Posted on 05/27/2008 11:48:44 AM PDT by Doctor13
An error made too frequently is the misuse of the name, "Macedonia." Rather than referring to The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) by its formal name, too many journalists consistently report on events in FYROM as though "Macedonia" were its official name. I, myself, have been guilty of this by not clarifying to whose "Macedonia" I was referring when I wrote about wayward "smart" bombs hitting the wrong targets in my "Open Letter to Lieutenant General Michael Short," where I stated, "Besides hitting the Chinese Embassy, your not-so-smart bombs damaged the embassies of Italy, Switzerland, Pakistan, India, Libya, and Iraq. Not only could your smart bombs not find the right target, they couldn't even find the right country as they hit (FYROM) Macedonia once and Bulgaria five times."
Let’s take a closer look at the facts.
To begin with, the name "Macedonia" belongs to a northern province of Greece and its use by the government of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) usurps Greek history and, according to the Greek government, implies territorial claims.
It is important to note that in 1944, Yugoslav dictator Josef Broz Tito established a new republic within Yugoslavia by changing the name of a southern region of Serbia which had been known as Vardashka since 1913, to "Macedonia," giving rise to the myth that Macedonia and even Alexander the Great were something other than Greek. The region was populated primarily by Bulgarians and Serbs. However, ethnic Albanians today are rapidly constituting a larger part of the population and with any luck, will be able to wrest the province of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) to add to their "Greater Albania," just as Kosovo is being wrested from Serbia.
In an address to the international academic community, former Greek minister Nikolaos Martis, MACEDONIA stated that "The Macedonian Question is more than a mere squabble over a name. It is a well-designed scheme for annexing the northern Greek provinces of Macedonia and Thrace. It started during the inter-war period, by the decisions of the Comintern and the Balkan communist parties seeking to establish a united (Macedonian and Thracian) state." Because of legitimate Greek concerns about claims against its territory, the international community did not recognize the new nation under the name, "Macedonia." Instead, it’s official name is "The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia," or "FYROM." Martis is also the author of "Falsification of Macedonian History."
In April of 2002, Lawrence Butler introduced himself as the new U.S. ambassador to "Macedonia," not as the U.S. ambassador to "The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia." By referring to FYROM as "Macedonia," a U.S. ambassador at best committed a diplomatic faux pas or, more seriously, sent signals to Greece that we intend to be a party to wresting away that which belongs to them. This undiplomatic action by the U.S. government can only foment further distrust between America and our traditional ally, Greece. The Washington Times article went on to report that the name, FYROM was "foisted" on it to satisfy "Greek sensitivities."
Again quoting Nikolaos Martis: "The ‘Macedonian Nation’ does not, nor did it ever exist. The Macedonians were Greeks, they spoke the same language and worshiped the same gods (who inhabited the Macedonian mountain of Olympus) and performed the same sacrifices, in the same sanctuaries as all the other Greeks." Martis also commented on the Macedonian language: Skopje's claim that the ancient Macedonians' language was not Greek is preposterous. The National Research Center in Athens has collected and published 5,000 Greek inscriptions from Macedonia. However, there has not been one inscription produced of the supposed ancient "Macedonian, non-Greek" tongue, a fabrication by Tito.
It was not until 860 A.D. that Saint Cyril (nee Constantine) and Saint Methodius, brothers born in Thessaloniki, Greece, gave the Slavs written material in the Slavonic language based on the Greek alphabet. The missionaries then went out and spread the Gospel to the Slavic nations. Cyril and Methodius, Missionaries to the Slavs
Several years ago, I attended an exhibition of Alexander the Great in Tampa, Florida. The exhibit featured historical documents, archeological discoveries and history books connecting Alexander the Great to his historical Greek roots. It is not unusual, however, for other cultures to claim Alexander for their own. Even the Muslims are claiming Alexander the Great as there were several paintings depicting Alexander the Great greeting Mohammed, the insinuation being that Alexander the Great embraced Islam. Of course it would be 1000 years before Mohammed ever came on the scene.
History books tell us that Alexander the Great spoke Greek, not a Slavic language. Today, there is an attempt to change what our history books taught us. Alexander the Great spread Hellenic culture, language, art and customs, not Slavic culture, language, art and customs. Even the coins used during the time of Alexander the Great, and his father, Phillip of Macedon, were of Greek coinage.
As the old adage puts it, "If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, and acts like a duck, what is it? It’s a Duck!"
Problem goes away in 60 more years (two generations). Neither the Slavs nor the Greeks are reproducing at anything near replacement rate. Meanwhile, the Albanians are having a population boom. By 2070 there won’t be enough Greeks or Slav around to argue with the Albanians that both northern Greece and southern Serbia (the former “Macedonian” province of Serbia) was part of ancient Macedonia. It will all be Greater Albania.
As distinct from just calling it part of the “Umma”.
Unfortunately you may be right..the once heroic Greeks seem to have rushed pell mell into hedonism and selfishness along with the self destructive impulses of such societies such as those that result in infanticide. As a Diaspora Greek I have seen this spectacle firsthand.
I wrote a review of “Claiming Macedonia” for The National Herald, in which I pointed out that demographics would make the arguments in that book moot. I wanted to title it “It’s the Demography, Stupid,” but my editor overruled me. (I also pointed out that the behavior of the Slavophones in the Republic of “Macedonia” was more consistent with a group that saw the Albania locomotive heading straight for them and wishing to find an alternative that was more attractive than becoming part of Greater Albania or rejoining Serbia than with a group that was trying to carve Greece’s Macedonian province away from Greece.)
I wrote a review of “Claiming Macedonia” for The National Herald, in which I pointed out that demographics would make the arguments in that book moot. I wanted to title it “It’s the Demography, Stupid,” but my editor overruled me
SAD....but I am not surprised. We don’t want to scare them with reality knocking at the door. Or should I say Albanians are already in the door and having dinner...doing most of the work and having most of the babies..while Greeks routinely dispose of theirs.
The landlords will soon be the guests.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.