict between Christians and Muslims in the country, caused by the exponential growth of Saudi Wahhabi-backed mosques all over the country. As I mention, I witnessed this phenomena first-hand.
Thus, not even two decades after emerging from Communist atheistic darkness, Albania is right in the middle of the current conflict between Islam and the rest of the world. As one of the areas historically straddling the divide between East and West, and a former battleground between Christian Europe and Islamic imperialism, Albania is one of the most important areas to watch to guage how this newest battle in the ancient conflict is going. I conclude:
Once more, Albania faces extraordinary odds. Yet it might be that the country's survival over decades of brutal atheism may be the key to preserving its hard-won freedoms. The developing story of Albania and the perils of the 21st Century is very much our own. Paying attention to their story, their failures and successes, along with their long history in this battle, may be the lessons we must eventually learn to save ourselves in the ideological and religious long-war that lies ahead.
Read the whole article! And here's a picture of me at the tender age of 25 somewhere in middle of nowhere Southern Albania.
3 comments:
Dear Mr. Poole,
I cannot do anything but consider your 'article' an exaggeration of what the real situation is in Albania. It is true that many mosques have been built, as well as many churches, but this means that the Albanians are enjoying their religious freedoms forbidden by the communist regime. I don't quite understand what your point: are you saying that ban of religion was good to Albania? Or are you saying that only ban of Islam is good to Albania? Are you implying that Islam is evil?
Mr. Poole, almost all mosques and churches were destroyed during the communist regime, so it is normal that new religious buildings had to be built to allow believers to exercise their right to pray. I am an Albanian myself, my family is Muslim, my girlfriend is catholic, my aunt is married to an orthodox man, and I have many friends who are Atheist, Protestant, Orthodox, and Muslim. I travel a lot around the country and I am very informed about what happens in Albania and the region. I assure you and other readers that Albania, except for some minor incidents that occur very rarely, is a country where there is religious harmony that would be envied by any country in the world. If your fear is US citizens' security, then you should be aware that Albanians (and I mean all of the Albanians in the region) are the Europeans who favor the USA the most.
Please, next time make a more informed inquiry of the situation in Albania.
Elsi,
If you can't bother to deal with the substance of my article, and only engage in flat-out misrepresentations ("are you saying that ban of religion was good to Albania? Or are you saying that only ban of Islam is good to Albania? Are you implying that Islam is evil?"), there's really no point in responding, because it's not honest discussion you're interested in.
thhank you for your comments
Bathmate
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