I’m not sure why some people get so emotional. My posts aren't meant to be controversial or spark debate.
I do not speak as a nationalist fanatic. I base everything on historical facts documented by scholars, including Eleni Glykatzi Ahrweiler, a distinguished Greek scholar, one of the Sorbonne’s most prominent academic leaders, and a leading authority on Byzantine history.
See details here:
welcome.pantheonsorbonne.fr/…
In an interview, she specifically described Athens in the 1830s, stating that half of its homes belonged to Albanians. See the video below.
“In 1831, Athens had 8,000 houses, half of them without roofs, and most belonged to Albanians. Botsaris compiled the first Albanian Greek dictionary because all his soldiers were Albanians.”
More importantly, in a documented 2017 interview with the prominent Greek newspaper To Vima, she stated:
“The greatest and most successful assimilation occurred with the Arvanites, who also made the Revolution together with the Greeks.”
tovima.gr/2017/01/09/vimagaz…
If you want to identify as Arvanite but not Albanian, drop both labels and simply identify as Greek. I see no problem with that. But if you feel the need to identify as both Greek and Arvanite so you can proudly boast about the Greek Revolution while denying the Albanian origins of Arvanites and Souliotes such as Botsaris and many others, chances are Botsaris is turning in his grave and would want nothing to do with you.
I must also add that I had a Greek friend during my early years in New York. She was born in Greece into an Arvanite family, and she would speak to me in Arvanitika. I was born and raised in Tirana, and I could understand her perfectly. But sure, it is not the same language. LOL.
Also, consider reading this book on the Greek Revolution. Link to Amazon:
a.co/d/0c6jYe26
Hope this helps.