Forgetting the 105th anniversary of Independence

Forgetting the 105th anniversary of Independence
This article has been written for Albanian Free Press newspaper and www.afp.al

By Roland Qafoku

This year, Prime Minister Edi Rama had the opportunity to show how 28 November, Independence Day, could be celebrated in the most extraordinary way. The man, who not only criticized, but also mocked what the DP did on the 100th anniversary, should have shown how a perfect celebration was organized. In fact, Rama was right on several things. The images of the giant cake and the hungry crowd running toward it, made us feel embarrassed as a nation. But, the transfer of the monument of Ismail Qemali from the National History Museum, his placement in the boulevard and the poor quality of the way it was sculpted, could not be easily forgotten. We cannot even forget the big mistake that was made with the monument of president Woodrow Wilson, where his glasses were missing. The glasses a very distinctive element of the White House chief. Not to forget the outrageous fact that the president of Malaysia was left alone at “Skanderbeg” square and did not know where to go. Luckily, the “stranger” was recognized by former Foreign minister, Arjan Starova, who accompanied the president to the hotel. But these are details of a wedding, which also have their flaws. In spite of this, PM Berisha must be praised about the fact that although there were restricted sources at that time, the celebrations about the 100th anniversary remain the best ones ever organized since the proclamation of Independence. But, the truth is that we’re seeing no organizations at all being prepared for the 105th anniversary. Nobody mentions them. Nobody says anything about organizations taking place. We’re not referring to the minister of Culture, because she does her job only if the PM asks her to do her job, but we’re referring exclusively to the head of the government.

PM Rama announced 2018 as Skanderbeg’s year on the occasion of the 550th anniversary of the National Hero. It’s a good thing he has done, also due to the fact that we’re expecting to launch EU accession talks next year and the alliance of the West with Skanderbeg is the best proof that Albania is not only part of Europe geographically, but its relations with Europe go back 500 years, when little Albania protected the West from the Ottoman invasion.

But before 2018, we have 2017 and the 105th anniversary of the Independence of the Albanian state is much more important. If Skanderbeg serves as a point of gravity to feel proud about the fact that we’ve been at the same level as Europe, the proclamation of Independence makes us land on our feet. It shows us who we were and where we are. It shows us that we loved Albania then and we love her now. An example shown to us by our founding fathers 105 years ago. It was shown to us by the 83 delegates and 40 signatories loved Albania when Albania didn’t exist. It shows that many Albanians gave all they have to make the Albanian state. All of those founding fathers no longer live, but they left us a state. Many of them were killed and persecuted, but they still haven’t been honored as they should. Many of them do not have graves and a part of them rest outside Albania, which they made it a state. To understand all of this, let us read the emotions felt by one of the most signatories of the Declaration of Independence, the first Prime Minister of Albania, Ismail Qemal Vlora:

“Immediately after the voting, everyone left the room and headed upstairs, to my house, in that house where I was born and where my great grandfathers had lived. Among the chants of the people, they wanted to raise the glorious flag of Skanderbeg, which had remained folded in the past 445 years. It was an unforgettable moment and I could feel my hands trembling from the emotions and pride as I was while erecting at the balcony of my early home the flag of the last national sovereign of Albania”. (Ismail Qemali, Memoirs, Page 418)

Edi Rama, who has excelled with his ideas when he has had the necessary will, had the chance to remain in history by building a pantheon of those 40 signatories, to honor their work. But, surprisingly, in front of this silence, this year the pantheon is called luxury. The renovation of all the cemeteries of martyrs fallen during the Second World War throughout the country. This is an incentive which should be praised, but are there bigger heroes and martyrs than the ones who founded this state while their names appear nowhere?  Streets in Tirana and every other city in the country hold the names of “warriors” which we don’t know how they died. The most outrageous thing is that we rarely find streets which bear the name of these 40 signatories. Even in the most difficult years, Albania has always celebrated the anniversary of Independence. The biggest celebrations of Independence were made on the 20th anniversary on 28 November 1932, on the 25th anniversary on 28 November 1937, on the 50th anniversary in 1962 and on the 100th anniversary in 2012. Meanwhile, other anniversaries were celebrated in a simpler manner. However, never has Albania not celebrated this day. For many years, I have collected photographs from the celebrations of the anniversaries of Independence and through this gallery, I have drawn the conclusion that in war and in peace, in hardships and normality, Albania has never forgotten to celebrate 28 November 1912, a date which makes us proud like no other occasion.

 

Note: The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Albanian Free Press’ editorial policy

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