Life between cultures

One bad experience is not a whole people

Valon Asani · · 1 min read

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Original recording. Read the article below in your selected language.

A viewer from Albania asked me where the resentment towards Albanians from Albania came from. I began my reply with personal experience. I have had unpleasant experiences with Albanians from Albania, from Kosovo and from North Macedonia. But I do not put everyone from those places into the same category.

The mistake is in the generalisation

Something bad happens with one person, and we attach that experience to everyone who shares their background. That was the first mistake I described in the video: failing to separate an individual encounter from an entire people.

Personal grievances exist. My point was that we can move beyond them. An experience with one Albanian does not tell me who all Albanians are.

What we give attention to

The second part of my response concerned messages that divide us. I asked whether a message brings Albanians together or pushes them apart, and urged people not to give divisive voices influence in their own spaces.

This article keeps the personal experience and that argument. Claims in the recording about outside funding or hidden loyalties are not established here as facts.

Original social post · 2026-10-22

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