Albanians, always late!

As if by paradox, now that Qosja has closed his eyes, Albanians are and remain late. To his sadness and that of all Albanians who think. Here is the consolation and respect for him, this unyielding mind of national truth. Without fear he put his finger on the great national wound, as if addressing himself: As always late

The news a few days ago about the death of Prof. Rexhep Qosja aroused more curiosity about the news and the very strict funeral ceremony, if one can say so for such an event, than the actual separation from life of this distinguished personality! As if he had felt it, but also desired his honor (distancing), even on that last day the Albanians on this side of the border were clashing senselessly in parliament; and very close to him, on another border, in Kosovo they were lobbying for the election of a president, who has been rumored and lobbying in vain for months. However, the Appeal of Conscience made the Albanian Parliament mourn for him, while Kosovo officially declared a day of national mourning. This is where the return of honor to him ends, so to speak. Prof. Qosja himself found it easier, even while alive, somewhat anticipating the bitter news and our chaos, to leave the will to be buried simply. Clean. Quiet. "Forgotten." Except, no politicians. No wailers. And, no pathetic orators.

The survival of the figure of Qosje begins now, when critics will have to return to his literary and political reviews and analyses and the attempt to forget him. Fortunately, most of this attitude has been left documented through an entire column, which constitutes his diary and creativity, where the diagram of perceptions, attitudes, emotions and their reality can be examined, but on the other hand, the contemporaneity of many of his things.

Qosja did not consider himself the sole and sublime voice of the National Conscience, but with what he created, debated and announced, he showed that he had the attributes (with his training he could articulate it like few others) to show what Albanians had faced over the years, often without even knowing how to digest it properly. The most difficult thing for him remained enlightening the thoughts of his compatriots and finding points where he could talk to them about contemporary cultivation. And, Albanians must be constantly reminded of the Conscience, far from pathos, where the measure of moral authority is and should remain the homeland and its development.

Historical awareness is based on three major principles, the first of which remains the difference, what Qosja treated in different aspects of the Albanian issue, seeking to make it as appropriate as possible for the time. His contribution in the 70s, 80s and 90s and later, when the Kosovo issue had not yet taken shape, will be a measure for critics to examine his role, as would happen in his predictions for independence that culminated on February 17, 2008 with the great act of independence; the second with the context that constitutes a vital component of historical awareness for a nation. Here Qosja argues with many Albanian government officials and thinkers of letters. He will be harsh even with Kadare, although from time to time there will be high expressions of consideration between them, while their debate will escalate again a few years ago to an intellectual aggressiveness. All of this will essentially show that the Albanian issue still needs maturity, when even among such personalities there are different perceptions. Without any hesitation, Berisha will not be separated as one of the most historic people of Albania post '90, considering his behavior towards Kosovo, similar to that of Ahmet Zogu. However, death forgets many things. Berisha will evaluate it a few hours ago: "Culture, Albanian literary and social and political thought, Albanian polemics and letters lost a colossus of theirs, author of a series of works in these fields".

Qosja will contextualize the Albanian issue, against the almost servile Gandhism of Ibrahim Rugova and his people, will have confrontation and cooperation with Adem Demaçi, meanwhile will monitor very carefully the context of international relations for Kosovo. And, will know how to take a stand on one of the biggest problems of our identity: the standard of Albanian, which in the early 90s was asked to be changed. He defends the standard, but for a former doctoral student of his Sedaj, who articulates it as a thesis against it, even though he does not agree and appreciates that: he raised his voice when his right to free expression was violated. This is called dignity, but also reason. This is the quality of people who share perceptions with ideas and beliefs.

Except that the anger towards the professor from Albania, but especially in Kosovo, will not be forgotten for years. “A very unscrupulous campaign is being carried out against me, against Adem Demaçi, against Bujar Bukoshi, and against Bajram Kosumi, but that campaign against me is especially vile”, he writes somewhere sadly... Suddenly, in a note of December 28, 1997, he writes what is today in Kosovo and constitutes the greatest obstacle: “Slowly, but unstoppably, the parties are hindering the role of the creative intelligentsia in social, political and national life in general”. And, the third aspect of historical awareness, we quote the historian John Tosh, is the recognition of the historical process or the relationship between events and time. This Prof. Qosja does as a patriot, but also as a thinker, reflecting on our delays throughout all times. I express it not only with pain that we are behind and will remain so, but I will also raise alarm, what he has actually done since October 1990, when he wrote: "Albania needs radical changes, but I want Albania to make those changes by moving vertically. Only in this way vertically can it not be late in the future. I have our history as a witness to these convictions of mine". Let us not forget, it was written at the turn of the last century, when Kosovo was not yet a state and Albania was seeing the first rays of the democratic dawn... As if by paradox, now that Qosja has closed his eyes, Albanians are and remain late. To his sadness, and that of all Albanians who think. Here is the consolation and respect for him, this unyielding mind of national truth. Without fear, he put his finger on the great national wound, as if addressing himself: As always late. We, the living, today, can only honor him and...say to him with all our heart: May his soul rest in peace!