Rafaela Prifti – Page 36 – Dielli

COVID AND ITS IMPACT ON MENTAL HEALTH

December 18, 2020 by dgreca

DIELLI EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH DR. BASHKIM KADRIU

COVID AND ITS IMPACT ON MENTAL HEALTH

Interviewed by Rafaela Prifti

“The impact of COVID-19 pandemic has affected all facets of society. Yet the toll is uneven for vulnerable individuals, those who struggle with chronic conditions, disabilities, and those with severe mental illnesses. My concern is that this impact will continue to be present in our lives in years to come.”

Bashkim Kadriu MD, FACP, currently holds the position of Director, Clinical Leader, Neuroscience Experimental Medicine (Neuroscience Therapeutic Area) at Janssen Research & Development, La Jolla, California. Previously he has served as Acting Deputy Director at the Office of Clinical Research, and Clinical Fellow and Neuroscientist at the Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, Bethesda, being the first Albanian Physician-Scientist at the prestigious research institute.

After completing your medical school training at the University of Prishtina, Kosova, you relocated to Chicago. For nine years, you worked as research postdoc and scientist at Chicago’s University of Illinois and later at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City where you completed your Psychiatry Residency training. You received a Fellowship at the National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda. What were some of your previous interests?

My work at the University of Illinois in Chicago focused on studying the epigenetic regulation of risk genes in diseases such as schizophrenia and mood disorders, while my later work at the National Institute of Health consisted on the neurological correlations on treatment-resistant mood disorders with an emphasis on discovering biosignatures that guide novel fast-acting therapies that help individuals suffering from depression and mood disorders. I was fortunate to work with some of the best leaders who mentored me through the years and guided me into publishing my work at high-impact reputable journals. I have published over 55 peer-reviewed journal articles, several book chapters and presented work at prestigious scientific journals and conferences in the field.

You are certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and have received numerous awards for exceptional clinical care and professional accolades including a recent NIMH Dr. Richard J. Wyatt Award for Translational Research and NARSAD Investigator Award from Brain and Behavioral Research Foundation. You were granted US citizenship through the path of exceptional accomplishments in science. Recently you relocated to the West Coast where you have accepted a new position. What was the adjustment like for you under the circumstances? What has been the focus of your work recently?

Yes, indeed I moved to Southern California in the last 2 months and I have been adjusting slowly but no without challenges. I recently moved to industry where I landed a job and my work currently focuses on early drug discovery in relation to mood disorders. This has been a tough time for everyone, especially at the height of an ongoing world pandemic. Personally, the biggest challenge of my moving to the West Coast was leaving my patients, although I still continue to provide care for some of them through the telemedicine platforms, which took off during this pandemic. Coming from academia to the industry takes some adjustment but the overall transition here has been smooth. It is my hope to continue the research of developing new and better treatments for patients who suffer from severe mental illnesses.

Due to social restrictions and isolation regime imposed by the CDC guidelines, groups of individuals such as seniors and special needs are especially vulnerable. Particularly individuals with a compromised mental health are in a precarious situation. One tragic element is the number of suicides. According to studies done in the past on suicide prevention, you have stated that in the last 20 years there has been a 30% increase in the number of suicides in the US. What are some other findings of the study?

Unfortunately despite the research and advances in suicide prevention, the rates of suicide have seen an increase in the US over the years. Based on previous assessments, a large portion (~90%) of individuals who commit suicide have an ongoing mental illness. Aside from the devastating loss of life, the impact of mental health illnesses in America comes with a high economic cost of around 1 trillion dollars as a consequence of missing workdays, lower productivity and the expenses incurred by hospitalization and the treatment of such conditions.

Self-isolation and the limiting of social interactions continue to have major impact on the mental health of the population. Have there been studies that focus on the topic?

As a rule, major crisis have an enormous impact on the public health. Some of the examples is the financial collapse of 2008 or other critical disruptions of daily lives cause or are associated with a significant increase in mental disorders. Among the most exposed groups are the front line health workers, who deal with the pressures of increased workload in the number of patients that need medical care and attention but also the daunting levels of stress and exhaustion, physical, emotional and mental. Studies conducted in Asia, Europe and most recently in the US have shown that front line workers, the medical staff in charge of COVID patients have experienced and exhibited symptoms of serious depression, anxiety and sleep disorders. Some studies published in Lancet found that 50% of the patients that underwent ICU treatment due to Coronavirus experienced PTSD, amplified by the social isolation or quarantining before and after hospitalization. When it comes to general population, the health pandemic has impacted all facets of society. Yet the toll is uneven for the vulnerable population such as individual who suffer with struggle with chronic conditions, disabilities and those with severe mental illnesses.

What is your concern with respect to that particular segment of the population?

My concern is that the impact will continue to be present for years to come. We are already seeing the impact of loneliness, social isolation, disruption of daily routines and the lives caused by the pandemic. The latest numbers issued by CDC and NIMH show a staggering increase in rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide cases here in the US and elsewhere. I fear that these trends will continue to rise in months ahead as the pandemic effects continue to be present in our lives.

You have stated that the symptoms experienced at this extraordinary time are not unlike the signs manifested by post-war societies in the post-conflict period. Drawing a parallel with the home countries like Kosova and Albania, you have shared your personal experience during the Kosova conflict and the isolation from the outside world.

Even though there has been two decades since the days of the NATO bombings, the enormous impact of that experience is long lasting in the psychological and mental context. I made the analogy with the current situation in the sense of the repercussions and influence on the population. One positive outcome out of this situation is the lowering of the stigma associated with mental health as more and more people find themselves in similar circumstances and in need of dealing with post-traumatic stress disorders caused by a global pandemic. For medical personnel this could mean finding better ways to help those who are in need of treatment, without fear of being stigmatized.

Can you elaborate on your analogy with the Kosova war in relation to mental health and well-being?

Well, although the two experiences are completely different, as someone who endured a long pre-war conflict and experienced 78 days of NATO air strikes in Kosovo, I drew a parallel with the pandemic-related isolation as well as the associated element of fear of uncertainty and ‘the fatigue’ people experience over time. As tough as it is, we are gradually adapting to the new normal, learning to deal with the unpredictability of our daily routine and inability to plan our future. The new vaccine in the horizon offers hope that we are seeing the beginning of the end of this pandemic that devastated many lives and ravaged many families.

You have underscored the importance of being aware of one’s state of mind and emotions. What’s your advice to minimize the effects on mental health in terms of recognizing depression symptoms and take mitigating steps?

Some signs or indications of depression include increased anxiety, sleep disorders, fatigue and loss of interest or motivation. It is very important to set a goal and follow through with it. Under the current circumstances, when daily routines are disrupted, it is very helpful to have an activity that helps you stay energized which gives a sense of purpose and motivation for your general well-being.

A study conducted by the University of Oxford found that 1 in 5 diagnosed with COVID have a subsequent psychiatric diagnosis in the following 14 to 90 days. The research compared patients recovering from COVID with those recovering from other medical events such as the flu. Can you explain the study for our readers?

I read that study, and the findings there seems staggering from many angles. This study measures the incidence and hazard ratios for psychiatric disorders, dementia, and insomnia, during the first 14 to 90 days after a diagnosis of COVID-19. Individuals affected and recovering from COVID compared to those of influenza (common flu) report significant increased rates of physical and mental fatigue, memory/concentration issues, headache, pain, insomnia, as well as higher rates of anxiety and depression. While these findings are worrisome in many aspects, controlled longitudinal designs studies are needed in the future to see if these findings hold for longer period of time and how they may affect our mental and physical health.

The same study found that the relationship between mental illness and COVID-19 is actually bidirectional, people with psychiatric diagnosis were about 65% more likely to be diagnosed with COVID-19 than people without. What have you seen in your line of work?

In my line of research and expertise as specialized clinician, we do notice that individuals with severe mental illnesses have weakened immune system and increased rates of medical comorbidities such is obesity, hypertension, diabetes etc. There is also finding indicating that in a subset of patients who suffer from depression or bipolar disorder, there is an immune based etiology triggering their individual symptoms. Thus, it is not surprising that individuals struggling from psychiatric illnesses have higher rates of COVID-19 incidence.

While most of us may experience fatigue or some sense of anxiety during the time of the pandemic, the study is talking about a diagnosis. Can you explain the difference?

Feeling some sense of anxiety, stress and being preoccupied with the future is often just a normal response, in fact it is the reason why we wake-up every day and get going to carry out our routines. This pandemic has taken a heavy toll on all our lives. So, experiencing heightened-level of stress and anxiety is normal. However, anxiety becomes pathological when it is excessive and disproportional to the situation, when it occurs most of the days and lasts over weeks to months. Generalized anxiety impacts personal health, daily routine, social interactions and other domains of daily life circumstances such as sleep, ability to focus and concentrate, feeling nervous or restless and even panic symptoms at times. If anyone experiences these symptoms, please pay attention to it and seek medical help to a local provider, therapist or psychiatrist.

And what is your message to the community?

To the Albanian community here in US and beyond, I say to focus on helping each-other and, being there for our loved ones, family, friends, and fellow countrymen. More than ever, we really need to raise awareness in our community about the detrimental impact that untreated mental illnesses may cause to our families and daily lives.

Thank you for the work that you do and for the interview!

EULOGY FOR MY FATHER SULEJMAN GASHI

December 9, 2020 by dgreca

by Drilon Gashi/

Translated by Rafaela Prifti/

“Reporting for Radio Television of Kosova, Sulejman Gashi, New York” – this was how my father signed off his live reporting for RTK news broadcast. In the 1990s a particular kind of audience sitting in coffee shops and living rooms around the country followed his reporting with intense anticipation. The mounting escalation of Serbia’s repressive regime gave cause to people’s fears for their future. An information vacuum prevailed in the country following the extreme measures of the Serbian regime to shut down the Prishtina Radio Television and the only daily newspaper in the Albanian language Rilindja. The shutdowns meant thousands of layoffs for the employees including my father, who were left without any employment options. Shortly after my dad migrated to the United States, in New York. Here he pursued his vocation by providing news coverage for Albanians for more than two decades.

As a TV correspondent of New York and Washington, my father’s voice carried the promise of hope for Kosova and the Albanian diaspora in America. It was the hope for better days for Kosova, the promise that America will stand by the struggles of our homeland and the dream of a better future for Albanians.

My father reported for Kosova’s National Broadcaster RTK for 25 years. He was a guest reporter on the Kosova program of Radio Zagreb, Radio Tirana and the satellite channel of RTK, and a contributor for the newspaper Rilindja (Bujku). He co-founded the daily Albanian-American newspaper Illyria with Isuf Hajrizi and Harry Bajraktari to draw the attention of American politicians and powerful institutions to the plight of Albanians particularly in Kosova. The mission of the news outlet was to support the independence of Kosova and democratization of Albania. He was an accredited journalist with the United Nations.

Starting in 1993, Sulejman provided translation services, guidance and accompaniment to a multitude of delegations and visitors including state dignitaries, government officials and professionals from Kosova, Albania and other parts of the Balkans at the behest of the State Department. He was assigned to translate for President Bill Clinton, Secretary Madeleine Albright, Secretary Hillary Clinton and many state officials from the US and around the globe. He was team leader with the Public Information Office of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) while serving as advisor to the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, Bernard Kushner.

He did all this so that Kosova would be free and Serbia would put an end to the persecutions, killings and systemic expulsions of Albanians living in an independent country.

Dad used to say: “Filing a story, a report or segment that carried some hope for Kosova’s future, would brighten up my day.” And so the condolences that we have received for his passing have weighed heavy on our hearts but they also have reinforced our sense of pride on account of the life and legacy of Sulejman Gashi. We are proud of his character, professionalism, dedication, and patriotism. Most of all, we, as a family are proud of him as a husband, a son, father, brother.

His love for our mother was deep, sincere and unwavering. He respected and adored her. At times he showed his fondness with humor. Above all, he was aware that being in love with Tone, the catholic girl from Cabiq, whom he met in high school, was the most precious gift in life. He was fortunate that he was loved back by our mother intensely and boundlessly thus setting up an extraordinary example for us, their children and all who have seen their dedication to one another.

He loved his four children Saranda, Drilon, Janina and Egzon infinitely. In return, he expected our love and respect. He was loving and caring as well as strict with us. He encouraged us to be achievers in America. Our father gave us guidance in areas of academic knowledge and counsel in terms of being successful and compassionate. He was a constant mentor who taught us by example how to love Kosova and Albanians.

To me, he was more than a father. He was my idol, my best friend and no one will take his place ever.

He was very close to his parents, Elfije and Sherif. He looked after them with deep devotion, love and respect. He honored his parents as well as his birthplace Kijeva, where he invested to have the family home rebuilt after it was damaged from the war. Grandma Elfije was frequently heard singing a folk tune: “Mother has no other son like the one named Sulejman.” The Serbian paramilitary troops and regime had plundered the homes of Albanians in Kosova. As my father put it: “above the charred rooftops of Kosova, I could see the red-and-black flag flying free at last.”

My father is one of five sons of Sherif and Elfije: Sulejman, Selajdin, Abraham, Arben and Ardian. He used to say to his siblings: “There were five Frasheri brothers. Each a patriot and activist in their own right.” Indeed each of the Gashis strived to be upstanding men and walk in the footsteps of their beloved “Sule”.

His homeland of Kijeva and family name of Tahirhasan were a source of enormous pride for him exemplified in highly regarded men like Ramadan Shabani and Kajtaz Ramadani. The household of Ramadan Shabani were renowned for the elders who settled many blood feuds among the families for over a century.

Today we say farewell to Sulejman Gashi aka Sulejman Sherifi who will be also remembered as one of the great men of Kosova and the Albanian nation. My father was affectionate with all family members, relatives, friends, colleagues and his admirers. He kept in touch and wrote back to everyone in a personal way giving support and advice if asked. He enjoyed their successes and even poked fun at the right time. He showed empathy and was there for them in hard times.

I would like to address one special connection that he had. He loved America as one loves their best friend. To my father, America is the best friend of Kosova and Albanians. He made it his life’s work to solidify the special bond of America, Kosova and Albania.

My dad was passionate about life, culture, history, multiculturalism and realism of the United States. Through the State Department work and through family and personal trips, he had traveled to all the states save five, where he had seen the big cities as well as the countryside, the national parks and museums all across the nation. Some of his favorite places were New York, Washington, San Diego and Seattle. He had a soft spot for the country music and was delighted to walk in a pair of cowboys boots. He was by all possible accounts an Albanian-American. He was equally proud of his birthplace and his adopted country of the United States. He was immensely appreciative of Fan Noli and Faik Konica. His own lifework places him at the highest level of Albanian-American achievements.

This ceremony has brought together government officials, religious representatives of different faiths, and the media to honor the life and work of Sulejman Gashi which carry special significance. Let my father’s example inspire people who hold similar political views to challenge each other in search of progressive solutions, and move groups of opposite convictions to join forces in service of a common cause for the good of the people. Let his example allow believers of different faiths to engage in mutual understanding as neighbors, friends or family and put the nation above religion. Let us be uplifted by the promise of hope that my father conveyed and that will stay with his memory. Hope that Kosova and Albanians will move forward toward real progress, that Kosova and Albanians, united in their pledge to their country, will triumph over many challenges and rivals. And hope that America will back Kosova and Albanians as a manifestation of a lasting and enduring friendship.

I speak for the whole family when I say without exaggeration and full awareness that to us, the son, brother, husband and father, Sulejman Gashi was a masterpiece. An avant garde and tireless promoter of the ideals of our people, a valiant patriot, a professional and a wiseman, respected and respectful, a contemporary example for all, a beloved and devoted family man.

He truly was the embodiment of the motto that his family’s elderly Man Hasani of Caralluka lived by.

When asked why the seniority of the elderly post was bestowed upon the TahirHassan family, the old man answered: “Because there never was a dark stain in that household, because they never got mixed up with other’s men’s affairs, because not only did they memorize the rules of conduct (Kanun) but they also lived by them, they were fair in their judgment and never played favorites with the powerful or the wealthy or even their friends, they never engaged in bribery, their youth respected the elderly, they never said “ME” but “WE” – they always appreciated the councill of the fellow men (oda) and they never meddled with disputes that had been settled by the predecessors. “

Dearest dad, we are heartbroken that we have to bid farewell here in the free land of Kosova that you loved without measure and whose freedom brought you immense joy.

Here I am signing off one last time as my dad used to do at the end of his reporting, for Radio Television of Kosova, our family’s hero and the nation’s voice of hope, Sulejman Gashi! Farewell our most beloved!

DIELLI EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW …

November 25, 2020 by dgreca

DIELLI EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH PHYSICIAN OF INTERNAL MEDICINE AT ILLINOIS NORTHSHORE UNIVERSITY:-“Healthcare workers continue to be incredible examples of courage, empathy, and collegiality”-

by Rafaela Prifti-

In an exclusive interview with Adela K., Physician at Northshore University Healthsystem in Evanston Illinois, she detailed the current surge and demands on hospital capacities in the days leading to Thanksgiving holiday. She said that “for healthcare workers, even the most mundane tasks have turned into logistical nightmares from arranging reliable childcare, adding new steps to self-disinfecting after the work shift, maintaining social distance even when they go home, finding time for grocery shopping and meal preparation, helping children with remote learning all the way to their heightened sense of urgency in addressing issues such as advance directives and living wills.” Faced with extreme physical and mental exhaustion, “healthcare workers continue to be incredible examples of courage, empathy, and collegiality”

As a physician of the Department of Internal Medicine at Illinois Northshore University, what data do you have that indicates the severity of the current surge of the pandemic and how does it compare with the previous one?

There has been a steady increase of cumulative cases in Illinois since the start of the pandemic as data provided by CDC recording the metric of cumulative cases of Covid-19 by number of days since 100 total cases first recorded, as shown in Graph 1. The number of new cases in the state is detailed in Graph 2. As of November 23, the number of infections statewide has totaled 664,620, and 11,552 Covid-19 related deaths. In my view, the severity of the surge correlates best with the number of new cases, the positivity rate, indicated in Graph 2 and other metrics such as mortality rate and the capacity of the healthcare system to handle the demands. Last week Illinois was averaging 12,384 new cases per day, the highest 7-day average since the start of the pandemic. This past week, luckily, we have seen a slight improvement from that number down to 8,322 of new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 on Monday Nov 23rd. But it is too early to tell if this is true bending of the curve or just a statistical fluctuation. And there’s the threat of holiday gatherings that can quickly undo any improvement.

The next three pictures provide a comparative view as they list the number of cases, deaths, total number of tests and test positivity given as cumulative count as well as in the last month and last week. The data shows that the positivity rate is at above 10 % this past month and past week, not quite as high as it was in the spring when it was above 20 %, but that is a reflection of more people being tested. The worst month in terms of deaths was May, with around 3000 deaths. On the bright side, we have learned a lot about SARS-CoV-2 and its management, so the death rate from the disease is lower now compared with the spring. That being said the cumulative number of SARS-Co-V-2 patients is much higher and therefore we are seeing the number of deaths increasing.

What about the capacity of the healthcare system to handle the current demand?

In terms of the capacity of the healthcare system to handle the demand, Chicago Tribune published an article to describe the situation in detail as of November 24. Here’s a chart showing the number of hospitalizations over time.

The guidance and advice of the public health officials is to break away from the traditional Thanksgiving gatherings in order to keep the holiday from having a negative impact on the current situation with the pandemic. What do you hear from your patients?

I practice in the inpatient setting. Since my patients are sick enough to be hospitalized, Thanksgiving travel plans are out of the question. We do recommend that after discharge, they continue to isolate for 20 days since the day of the positive test.

With consideration to the impact of the pandemic, some studies have focused on the connection between anxiety and mental illness and COVID-19:. I read some news reports about “long-haulers”? What can you tell us about it?

My practice is limited in the hospital setting. During the hospitalization period we do see a lot of encephalopathy which manifests as lethargy and confusion which are neurologic manifestations of Covid-19. Most people do improve by the time they are ready to be discharged, but I have seen a few cases of elderly who got sick in the spring, and have returned for different issues still not recovered mentally. It is a picture very similar to that of advanced dementia, some with behavioral disturbances. They require significant assistance with the activities of daily living. Then there is the separate group of the so-called “long haulers” who in addition to the physical symptoms experience significant anxiety and depression. There is a ripple effect in the society as a whole when we consider the impact the pandemic is having on the mental health of family members, associated with a significant level of stress compounded by limitations in visitation policies. I see a lot of anxiety, feeling of helplessness and being overwhelmed.

You mentioned that you will be in the Covid team for the next several days. Explain what that means, please.

We rotate as attending physicians for Covid patients. So in the next few days all my patients will be Covid patients who are hospitalized. I am part of the team that will be handling their management on the general medical floor.

For months now, one group, in particular, has been overwhelmed and overburdened to the brink of endurance. What can you tell us about the general mood of the health workers?

This is such a loaded question. For healthcare workers dealing with challenges and crisis has always been a daily occurrence. But the magnitude of this pandemic has faced health workers literally with the fight of their lives. In addition to the physical and mental demands of the job, there are new and significant challenges in our personal, family and social lives.

For us as essential workers who can not work from home, even the most mundane tasks all of a sudden have turned into logistical nightmares. Things like arranging reliable childcare, adding new steps to self disinfecting after work, maintaining social distance even within the home, finding time for grocery shopping and meal preparation, helping our children with remote learning, the list goes on. Even though most people I know avoid talking about it, especially in households where both parents are healthcare workers with young children, there is a heightened sense of urgency in addressing issues such as advance directives and living wills.

This pandemic is far from over and we have to keep going. Despite the physical and mental exhaustion they face, healthcare workers continue to be incredible examples of courage, empathy, and collegiality.

UDHËHEQËSIT QË NUK LËSHOJNË PUSHTETIN

November 25, 2020 by dgreca

Redaktuar dhe Përkthyer nga Rafaela Prifti/

Në historinë e Amerikës nuk ka pasur president tjetër që të refuzojë për një kohë kaq gjatë të njohë rezultatet e një zgjedhjeje ku është e qartë se ka humbur. Kur është fjala për version alternativ të realitetit, zoti Trump ka plot shokë jopresidencial. Ndërsa vendi mediton rastin e bujshëm të Donald Trumpit, presidentit që nuk pranon se e kanë nxjerrë nga puna, atë mund ta krahasojmë me një sërë personazhesh dhe individësh që nuk kanë dashur të pranojnë momente jo të mirëpritura në jetën e tyre personale dhe profesionale.

Në vitin 1873 Guvernatori republikan i Teksasit Edmund J. Dejvis refuzoi të largohej nga zyra pas humbjes së zgjedhjeve duke thënë se mandati i tij nuk skadonte edhe për pas disa muaj. Ai ngriti një barrikadë në hyrjen e ndërtesës së parlamentit nga ku nuk donte të lëvizte. Guvenatori i zgjedhur dhe ekipi i tij vunë një palë shkallë dhe hynë nga dritaret për të filluar punën në katin e sipërm të ndërtesës. Rasti tjetër është Hiru Onoda, oficeri i lartë i Ushtrisë Perandorake Japoneze, i cili pas përfundimit të Luftës së Dytë botërore, qëndroi në xhungël në gatishmëri luftarake për 29 vjet derisa vajti eprori i tij tashmë i plakur dhe e anuloi urdhërin e mëhershëm për të mos u dorëzuar. Një vit më parë, në 2019 ishte rasti i qeverisë së Moldovës që vendosi të mos i hapte rrugë qeverisë së re gjë që çoi në një situatë të komplikuar, ku të dyja grupet deklaronin se ishin në krye të vendit. “Ngërçi” u tejkalua kur ish-kryeministri me inat e liroi postin i përballur me presion nga jashtë të ushtruar nga ndërkombëtarët si edhe me zemërim të popullit nga brenda vendit.

Në Amerikë transferimi i pushtetit ka qenë një kalim paqësor i kompetencave i kryer sipas një procedure të caktuar. Por historia botërore ka plot shembuj të diktatorëve dhe tiranëve që kanë përdorur mënxyra për të ruajtur pushtetin. Historia ka shembuj të autokratëve që nuk i njohin rezultatet e zgjedhjeve të lira. Ka shembuj kur ata eliminojnë fare mandatet dhe rrinë në fuqi pafund. Ka shembuj kur ata burgosin, vrasin ose zhdukin kundërshtarët e tyre politik. Siç ka edhe nga ata që i praktikojnë të gjitha këto metoda së bashku.

Zoti Trump ka folur me simpati për të paktën një prej tyre, për shembull kur tha se atij “mbase i takonte një mandat i tretë” duke u nisur nga “mënyra sesi na kanë trajtuar.” Këto ai i ka deklaruar përpara se të humbte zgjedhjet. Përdredhjet e lajmeve që dalin nga Shtëpia e Bardhë, përngjasin me tymin e duhanit nga ku shfaqen sinjale se këshilltarët e presidentit dhe familjarët po provojnë disa forma psikologjike që Presidenti Trump ta kuptojë se është “pensionuar”, ndërkohë që sjellja e presidentit i përngjet më pak një puçi dhe më tepër një episodi të stërzgjatur hidhërimi të një fëmije të llastuar.

Shumë anëtarë të legjislaturës republikane që e kanë neveri ta mërzisin zotin Trump, po ndihmojnë të ushqejnë iluzionin për pushtetin e tij. Por kjo ka një paralele në jetën e familjes së Trumpit. Kur babai i tij, Fredi, u sëmur me Alzheimer, familiarët thuhet se ranë dakort që ta linin patriarkun të mendonte se ishte ende drejtuesi i organizatës Trump. Revista Vanity Fair shkruan se plaku dilte për ditë në punë ku i jepnin të firmoste letra të bardha ndërsa telefonin e zyrës ia kishin lidhur vetëm me linjën e sekretares së tij.

Disa rrjete mediatike simpatizuese të krahut të djathtë si edhe shumë nëpunës republikanë refuzojnë të pranojnë se Xhozef Biden është zgjedhur president. Miliona amerikanë duket se i besojnë thënieve të zotit Trump se këto janë zgjedhje të vjedhura dhe se epidemia e koronavirusit që tashmë është përshkallëzuar, nuk paraqet problem serioz. Përkrahësit e tij marshojnë në rrugë për të protestuar rezultatet e zgjedhjeve dhe nuk dihet se në ç’rrethana Trumpi do të largohet nga Shtëpia e Bardhë.

Gazetari dhe adhuruesi i Trumpit, Geraldo Rivera paraqiste në Twitter një krahasim të presidentit me një kampion të peshës së rëndë, që e di se ka humbur por mbahet me dhëmbë në ring duke grushtuar për një shans të largët fitoreje. Përshkrimi i tij lirik: “ai do t’i përgjigjet tingullit të këmbanës duke kërkuar nokoutin që mbetet larg në horizont.”

Autori i librit “Narcisisti i Njohur: Mburoja ndaj Narcisistit Ekstrem në Kohën kur Universi Rrotullohet rreth Vetes”, Dr. Bruno shkruan: “Kur të jenë shteruar paditë ligjore kundër zgjedhjeve, ai do ta kalojë gjithë jetën duke këmbëngulur se sistemi bëri komplot që mos e linte të fitonte. Do gjej rehati tek fajësimi i të tjerëve, vetë-keqardhja dhe tek indinjata që i takon vetëm atij për t’i pasur ato si mbështetje të vetes në mënyrë që të zbrapsi ndjenjën e poshtërimit nga humbja.”

Shënim: Ky është version i redaktuar i shkrimit të Sarah Lyall botuar në gazetën Nju York Tajms me titullin origjinal “Kur Liderët Nuk Ikin, Mësime nga Shekspiri te Dikens te “Sajnfeld” për Moslamtumirën e Gjatë të Presidentit Trump. (When a Leader Just Won’t Go, Wisdom from Shakespeare to Dickens to ‘Seinfeld’ on President Trump’s long non-goodbye)

TRE TRANZICIONE PRESIDENCIALE ME PASOJA PER AMERIKEN

November 19, 2020 by dgreca

Përktheu Rafaela Prifti/

Përse u miratua Amendamenti 20 i Kushtetutës Amerikane dhjetë vjet pas propozimit të projekt-ligjit? Cili president cilësohet si model i tranzicionit presidencial? Çfarë mund të sjellë dimri i ndasisë?

Thomas Balcerski, autor dhe mësues në Eastern Konektikut përshkruan tre episode famëkeqe të tranzicionit administrativ në historinë e Amerikës.

Dy javë pas përfundimit të zgjedhjeve Presidenti Donald Trump nuk e pranon humbjen ndaj ish-zv Presidentit Xho Biden. Disa zyrtarë të lartë të administratës së Trumpit, përfshirë edhe ish-shefin e përgjithshëm të Shtëpisë së Bardhë Xhon Kelli, kanë bërë thirrje për një proces paqësor tranzicioni. Megjithatë, shumë nga republikanët në Kongres qëndrojnë në krah të Presidentit.

Në realitet, Trumpi është president në dalje e sipër. Presidenca e tij ka shpërfillur precedencat e mëhershme në shumë aspekte por në këtë pikë ai është si gjithë presidentët e tjerë paraardhës. Mandati i tij do përfundojë dhe ai do dalë nga Shtëpia e Bardhë për të filluar kapitullin tjetër të jetës së tij. Dhe mënyra sesi sillet në këtë periudhë mnnd të jetë ajo që i jep vulën administratës së tij duke qenë gjithashtu edhe një moment kritik në historinë amerikane. Vendi ka përjetuar disa episode famëkeqe tranzicioni. Tre të tilla kanë qenë: Xhejms Bjukenan dhe Abraham Linkolni gjatë dimrit të përcarjes 1860-1861, Herbet Huver dhe Franklin Delano Rusevelt gjatë përkeqësimit të krizës ekonomike të viteve 1932-1933, Bll Klinton dhe Xhorxh W. Bush pas zgjedhjeve të shumëkontestuara të vitit 2000.

Rrethanat e diktojnë më shumë se më parë nevojën për tranzicion efektiv. Përkeqësimi i epidemisë së COVID-19 kërkon angazhim total nga dega ekzekutive dhe kooperim të presidentit aktual me presidentin e zgjedhur për hir të vendit. Për të mos lejuar thellimin e tragjedisë, Trumpi dhe Biden duhet të shmangin gabimet e tre tranzicioneve me nam të keq.

1860-1861: Xhejms Bjukenan dhe Abraham Linkoln

Inagurimi i Abraham Linkolnit si presidenti i 16-të i Shteteve të Bashkuara në Uashington DC pasardhës i Presidentit Xhejms Bjukenan u bë pas Zgjedhjet e vitit 1860 ishin një sfidë serioze për tranzicionin presidencial. Në nëntor të atij viti Linkolni kishte fituar mjaft vota në Kolegjin Elektoral ndaj tri rivalëve të tjerë duke siguruar mandatin e ardhshëm të presidentit. Pa kaluar një muaj, Karolina Jugore u mblodh në një kuvend shtetëror nga ku vendosi unanimisht shkëputjen nga Bashkësia e Shteteve (Unioni). Pas saj, gjashtë shtete të jugut e ndoqën atë shembull. Presidenti Bjukenan që kishte humbur zgjedhjet tregoi dobësi në përballjen me krizën. Ai deklaroi se nuk e mbështeste shkëputjen e shteteve të jugut por besonte se qeveria nuk kishte forca ta ndalonte këtë veprim dhe iu drejtua Kongresit për zgjidhje. Mbledhja e ‘të urtëve’ në Uashington DC doli me një varg me propozime të hartuara me qëllim që skllavëria të kishte mbrojtje kushtetuese. Ky dokument njihet si Kompromisi Kritenden (mbiemri i Përfaqësuesit ligjor të Kentakit, Xhon Kritenden, që propozoi masat ligjore – Shënim i Përkthyeses)

Por Presidenti i zgjedhur Linkoln me mençuri refuzoi të pranonte çdo lloj kompromisi të dalë nga administrata e papëlqyer e Bjukenan. Në ditën e inagurimit, Linkolni shkoi për vizitë në Shtëpinë e Bardhë dhe të dy vajtën me një pajton në ndërtesën e parlamentit. Pavarësisht nga fjalimi i paqtë inagurues, lufta shpërtheu kur forcat e Konfederatës hapën zjarr në Fort Sumter në prill 1861.

Kongresi republikan ishte aq i mllefosur me veprimet e fundit të Bjukenan kur ishte ende në postin e presidentit por nuk ishte rizgjedhur për mandatin tjetër, sa ia tërhoqi privilegjin e postimit pa pagesë duke e detyruar administratën e tij të paguante vetë për veprimet postare dhe madje nuk pranoi të paguante as për portretin zyrtar të z. Bjukenan. Ai nga ana e vet i doli në mbrojtje pozitës së tij në prag të luftës, të cilën historianët e quajnë si librin e parë të kujtimeve nga një president por kjo nuk mjafroi për ta rehabilituar emrin e tij. Për pasivitetin e tij gjatë kohës kur po e shihte se Unioni po shkërmohej në këmbët e tij, ai renditet si presidenti më i keq në historinë e Amerikës.

1932-1933: Herbert Huver dhe Franklin D. Rusevelt

Në vitet 1932, periudha e Depresionit të Rëndë e kishte rrëzuar ekonominë amerikane në nivele të ulta të panjohura më parë. Bankat e kishin humbur kredibilitetin, bujqit nuk kishin treg për produktet e tyre dhe papunësia kishte arritur në 25 %. Në nëntor, Rusevelti doli me një program të quajtur Pakti i Ri që financohej nga fonde shtetërore, dhe fitoi shumë më tepër vota se fushata e Huverit për vullnetarizm kolektiv të individëve. Ditën pas zgjedhjeve në orën 9:34 të mbrëmjes Huveri pranoi humbjen me zor me anë të një telegrami: “Për hir të qëllimit tonë të përbashkët, unë do jem i përkushtuar ndaj çdo hapi të mundshëm të dobishëm.” Në ditën e inagurimit të Franklin Delano Rusevelt në 1933, ai dhe paraardhësi Herbert Huver shkuan bashkë në ceremoni. Në të vërtetë Huver nuk kishte lënë gjë pa bërë që ta sabotonte Paktin e Ri të Ruseveltit. Praktikisht, ai donte t’i anulonte pjesë të tëra të programit social përpara se Rusevelti të hynte në Shtëpinë e Bardhë. Nga ana e tij, Rusevelti nuk pranoi të bashkëpunonte për asgjë me presidentin ‘në dalje e sipër.

Ndërkohë, pasojat e Depresionit të Rëndë u përkeqësuan. Në ditën e inagurimit Huveri dhe Rusevelt udhëtuan “si në gjemba” nga Shtëpia e Bardhë drejt Parlamentit. Rusevelti bëri vetëm disa komente për përgatitjet madhështore përgjatë rrugës ku do mbahej parada. Fatmirësisht, ky do ishte fundi i kohëzgjatjes së periudhës midis dy administratave, e caktuar në një kohë kur amerikanët udhëtonin me kuaj ose vaporë. Në vitin 1933, Kongresi më në fund miratoi ligjin e propozuar për herë të parë nga Senatori Xhorxh Norris në 1923 – që arriti të hynte si amendamenti 20 në Kushtetutën e Shteteve të Bashkuara. Midis të tjerave, amendamenti e përshpejtoi kohën e daljes së presidentit prej postit zyrtar nga data 4 mars në 20 janar.

2000-2001: Bill Klinton dhe Xhorxh W Bush

Ndërsa President Bill Klinton dhe Presidenti i zgjedhur Xhorxh W. Bush qëndrojnë përpara Shtëpisë së Bardhë për herë të parë pas përfundimit të zgjedhjeve në 19 Dhjetor 2000, në Uashington, DC, pak kush e dinte atëherë luftën e brendshme që kishte filluar prej datës 7 nëntor. Në një prej garave më të paparashikuara në historinë amerikane, ish-Presidenti Al Gore dhe Guvernatori i Teksasit Xhorxh Bush kishin fituar shtete kyce që janë vendimtare për fatin e zgjedhjeve. Fituesi i shtetit të Floridës nuk mund të deklarohej megjithëse rrjetet kryesore mediatike ia kishin dhënë fitoren zotit Gore dhe e kishin ndërruar pastaj në favor të Bushit.

Duke menduar se kishte humbur, zoti Gore i telefonoi Bushit për t’i uruar fitoren. Gjatë rrugës për të mbajtur fjalimin e ‘humbjes’ pranë Momumentit të Luftës në Nashvil, asistentet vrapuan ta njoftonin të mos dilte përpara publikut. Sipas lajmeve, në Florida diferenca në numrin e votave ishte aq e vogël sa nuk numd të parashikohej fituesi, dhe kështu filloi një betejë ligjore disajavore derisa më në fund Gjykata e Lartë e ndaloi rinumërimin e votave në Florida, dhe z. Gore e dha pranimin duke iu drejtua publikut përpara kamerave në datën 13 dhjetor. Ndërkohë që priteshin rezultatet e zgjedhjeve, agjencia federale që hap rrugën për presidentin e ri, nuk njohu asnjë kanditat. Vendimi vonoi vënien në zbatim të Aktit të Tranzicionit Presidencial që përfshin lokalet e zyrave, pajisjet si edhe fondet përkatëse për administratën e re. Megjithatë Bushi u lejua të vinte në mbledhjet informative të sigurisë ndërsa Gore ishte i pranishëm si Zv President. Në 2004 Komisioni i Posaçëm për aktet e 11 Shtatorit konkludoi se ngadalësia në tranzicion i ‘ndrydhi’ aftësitë e administratës për të emërimet e zyrtarëve në poste kyçe të sigurisë kombëtare.

Megjithatë nuk kishte pak episode dramatike – administrata e Presidentit Klinton nuk u largua pa bërë zhurmë. Dolën fjalë se personeli kishte shkulur telat e telefonave, kishin dëmtuar tualetet, dhe kishin kryer një akt mëse “fëminor” duke hequr shkronjën W nga tastierat e kompjuterave të Shtëpisë së Bardhë (personeli i Klintonit i ka hedhur poshtë shumicën e këtyre akuzave.) Zyra e Llogarisë paraqiti një raport të dëmeve prej 15,000 dollarëve. Si kundërbalancë, Bushi iu përkushtua punës për një tranzicion profesional kur erdhi koha për ta kaluar ‘stafetën’ te presidenti i zgjedhur Barak Obama. Nga ana e vet, Obama e ka cilësuar atë si ‘standarti më i lartë’ i tranzicioneve dhe e ndoqi atë model në kohën e tranzicionit nga ai te Trumpi.

Zoti Trump mundet fare mirë ta pranojë rezultatin e zgjedhjeve duke ndjekur traditën e gjatë të ‘unifikimit’ të vendit që nis nga inagurimi në vitin 1896. Dhe prej aty mund të ndjekë shembullin e presidentëve përpara tij që marrin pjesë në ceremoninë e inagurimit të pasardhësit. Por nëse e shkuara mund të shërbejë si prolog, për mbarë vendin pritet të ketë thellim të krizës dhe një periudhë të trazuar trancizioni. Ashtu si edhe përpara në historinë tonë, duhet të jemi të përgatitur për dimrin e ndasisë midis administratës së vjetër dhe asaj të re – dhe për pasojat që kjo do t’i sjell vendit.