Bush, what's new? Bush, someone still loves You.

[Kuciwalker]

I saw an article about this in the NYT and found it kind of creepy

[VetLegion]

Originally posted by Heresson
Winston, the Albania of Apolyton

[Winston]

Yes, quite witty - though I don't see what Albania has ever done to deserve such abuse.

[Heresson]

It's left catholicism (and o.ch.) and converted to islam

Interestingly enough, there's a catholic spot at the north of Albania, with one +90% catholic district, in the middle of muslim sea.
I think Albania is a fascinating nation, anyway. They have unique roots and history. I don't know much about it, though.

If You think Albania does not deserve it, OK

Winston, the Elbonia of Apolyton

[Dinner]

Albania was Orthodox then got conquered by Catholics so the nobility was Catholic but the people were Orthodoxed, then the Turks converted the area in a very brutal fashion. The Turks would kidnape the Children of Christians, raise them as muslims then force them to become Janisaries the resettle them in nonChristian areas after their 10-20 years of military service was up. Basically, if you were a Christian under the Turks you had to pay crushing extra taxes and your children would be stolen from you. It's no wonder everyone in the Balkans hate the Turks.

[Heresson]

The story isn't that simple. Albania mostly didn't get conquered by catholics. It remained part of Epiros, Bulgaria for most of its time, though Durres and some other coastal cities indeed were in catholic hands.

When it comes to the children, Turks didn't need that many of them, they weren't, as they show them, little children, but early (but not necessarily) teenagers, and often the families wanted their children to join the janissaries - it was a big chance of career, and the children remembered about their families, villages, etc. Which doesn't mean that it wasn't often a tragedy, that Turks had moral right to do it, that their rule was not harsh to Bulgarians, Serbs etc.

[Ninot]

I liked the CNN headline today

Bush: Back to Reality

and it was about Bush returning home. Awww

[Dinner]

Specifically with Albania & Kosovo they did indeed take young children and raise them as Muslims.

[Heresson]

http://wideo.gazeta.pl/wideo/0,0,4220440.html

It seems Albania got richer thanks to Bush's visit already. At least one fellow.

[VetLegion]

American comments say he put it away at 1:00. Hard to say

[Winston]

What happened, somebody stole his watch!?

It seemed to disappear right at the beginning when he turned to the larger crowd. Man! You can't go anywhere these days.

[Fidel]

having albanians nick his watch almost makes up for the ceremony of having a part of our teritory hacked off.

i just hope that before he gives them something that is not his he makes a visit to belgrade and convinces laura to wear her best jewelry...

can't wait to see what jon stewart will make of this story

[Space05us]

And he won't do that in his own country.

[Wernazuma III]

Originally posted by Heresson

http://wideo.gazeta.pl/wideo/0,0,4220440.html

It seems Albania got richer thanks to Bush's visit already. At least one fellow.

In other words: Albanians already got a grip.

[LordShiva]

Originally posted by VetLegion


American comments say he put it away at 1:00. Hard to say

Monika Stafa