The cross on the head of Ismail Kadare

Agron Gjekmarkaj

In Albania, they probably don't let you live as you want, without holding you accountable, they don't let you die as you want, but even in the afterlife they love you as they want, or in fact as they don't know what they want.

They dared to do this with Rugova, although he didn't seem to be impressed, they did it with Kadare, who, beyond the annoyance he displayed, neither cracked his head nor took them into consideration.

When Rugova passed away, a secular ceremony was held. Immediately from the back of the consciences screams erupted why there were no priests in the last grafts, why didn't he get some other priests, why the music of Beethoven and Mozart in the background, anyone?

Did he convert to Pjetër, did Ibrahim remain, he didn't stop for a long time the blabbering and stupidity!?!

Are you saying that these are the only concerns of the Albanians of the community, such as their personalities or their relations with religion?

In the 90s, this trial was also done to Konica, was it more Domenik or Faik?!

Someone, or someone, seems worried why Ismail Kadare spent the last hours among us under the shadow of Mother Teresa and her rosary, this magnificent daughter of our nation, who is honored by the whole world beyond their beliefs and it seems that respect the Albanians.

As for what Ismail Kadare thought about Mother Teresa, there are countless testimonies, spoken and written. He simply adored and honored him!

Also, he has not hesitated to speak unequivocally about what he thinks about beliefs, language, culture, Albanians and Europe, we have hundreds of pages of evidence. It never hid. He insisted on being clear.

Beyond Edi Rames' words of justification, the portrait of Mother Teresa and her Cross could never be put on his head by government decision without the wishes of his family, Mrs. Helena and his daughters.

While they (his family) would never do to their dearest person, an infidelity, a trap, a coincidence, something that would be against his wishes.

In any case they are within their rights to convey it as they wished.

If Kadare left a bequest, did he want to give a message, this is his sovereign, sacred right, and that of his family, which no one can judge.

Misunderstandings are noticed here and there, or they act as if they do not know that Albania has Muslims, Catholics, Orthodox, other religions, agnostics, atheists, the most natural thing in a plural society, where beliefs are personal and not the domain of public squares or state administration.

None of them is more or less Albanian than the other. It is up to everyone to feel as European as they want.

This is the freedom that remains basic for every citizen, just as much for Ismail Kadare, who has left the most titanic mark on our national and cultural identity. We should reach out to each other, add to the commonality, not throw stones at every tree that has berries.

During the days when the Opposition was in protest, I was asked to talk several times in the group's office with Sali Berisha on matters of culture and faith, the Canon of ethnography. Very interesting conversations, and if I hadn't done them, I would have been a pawn, without any load.

Among other things, one phrase remains in my mind "in six generations, Agron, we are Marvataj, Catholics, and my grandmother always lit a candle in memory of our cousins"!

This is our intertwined history!

It is impossible for us to change it according to the Bible and the Koran. We can use the holy books to enrich it, and not to undo it or for momentary pleasures. Personally, I imagine Kadare already talking with Bogdan, De Rada, Naim, Fishta, Mjeda, Konica, Noli, Lasgushin, Kutel, Esad Mekul, Azem Shkreli, Ali Podrimen, Anton Pashku, Rugova, Zef Pllumi and other brothers of the art of big, to all those who loved Albania, Albania and Albanian Albanians, united not divided, Europeans yesterday, today and tomorrow! ….

And in Bogdan, you can see from afar it seems as if they are sighing like in "Stupid Matters"..... "Ah, my older brother, I speak a different language and speak another religion"! The desire to trivialize Kadare for mediocrity and meanness is hopeless, the possibility that anyone who tries to trivialize himself has endless paths to success.