What is more important in life; freedom or hope? Do you have to lose one to get the other? On the good side, with communism everything and everyone was the same. Unemployment didn't exist. Everyone had a house, job security, and basic food. Laws were obeyed and enforced so crime was very low. There are a few good things about communism that I had never taken the time to think about. Some people are nostalgic about it, and some don't even want to discuss it. It is very interesting to me.
On the other hand, the people lived with much more fear under communism. People disappeared for many reasons. It wasn't a good thing to be different or to stand out or to speak out. There were many work camps and political prisoners. Religious freedom was taken away. There was even something called "mandatory" volunteer work, which to me seems like an oxymoron.
I'm not an expert on communism at all. Not even close. I only know what I am hearing and reading. I wouldn't like being told I couldn't practice my religion. Albania was a very atheist country during communism and most churches and places of worship were destroyed. I wouldn't like knowing that if I produced more or better work it wouldn't matter because we will all be paid the same no matter what. Young adult life hasn't been easy for my kids in the US and I wonder if they would have liked having a guaranteed job and a place to live regardless of their work ethic? But for what price?
Another man I talked with had lived in London for 6 years. He tried for years to get a work visa there but was unable to, so he had to return to Albania. He says he feels he is living in a big prison cell. Is life really so bad, I ask? I have seen much worse in Africa, I tell him. You have fertile ground to grow food, the home of your parents to live in, the freedom to worship and travel. He still didn't think his life had hope. He listed his complaints; horrible corruption in every government office, the need to pay bribes to get anything done, such large potholes in the roads that destroy vehicles, high levels of poverty, high prices, low wages, huge unemployment rate, unenforcement of laws, terrible medical care, etc. Even if a new political party won the upcoming elections, he feels it will just be bad leadership taking over the current bad leadership. I just listened. What could I say?
We are here to do what we can to help. Albania is one of only a few countries that let US Peace Corps work in their government offices to help with the restructure of power and resources from the top (Prime Minister) to the bottom (local level). We want to help get those resources to the people who need them. We need to help get the resources down to the local level so they can fix their roads, provide social services to the poor, provide more job opportunities, and better medical conditions to the local people and so many other things.
It's an exciting time for Albania as they try to get into the European Union. Next month is a big trial for them as they have a major election for prime minister. Will it be Berisha, Democratic Party and in power for many years with a history of major corruption? Or will it be Rama, leader of the Socialist Party, who also has a history of corruption? If Rama wins, many current government leaders will be replaced with his own men. Many people have the potential to lose their jobs in this election. It is a very stressful time for Albanians. And it will continue to be so until the election on June 23rd.
For us as PCVs, we are not involved in any way. We are to sit back and watch the process unfold. It is an experience of a life time. I enjoy reading the newspapers and staying current on the finger pointing and fighting. It's not so much different than our latest US election between Obama and Romney; lots of mud slinging and name calling and defamation!
As to my original comment. Can there be freedom AND hope? Yes, I will always choose freedom first, because no one can EVER take your hope away. With freedom, I believe you can always hope things can become better....eventually.
Albanians are sooooooo dramatic! There's actually more economic security in Albania than most countries - this attitude is maddening. Luckily, it's not the majority - although it might be a bit more frequent in the parts of the country you're finding yourself in.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, the pessimism comes after years of the Berisha government, also the country is traumatized by the events of the 1990s, and the complete destruction of the infrastructure, which has hardly been rebuilt by the Berisha government, who is so pathetic, incompetent and corrupt that is would actually be ridiculous - if Albanians weren't so dramatic.
Anyway, thank you for this blog - I loved reading your perspective. I'm sorry I barked at you about the dog thing. The name is Lola and I will stop spamming you now.