This reminds me of Albanians during my high school years. One year, there were especially a lot of problems between Albanians kids (probably 90% were Catholic and from Montenegro) and everybody else (mind you, the feud between Albanian and Macedonian and Serbian youth had been going on for about 10 years, this year had probably been the worst, and incorporated Americans). There were essentially fights every week. The Albanians came to school one morning with lawyers, threatening lawsuits, accusing the school administration (along with the general student population) of discrimination. Our administration caved to the pressure and said that the general student population was to blame because we weren't accepting of the Albanians and we were not integrating them into the school community. (One morning they even announced that for school spirit day we shouldn't wear "red, white and blue" but our school colors instead...in hopes to not upset the sensitive Albanians' feelings). As most American kids pointed out, there was no troubles with the integration of Italian-Americans, Arab Americans, Macedonian Americans, and even African Americans. Pretty much: the Albanians did not want to integrate.
Soon after that, we held an international day at school. The Scottish group brought a bagpiper. Well, as soon as the bagpiper started playing, the Albanians started playing their music and dancing in a circle around the bagpiper, drowning out his sound and making a mockery out of him. Later, they came to the Macedonian group and turned off our music and covered the Macedonian presentation with an Albanian flag. One Macedonian in particular didn't like that and threw a chair at the Albanians. Of course, he got in trouble. Then, we had a prep rally, all class levels sat with their respective classes -- 9th with 9th, 10th with 10th, and so forth. Albanians formed their own section in the stands and waved their Albanian flags.
I could go on writing a book about those experiences. However, my point is that I think there is something about Albanian culture or group mentality that makes integration in another society very, very difficult. Now, I hear that things are better in the schools with the younger generations of Albanians as far as integration. My experience was exacerbated by the fact that regular American kids at schools were good friends with all of us Macedonians so they naturally were on our side against the Albanians. But with regards to the rest of life, a lot of people don't want to go to popular cafes anymore because so many Albanians go there, and they make regular Americans uncomfortable...treating girls disrespectfully, making a mess for the employees to clean up, getting in fights, etc. Not to mention they are known in the Detroit area for their criminal activity.
I just came back from Macedonia a week ago. After driving through many parts of Tetovo area and seeing dozens of Albanian flags and only seeing one Macedonian flag (which was in my dad's village, which has no Albanians in it), it's pretty clear that they don't view themselves as part of the Macedonian state. Some Macedonians I talked to would even laugh and say, "Tetovosko? Toa ne e Makedonija, toa e Albanija".
I don't think it's Macedonia's (or any state government's) job to integrate its people: either people want to live together, or will live together for their betterment, or they won't. You have to give up many parts of your culture and mentality in order to integrate. That creates a lot of internal and external conflict. There has to be something common they all believe is more important than their own culture/way of life. Personally, I'm a little relieved there are places like the Balkans that are still managing to hold onto that. Sooner or later, they too may, voluntarily or involuntarily, accept that substance-free Western lifestyle revolving around consumerism and debt. Thus, while I view them, as a threat (to a certain extent) to Macedonian culture and identity, I applaud them for their stubbornness: maybe we Macedonians could learn something from their unwillingness or inability to integrate.
Soon after that, we held an international day at school. The Scottish group brought a bagpiper. Well, as soon as the bagpiper started playing, the Albanians started playing their music and dancing in a circle around the bagpiper, drowning out his sound and making a mockery out of him. Later, they came to the Macedonian group and turned off our music and covered the Macedonian presentation with an Albanian flag. One Macedonian in particular didn't like that and threw a chair at the Albanians. Of course, he got in trouble. Then, we had a prep rally, all class levels sat with their respective classes -- 9th with 9th, 10th with 10th, and so forth. Albanians formed their own section in the stands and waved their Albanian flags.
I could go on writing a book about those experiences. However, my point is that I think there is something about Albanian culture or group mentality that makes integration in another society very, very difficult. Now, I hear that things are better in the schools with the younger generations of Albanians as far as integration. My experience was exacerbated by the fact that regular American kids at schools were good friends with all of us Macedonians so they naturally were on our side against the Albanians. But with regards to the rest of life, a lot of people don't want to go to popular cafes anymore because so many Albanians go there, and they make regular Americans uncomfortable...treating girls disrespectfully, making a mess for the employees to clean up, getting in fights, etc. Not to mention they are known in the Detroit area for their criminal activity.
I just came back from Macedonia a week ago. After driving through many parts of Tetovo area and seeing dozens of Albanian flags and only seeing one Macedonian flag (which was in my dad's village, which has no Albanians in it), it's pretty clear that they don't view themselves as part of the Macedonian state. Some Macedonians I talked to would even laugh and say, "Tetovosko? Toa ne e Makedonija, toa e Albanija".
I don't think it's Macedonia's (or any state government's) job to integrate its people: either people want to live together, or will live together for their betterment, or they won't. You have to give up many parts of your culture and mentality in order to integrate. That creates a lot of internal and external conflict. There has to be something common they all believe is more important than their own culture/way of life. Personally, I'm a little relieved there are places like the Balkans that are still managing to hold onto that. Sooner or later, they too may, voluntarily or involuntarily, accept that substance-free Western lifestyle revolving around consumerism and debt. Thus, while I view them, as a threat (to a certain extent) to Macedonian culture and identity, I applaud them for their stubbornness: maybe we Macedonians could learn something from their unwillingness or inability to integrate.
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