Replike ne anglisht mbi nje shkrim te S.Shwarcz mbi marrdheniet nderfetare ne Shqiperi

To: Dr. Veton Këpuska
Associate ProfessorECE
DepartmentFlorida Institute of Technology
Olin Engineering Building150 West
University Blvd.Melbourne, FL 32901-6975
Tel. (321) 674-7183E-mail: vkepuska@fit.edu

Cc: Members of 'massalbanians'

Dear Sir,
Is it 3 mistakes, or 3 escapes? Did you choose to think like that, or were you having a bad day?
Mistake-Escape #1

"Careful reading of the article reveals that all Islamic faith figures are quoted with their full name and title (e.g., "... Selim Muca, the leading Muslim cleric in the country ...", "... where I met with a leading Sufi, shaykh Ali Pazari of the Halveti order of Islamic spirituality ...") while Christian faith figure was referred only as a "young man in the brown cloth of the order" (e.g., "In a visit to a place sacred to every friend of Albanians -- the Franciscan Library of Shkodra, which was destroyed and pillaged under Communism -- I interviewed an avid young man in the brown cloth of the order ..."); A faceless, nameless figure irrelevant even to be mentioned as if it would take to much space (my comment).While the author claims that his role and of the organization that he has founded is to criticize and contra-act the radical Islamic views (see second paragraph in attached article) - nowhere in the article does he condemn the unaccepted behavior of few Islamic faith individuals (I presume Albanians) who protested placement of Mother Theresa's bust in Shkodra. This is clearly a contradiction of what it is claimed and what is being "preached".
Sir, it's an author's right to use different elements when he writes. One does that, I believe, to color, to describe, to extend, to impress and so on. And, I think, for this reason only Mr. Schwartz describes the young Franciscan as ''young man in the brown cloth of the order". This, if we abruptly leave out the possibility of the interviewed asking for his name not to be released.When the author mentions the Muslim clerics the reason he chooses to use their full names is, perhaps, a tribute to the social position they hold. An effort to tell the reader that not only the people of Albania, but their religious institutions go by "Albanian first, Christian or Muslim second".

Mistake-Escape #2
"Without going further into detailed dissection of the article, I state with the certainty that no sane Albanian would protest the figure of our beloved Gongje Agnes Bojanxhiu - Mother Theresa. And those who do that need to be treated and qualified as such; insane, regardless of their personal convictions."
Such debate is ongoing in American politics too; the so called Jesus-mania of the current administration, Bible readings in schools and the Ten Commandments removal from secular buildings. Do liberals have a point or would you call them insane, too. Both Mother Theresa and Jesus Christ are considered emblems of Christendom and once one becomes part of such perception the national origin becomes a mere memory. Now, the difference between Albania and USA is the "culture of politics". Albanian politics don't have any. Which explains the overwhelming fever to cover up the Muslim features of our national identity. It should remind us of the covering of women's faces in fundamentally Muslim countries and Kadare's critique of this "there isn't much to be expected from nations who cover the face of their woman".Is it much to be expected of Albanians if they choose to follow the same path? Only this time hiding the face of their identity. Yes. A good portion of Albania's populace is Muslim. (This if ethnic Albanian lands in the Balkans are excluded). Not 70 per cent as a census of 1947 (??) is still celebrated by the world media, but propably 50-55 per cent. This, if we were to recalculate the 50 years of atheist Albania and the liberties available after 1992, allowing lots of individuals to exchange spiritual sides. The trend being Catholic and Protestant.

Mistake-Escape #3.
"While the article seemingly reflects on positive relationships of different faith groups in Albania, it unmistakably is written to promote Islamic faith and rather not to promote Albanian way of dealing with it."_ "Clearly one has to conclude that once again we Albanians are being used for someone-else's agenda in the worst possible way. Thus I urge caution not to promote agendas that are not purely to our interests."
Nowhere in this article, actually let me use the Albanian word "kurrekund", since it allows us a bit more view, an Islamic agenda is present. Open nor hidden. I'm sure, part of being "Homo Balkanicus" is the never-ending crave for some conspiracy theory. I suffer from this too, sometimes, and let me tell you, it may be healthy. Permits one to think his intelligence is oh-not-so-average. I reconfirm that the article I posted on "massalbanians" is in fact very Albanian-friendly, furthermore very Catholic-friendly. Do I have an Islamist agenda? I want to let you know, sir, that I AM NOT A MUSLIM. Hence, the lack of such agenda. I also want to let you know, and propably have you understand, that we should be grateful for the Albanian Muslims. For this 'body of believers' who walked with us through the path of tolerance starting with the Albanian Renaissance.
Sir, a few Albanian Muslims (probably illiterate) bother you because they don't want the statue of catholic symbol (she is Albanian, I know!) erected in their town. What happened with the Right to Protest? What bothers me is professionals with 2 cents worth (dy pare mend) and title-tailing names who, either by choice, or accident, create a Surreal Fictional Albania as they see fit. Then, they claim their viewpoint to be a wide Albanian one. My fear has to do with the possibility of alienating the Albanian Muslims. Keeping up with our "new found Albanian Christianity" and asking more people to join in is nothing but fine. Trying "the needle of religious injection" against a majority is nothing but the bad news of a back clash.
I choose to be a Christian on my own.
Dear Sir, I'm sure you have Albanians best at heart and, so do I. Take this as a sign of my Right to Protest against anyone (in this case you) who fictionally presents an agenda as being mine. I hope the sun is shining down in Florida, and what I wrote gave your "room" a different view. I, also, apologize if my use of English comes across as handicapped.
Best regards,Alfred

On Tue, 9 May 2006 09:21:29 -0400"Veton Kepuska" <vkepuska@fit.edu> wrote:

Dear Friends of Albania and Albanians,

While I view interfaith relations of Albanians as a whole as positive, I can not say the same about the recent posted article in massalbanians list (Digest Number 534) written by Stephen Schwartz, a TCS contributing writer and co-founder for the Center of Islamic Pluralism (see attached).
While the article seemingly reflects on positive relationships of different faith groups in Albania, it unmistakably is written to promote Islamic faith and rather not to promote Albanian way of dealing with it.
Careful reading of the article reveals that all Islamic faith figures are quoted with their full name and title (e.g., "... Selim Muca, the leading Muslim cleric in the country ...", "... where I met with a leading Sufi, shaykh Ali Pazari of the Halveti order of Islamic spirituality ...") while Christian faith figure was referred only as a "young man in the brown cloth of the order" (e.g., "In a visit to a place sacred to every friend of Albanians -- the Franciscan Library of Shkodra, which was destroyed and pillaged under Communism -- I interviewed an avid young man in the brown cloth of the order ..."); A faceless, nameless figure irrelevant even to be mentioned as if it would take to much space (my comment).
While the author claims that his role and of the organization that he has founded is to criticize and contra-act the radical Islamic views (see second paragraph in attached article) - nowhere in the article does he condemn the unaccepted behavior of few Islamic faith individuals (I presume Albanians) who protested placement of Mother Theresa's bust in Shkodra. This is clearly a contradiction of what it is claimed and what is being "preached".
Without going further into detailed dissection of the article, I state with the certainty that no sane Albanian would protest the figure of our beloved Gongje Agnes Bojanxhiu - Mother Theresa. And those who do that need to be treated and qualified as such; insane, regardless of their personal convictions.
Clearly one has to conclude that once again we Albanians are being used for someone-else's agenda in the worst possible way. Thus I urge caution not to promote agendas that are not purely to our interests.
My 2c worth.
--Veton


From: "Alfred Lela"
Date: Mon May 8, 2006 6:32am(PDT)
Subject: Interfaith relations in Albania

Shkodra, Albania -- Does the mainstream media (MSM) incitethe clash of civilizations (COC) between theJudeo-Christian world and Islam? At times, it seems so.A recent example involves the small country of Albania,which is mysterious to most foreigners. I have publishedmuch on the history of mutual interfaith respect amongAlbanians, who are 70 percent Muslim (mainly Sunnis, butwith at least a third comprising Europe's only indigenousShias). The institution I have founded, the Center forIslamic Pluralism (CIP), seeks to promote the commoninterest of all monotheistic believers. I have publishedseveral articles and comments defending the rights ofGreek Orthodox believers in Turkey, the sanctity ofsynagogues in Gaza, and other issues involvingnon-Muslims.Some argue that CIP's efforts to oppose Muslim radicalswhen they attack other religions are meaningless, becauseaccording to such instant experts, nobody in the Muslimworld listens to me or to CIP. While I do not intend thiscommentary as mere self-promotion, since CIP was foundedlast year, I have met repeatedly with Islamic clerics inthe Balkans and Southeast Asia, and, as in the past, withdissident Saudis -- and I sincerely believe our work has apositive effect.But let me not stray too far from what brought me toAlbania. The April 2006 issue of First Things, an AmericanChristian magazine of considerable influence, printed anarticle of mine calling on the Vatican to do more to helpAlbanian Catholics preserve their cultural heritage -- notin the face of Muslim aggression, but against the remnantsof Communist corruption in politics and legal standardsThe article called forth a generous comment from theeditor of First Things, Jody Bottum, who also, however,mentioned news reports of Muslim-Catholic conflict in thenorthern Albanian city of Shkodra, in which Catholics werehistorically a majority and now make up half thepopulation. Many Catholics have left Shkodra for otherAlbanian cities where economic opportunities are better.As a Catholic and anti-Communist redoubt, Shkodracontinues to suffer, in its social development, from thediscrimination imposed on it by decades of Marxist terror.Given the seriousness of the matter, and the unfortunate fact that I have been repeatedly and vehemently accused of hiding the bad face of Islam, I took an opportunity -- an invitation to Britain for an event cosponsored by the Organization for the Islamic Conference (OIC), the Saudi-based international body of 57 Muslim-majority states, including the Palestinian Authority -- and have spent a week in Albania, investigating the situation for myself. (I have the further pleasure of announcing that my book The Two Faces of Islam has come out in Albanian, and used the occasion for a launch and interviews regarding it.) As noted in Mr. Bottum's comments, the alleged conflict in Shkodra involved a bust of Mother Teresa, who is considered a national hero among Albanians. A small group of Muslims in Shkodra protested the erection of an official monument to her, as it might thus appear that the city belonged only to Catholics. It may be observed that the most aggravated reportage on this controversy came from Reuters news service, which has been widely criticized for its politicization. Reuters is infamous for referring to Arabs who commit acts of brutal violence as "militants" rather than terrorists. As usual for the MSM, some crucial comments in the Reuters reportage were solicited in bars and on the street, which may be appropriate when dealing with fires or traffic jams, but is inappropriate for journalism regarding conflicts that may result in bloodshed. But a contrasting report from Associated Press quoted Selim Muca, the leading Muslim cleric in the country, who said, "We respect the contribution of the distinguished figures of our nation, like that of Mother Teresa, who is the honor of our nation." In Albania, Mother Teresa is omnipresent; the airport at the capital, Tirana, has been renamed for her. In Shkodra, Catholic monuments are commonplace. The style of hijab or "Islamic" covering by women often seen in Kosovo -- older women, that is, in long grey overcoats with headscarves is absent here; more on that below. Nearly everyone I met assured me that while there had been a brief dust-up involving some Muslim complaints about the Mother Teresa bust, nothing serious had occurred or was expected to take place. Nevertheless, a local Muslim intellectual told me the uproar reflected the desire of Muslims to make clear they, as well as Catholics, are part of the local scene, and have been so for centuries. In a visit to a place sacred to every friend of Albanians -- the Franciscan Library of Shkodra, which was destroyed and pillaged under Communism -- I interviewed an avid young man in the brown cloth of the order. Our talk followed an afternoon mass crowded with children and adults, including men -- the latter rare in "Catholic" Spain or Italy. I had earlier heard the church bells, and as we spoke, I listened to the adhan or Muslim call to prayer, from a large mosque nearby -- the Balkan stands only a block or two away, although the Orthodox have never had a large presence in the town. The young Franciscan described to me how Catholics and Muslims in Shkodra, as they have for generations, join together for the holidays of each faith, and how priests in training visit mosques. And he showed me a wondrous thing: Qur'an, the sacred book of Islam, translated and printed in Albanian by Catholics early in the 20thcentury. They wanted to advance the literacy of allAlbanians, so the Catholics printed Qur'an!The next day I went to Tirana, where I met with a leadingSufi, shaykh Ali Pazari of the Halveti order of Islamicspirituality. The shaykh told me an equally remarkablestory: in the 1920s, in poor, isolated, exotic Albania,his grandfather, who was also a leading mystic, was calledthe "Catholic Sufi" because he called on women to take offtheir hijab and go to school! Shaykh Ali repeatedsomething I have heard from many Albanians -- thatreligious leaders must put the national interest first,ahead of religious issues. And he underscored that Sufism,like Catholicism, had its strongest historic roots inShkodra.So why should random comments in Shkodra, a town mostpeople in the leading countries never heard of, haveelicited the interest of the MSM? Rumors of aninterreligious battle in a distant corner of the globecame after the scandal of the Danish cartoons of theProphet Muhammad, the global outcry over persecution of aChristian convert in Afghanistan, and similar "bigstories" that present Islam in the worst possible light,as well as consistent propagandist "journalism" about Iraq-- ignoring the Saudi role in the violence there, andpresenting bloodthirsty terrorists as "insurgents." Theseofferings by the MSM typically embody misinformation ifnot disinformation -- Islam does NOT ban the depiction ofthe Prophet, and Islam lacks a body of consistent practiceregarding changes and fusions between religions, as Irecently noted in TCS Daily. I have repeatedly pointedout, here and elsewhere, that Iraqis themselves do notview the killers of the innocent in Iraq as a"resistance," but as Saudi-financed Sunni aggression.Could it be that the cynical principle, "if it bleeds itleads," and a desire to make the global situation worse since efforts toward its betterment would presumablyconflict with the supposed "objectivity" of the MSM --have made journalists more complicit than any governmentin the worldwide nightmare we all face? I am a journalist,and do not want to believe this. I have argued thatreporters are "first responders" and cannot be expected tounderstand the nuances of Islam. But I increasingly feel Iam wrong about that, because I am also a Muslim, and anAmerican, and I want to prevent the clash of civilizations, not stand aside as more people fight and die. Nobody accepted such neutral conduct by journalistsin the late 1930s, facing the challenge of fascism; nobody should accept it in the context of a planetary struggleagainst Islamofascism or its mirror-image, Islamophobia.Jews say: before there is Torah, there is bread. That is,before prayer comes work to survive. But an ethical person does not justify lies by the need to earn bread. Beforedeadlines, there is, or must be, conscience. Stephen Schwartz is a TCS contributing writer andco-founder for the Center of Islamic Pluralism.