The Albanian Anti-Defamation League has launched its first attack on Attention Deficit Democracy. A woman who calls herself Kristina Albania – and who confesses that her nickname is “blerta” – angrily attacked the book yesterday in a “customer” (fat chance) review on Amazon.
From the Amazon page for Attention Deficit Democracy –
Title of Customer Review: Smart or stupid?
March 4, 2006 Reviewer: Kristina Albania (DK) –
“Simply because there have not been Albanian-style mass violent attacks on government office buildings?”
Lines from the introduction of this book
Since when have violent attacks on government office buildings become an Albanian thing?
Please leave Albania out of your stupid mass produced books
*****
To the best of my knowledge, the Albanian embassy has not yet filed a formal complaint about the book with the U.S. State Department.
Here is the link to the 1998 Human Rights Watch report on violent Albanian mobs attacking government buildings.
And here is the context of the line “blerta” quoted from my Intro chapter:
“By what standard could American democracy be considered a success? Simply because referendums on rulers occur without widespread violence? Because most Americans acquiesce to whomever the political system ordains as the winner? … Simply because there have not been Albanian-style mass violent attacks on government office buildings?”
She doesn’t like mass produced books, James. You should get some Irish monks to hand copy them……
Dont worry, I’m Irish….
Would they have to be done on papyrus, too? 😉
I don’t think I’ve looked through a single book’s reviews on Amazon without seeing at least one completely irrelevant or crank review. So take yours as a sign that you’re arriving … now, just where it is you’re arriving, you’ll need to ask someone else.
I have always appreciated the astute insights of thoughtful critics, and so of course I am in Blerta’s debt here.
Irish monks and/or papyrus? There are definite possibliities on these scores…
Heh, I’m of Albanian descent, and I’m kind of flattered by that quote.
If only there were more “Albanian-style mass violent attacks on government office buildings”, maybe things would change.
I’ve often wondered why people aren’t massing in DC, tearing down the White House or Capitol Building, brick by brick…
I suppose Blerta is a “Civics 101” type of citizen, for whom revolt is an unthinkable act. I know most of the AADL (yes, they do exist) are.
Adem – thanks for the comment. Now I understand Blerta.
From what I have read, the government buildings in Albania got what they deserved during the uprising in 1996 and 1997.
I am also confounded why Americans are so docile to US government abuses. I guess as long as housing prices keep rising, that proves that we are well-governed and living in a land of liberty. Also, the laptop media lulls people into thinking that any abuses have been corrected (witness the servile coverage of the Patriot Act “reforms” just enacted).
You do take yourselves very seriously don’t you? That is in fact perfectly allright with me, but I am ONE INDIVIDUAL Albanian, you were not attacked by the Albanian state or its army… so take it easy…
yes books are mass produced today, but in many senses, and I ‘m prety sure you people know what I mean.
to Adem:
I know there are not enough “attacs” in Albania, and you are free to take the sentence as you wish, but you can be certain that it was not meant to flatter us.