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Tuesday, April 21, 2009
MEMOIR of a Visit to Australia by Macedonian Human Rights Activists from Egej and Pirin
The Australian Macedonian Human Rights Committee
with the delegation:
George Vlahov, Jason Kambovski, Stoyko Stoykov,
Chris Popov, Natse Parisis, Dimitri Ioannou, Vasko Nastevski,
Tase Filipov, Michael Kochev, Lyubitsa Durlovska,
Sasha Nachkovski, John Tsigliev (Charles Gallileos missing)
From March 24-31, 2009 in Melbourne, Australia, the Australian Macedonian Human Rights Committee (AMHRC) was privileged to have hosted a visit by Macedonian Human Rights activists from Greece and Bulgaria. Included in this visit were Mr. Natse Parisis and Mr. Dimitri Ioannou, as representatives of the AMHRC’s partner organisation in Greece, Vinozhito, and Mr. Stoyko Stoykov, representing the AMHRC’s partner organisation in Bulgaria, OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN. These activists, and their respective organisations, are at the forefront of advocating for and protecting
Macedonian minority rights in Greece and Bulgaria. We are also delighted to note that this visit was carried out in co-ordination with Macedonian Human Rights Movement International (MHRMI) based in Toronto, Canada - the fourth partner in what has been a bastion of truly internationally united Macedonian co-operation for over two decades now.
It gives the AMHRC, MHRMI, Vinozhito and OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN, great satisfaction to report that this visit was a resounding success. All of the aims and objectives of the visit were met, and our visiting Macedonian Human Rights activists, were able to return to their respective positions in Greece and Bulgaria with the knowledge that awareness of, and support for the human rights of Macedonian minorities in Greece and Bulgaria, increased significantly as a result of the visit.
A gathering in Doncaster
Primarily, the purpose of this visit was to give the Macedonian community in Australia an opportunity to gain a better understanding of the work undertaken by Vinozhito and OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN on behalf of ethnic Macedonian minorities in Greece and Bulgaria. Given the concern of the Macedonian community in Australia for Macedonian minorities in Europe, this visit was an opportunity to inform Macedonians in Australia of the ongoing breaches of fundamental human rights experienced by ethnic Macedonians in these countries. It was also an opportunity for Vinozhito and OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN to seek further long-term support for their activities from the Australian Macedonian community.
With these aims in mind the AMHRC designed a program for the visit that would maximise the opportunity for the visiting activists to engage with Macedonian community leaders and concerned Macedonians in Australia. Some of the highlights were as follows:
On Wednesday March 25 our guests were given a rest in order to recover from their long journey to Melbourne. However on Thursday morning they were hard at work. The day began with a 9.00am visit by our guests accompanied by a delegation from the AMHRC, to the Doncaster (a suburb located in Melbourne’s east) Macedonian Pensioners Association. There must have been an attendance of over 400 elderly Macedonians and they gave our visitors a rousing reception.
Dimitri Ioannou dancing in Doncaster
Natse Parisis appears to be a firm believer in what some social philosophers have termed the “Perspectivist” viewpoint on social forms. He demonstrated this by explaining that moves towards European integration will lead to greater contact amongst Macedonians throughout the Balkans. He very pertinently pointed out, that OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN and Vinozhito are already members of the same European political party – the European Free Alliance (EFA). The response from the crowd, was rapturous, they obviously connected with Natse’s “perspectivism”; and why shouldn’t they have? We, at any rate, can not think of a single reason. The gathering ended with generous promises from the elders, of support for the AMHRC’s Macedonian Minorities Support Fund. A very productive beginning.
From Doncaster, the AMHRC delegation together with its special guests raced
downtown to the studios of 3ZZZ (a major multicultural radio station) for an interview with Itso Naidovski, the host of a popular Macedonian radio hour. Understandably, the interview filled the entire program and Natse, Stoyko and Dimitri excelled in answering questions that required details beyond standard generalisations. A key point was reached when all agreed, that the Greek argument in connection with the name dispute, that is the so-called “confusion” argument, remains nonsensical when it is noted that the constitutional name of the Republic of Macedonia already obviously possesses a pre-fix, as does Greece’s “Province of Macedonia” – thus there should be no difficulty in distinguishing the two entities, especially as one is a state and the other, a province.
Natse Parisis, Stoyko Stoykov and
Dimitri Ioannou with the delegation
of Detsa Begaltsi
After departing from the studios of 3ZZZ, the already famously mobile “Delegation”, made their way to the premises of the Macedonian Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria, located in Melbourne’s outer northern suburb of Epping. Here, a late lunch was provided and an emotional meeting took place between a “Delegation” and the Association of Macedonian Child Refugees (Detsa Begaltsi). Tears of joy flowed, as Dimitri in particular, spoke about the renaissance of Macedonian culture currently taking place in Greece. Also here, the AMHRC representatives took the opportunity to
explain about the preparations taking place for a class action against the Greek state – that is in relation to the discriminatory laws maintained by Greece against ethnic Macedonian refugees from the Greek Civil War (1946-1949). Crucial to this discussion was the point that we would need to participate in the action involving not just a demand for property compensation, but also a restoration of citizenship. Mr. Yanko Kalinchev, president of the refugee association, responded by pledging support for the AMHRC’s initiatives in this regard.
Getting ready for the AMHRC human rights conference
This very successful day was ended by a dinner with the visitors and the AMHRC. The restaurant was especially chosen for Stoyko, who had a long burning desire to try kangaroo. It was not that easy to locate a restaurant for the purpose – contrary to popular belief, there are not many restaurants in Australia that serve up the national symbol. We are not sure if there is another nation-state that encourages consumption of its national symbol; nor were we sure in the end, about whether Stoyko’s desire, considering his facial expression, might not have been better left unfulfilled...perhaps it was the particular chef’s fault?
On Friday the 27th of March the AMHRC held an all day Human Rights conference in downtown Melbourne. Aside from the AMHRC and the visiting activists, the conference was attended by representatives of numerous Macedonian community groups throughout Australia. These people need to be noted, as they all made useful contributions to the day’s proceedings: Victor Bivell (Pollitecon Publications – an Australian based publisher of books to do with matters Macedonian); Gligor Apoleski (a long time, Sydney based, Macedonian activist); Igor Alexandrov (Macedonian Orthodox community of Sydney, New South Wales); Steve Kostoff and Tom Pisarcoff (Macedonian Orthodox Community of Adelaide and South Australia); Yote Kyandovski and Jim Bivoltsis (Macedonian Orthodox Commmunity of Perth and Western Australia); Sam Ristovski (Macedonian Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria); Vlado Trpchevski (Macedonian Orthodox Community in Sydenham); Yanko Kalinchev and Lazo Kristov (Macedonian Child Refugees); Itso Naidovski (3ZZZ); Margarita Vasileva (SBS Macedonian Radio Program); Lou Stankovski (editor of the Australian Macedonian Weekly and Igor Pavlovski (editor of Today, Macedonian weekly newspaper). Also, we would like to send our thanks to Chris Angelkov (Macedonian Orthodox Community of Perth and Western Australia), who, although not present, was very helpful.
Stoyko Stoykov giving a Power Point presentation
at the AMHRC human rights conference
The agenda for the conference was designed to advance an understanding of the status of Macedonians in Greece and Bulgaria, and to discuss strategies to protect and promote the Human Rights of Macedonians throughout the world. The day began with Dimitri and Stoyko each giving highly detailed hour long power point
presentations, that created much food for thought and discussion. Impressive was the news of the considerable expansion of Vinozhito branches in eastern Aegean Macedonia and OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN’s legal plans to continue to challenge Bulgaria’s unlawful de-registration of their party.
After a lunch that was served in the conference room, members of the AMHRC (Jason Kambovski, Sasha Nachkovski, Vasko Nastevski, Dr. Chris Popov, John Tsiglev and George Vlahov) informed attendees of their current and ongoing activities. These, among others, include lobbying of the Australian government and involvement in legal action on behalf of Macedonian refugees from the Greek Civil War (Detsa Begaltsi).
Busy at the AMHRC conference
It is worth noting that the AMHRC has accepted the task of organising Australian-Macedonian participation in the class action being prepared against Greece. The talks were quite rapid and internet messages even came in at this point from the AMHRC’s International Co-ordinator in Skopje, David Vitkov and also from MHRMI president, Bill Nicholov; the world really seemed to shrink for a transient moment and it set off some staccato typing from the AMHRC’s Media Liason Officer, Lyubitsa Durlovska...a pause was needed.
After a tea break, a constructive open forum discussion ensued. A key point was reached when it was accurately pointed out by Igor Alexandrov, that although Vinozhito and OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN are technically political parties; support provided for their activities cannot be considered an act of partisan party politics, for the fundamental basis of their activity involves a struggle for basic human rights, rights that in the West, are regarded as essential and are protected by international law. This was no surprise, as Igor represents a body that has been generously supporting OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN’s newspaper, Narodna Volya. It was after this that the community organisations from Melbourne, Sydenham, Sydney and Perth made out substantial contributions to the AMHRC’s Macedonian Minorities Support Fund. Promises of similar contributions were also made
Igor Alexandrov and Igor Pavlovski
at the AMHRC conference
by the representatives from Adelaide. Lastly, it must be noted that Igor Pavlovski and Lou Stankovski, made considerable contributions to the Minorities’ Fund and all of this kept the AMHRC’s financial managers, Tase Filipov and Michael Kochev, quite, but happily, busy.
The AMHRC would like here to once more take this opportunity to thank the visiting interstate delegates, who travelled from as far as Sydney, Adelaide and Perth to attend. The positive contributions made by all attendees ensured that the conference was a great success, with many important issues discussed and strategies formulated for the effective advocacy of Macedonian human rights in Australia and abroad.
Yote Kyandovski and Natse
Parisis at the AMHRC conference
The following evening, Saturday 28th. March, the AMHRC held its annual dinner function at Neret Receptions in Melbourne. This event was important for two reasons. Primarily, it gave the visiting activists an opportunity to engage with the wider Macedonian community. Secondly, the function celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the formation of the AMHRC. More than 400 Macedonians (the event was a sell-out) were in attendance to hear the visiting activists talk about the human rights struggles of the Macedonian minorities in Greece and Bulgaria. The activists were very well received by the appreciative audience. Indeed, the visitors were ‘swamped’ like rock stars – at one point Natse had to be ‘rescued’, as he found it impossible to make his way back to his chair...
Dimitri Ioannou and Natse Parisis
on stage at the AMHRC dinner
The function demonstrated that, 25 years after the formation of the AMHRC, the wider Macedonian community is still very supportive of it and the important work it undertakes on behalf of Macedonian minorities. The AMHRC demonstrated its appreciation for this support in speeches delivered by Vasko Nastevski and George Vlahov. They also emphasised the internationally co-operative nature of the AMHRC’s work, as it is carried out, hand in hand with MHRMI.
Apart from a special Macedonian dance, ordered by some members for the AMHRC and the visitors, the highlight of the evening was the auctioning of the EFA flag – skilfully conducted by Jason Kambovski. There were gasps as Lazo Genis ensured his ownership of the prized symbol, with a bid of $2,500.
On the following Sunday the AMHRC held a public meeting at the Preston (an inner-northern Melbourne suburb) Makedonia Social Club. Again, this was a well attended meeting and was a further opportunity for the activists to engage in a more intimate manner, with the wider Macedonian community.
A significant point that was made by Stoyko, Dimitri and Natse at various times on the day, was that as citizens of, and taxpayers in Bulgaria and Greece, there is no question of seeking rights from the Republic of Macedonia – this responsibility belongs rather to Bulgaria and Greece. An important matter that needed clarification, as some members of the community still find it difficult to separate the ethno-cultural, from the politico-legal, citizenship realm.
George Vlahov on stage
at the AMHRC dinner
The meeting wound up with an appeal for new members to join the AMHRC’s Minorities fund and we apologise if this success story is starting to bore our readers, but the fact is, this appeal met with a more than decent response - Gotse Stefanovski’s and Dr. Suzanna Kotevski’s sizeable contributions, need special mention here.
Monday 30th. March, was a day allocated for media interviews – not all of which took place. Greek radio programs declined to accept the opportunity, as did “Neos Kosmos” (New World – the major Greek-Australian newspaper, with a very large circulation). However, sitting with Natse and Dimitri, early on Monday morning at an inner-city Melbourne cafe, we noticed a gentleman a few tables away, reading the Neos Kosmos. ‘Hawkeye’ Parisis quickly spotted that Vino’s visit had made the front page! A copy was quickly purchased and to the surprise of all, it was found that the account was factual...it even quoted accurately from the recent U.N. Report that recommended that Greece give up on trying to argue that there is no such thing as an ethnic Macedonian minority in Greece.
Jason Kambovski, Dimitri Ioannou, Lazo Genis
(successfully out bid all opposition and obtained
the EFA flag), Natse Parisis, Stoyko Stoykov
Later, Stoyko was interviewed by the Bulgarian program on SBS radio (the major state sponsored, Australia wide multicultural radio station). Upon being told by the interviewer that Bulgaria was a model democracy, Stoyko responded by concisely re-counting facts to do with the unlawful de-registration of OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN and these, beyond leaving the interviewer in obvious shock, drove her to change tack and begin asking Stoyko about Melbourne’s landscape...
In the afternoon, unfortunately some mainstream journalists pleaded unforseen emergencies and as our visitors were due to leave the next day, time could not be found for re-scheduling. None-the-less, the day ended on a positive note, with an interview between our visitors and Margarita Vasileva and Violetta Yovanovska, hosts of the Macedonian program on SBS radio. As usual, these women came prepared and the final result was a nuanced affair that brought the best out of our guests.
Tuesday 31st. March, D-day; departure. We won’t partake of sentimentality, at the airport, there were some hugs and it was thanks and goodbye.
The AMHRC would like to take this opportunity to thank all those involved in making these events such a success. The large numbers of people attending these events and the general community involvement is representative of the ongoing concern Macedonians in Australia have for the human rights of ethnic Macedonians in Greece and Bulgaria. It is also indicative of the continuing support the AMHRC has from the Macedonian community for its human rights advocacy work, and recognition that the support (financial and technical) the AMHRC gives to Macedonian minority representatives such as Vinozhito and OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN, is essential to ensuring the effectiveness of these organisations.
To be clear, the AMHRC, along with its counterpart organisation in Canada, MHRMI (Macedonian Human Rights Movement International), provide regular and substantial aid to Vinozhito and OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN. As was acknowledged by the visiting activists, without this support, it is likely that neither group would be able to undertake its important work on behalf of the Macedonian minorities in Greece and Bulgaria. It is important that the Macedonian communities in both Australia and Canada recognise this fact by providing ongoing support to both the AMHRC and MHRMI.
Vasko Nastevski on stage at the
AMHRC dinner
* * *
Founded in 1984, the Australian Macedonian Human Rights Committee (AMHRC) has been working towards achieving human rights for Macedonians and other oppressed minorities. For more information, please visit www.macedonianhr.org.au , or contact AMHRC at +61 3 9460 2910, or mail@macedonianhr.org.au .
Macedonian Human Rights Movement International (MHRMI) has been active on human and national rights issues for Macedonians and other oppressed peoples since 1986. For more information, please visit www.mhrmi.org , or contact MHRMI at 416-850-7125, or info@mhrmi.org .
Founded in 1995, EFA-Rainbow is the political party of the Macedonian minority in Greece and is a member of the European Free Alliance and the Federal Union of European Nationalities. For more information, please visit www.florina.org , or contact EFA-Rainbow at 0030 23850 46548, or rainbow@florina.org .
Founded in 1999, OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN is the political party of the Macedonian minority in Bulgaria and is a member of the European Free Alliance. For more information, please visit www.omoilindenpirin.org.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Educative and Cultural Movement of Voden
It is with great honor that I announce the formation of a new Non Governmental Organization (NGO), the “Educative and Cultural Movement of Edessa”. The association was officially registered in Voden, Aegean Macedonia, on February 11, 2009 and is a non-profit association. The statute consists of five individuals who are dedicated to promoting the needs of Education and Cultural activities in Aegean Macedonia.
The objectives and activities are two fold, the first objective is teach the Macedonian Language and History. The association is pleased to announce that starting this summer (for two months) classes will be available in Voden and the surrounding Villages. For the first time local Macedonians will have an opportunity to read and write in their Macedonian mother tongue. Further plans are in the works to expand the classes to the Lerin and Kostur regions.
The second objective is to promote Cultural and Traditional activities throughout Aegean Macedonia and develop relations with the people in the Republic of Macedonia and the Macedonian minorities that live in many Balkan States and the Diaspora. The association will use every opportunity to promote our rich and vibrant Macedonian Culture through music, songs and dance.
Lastly, and I wish to make this clear, this new NGO has no political affiliation or motive with any other political organization in Aegean Macedonia or any political organization in the Diaspora.
Best wishes,
Jim Daikos
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
MHRMI Condemns Attack on Minority Activist in Greece During Live Broadcast
SEEMO Toronto, Canada - MHRMI joins the South East Europe Media Organization (SEEMO) appeal denouncing the attack on Turkish minority rights activist, Abdulhalim Dede, during a live television broadcast on February 19, 2009.
Greece vigorously denies the existence of any ethnic minorities on its territory and attempts to suppress any voices that advocate human rights. Simply raising the issue of minority rights, and specifically the Macedonian minority, in Greece causes Greek citizens and politicians alike to react in outrage.
Greece's state-sponsored racism includes Greek politicians publicly calling for the death of Macedonian minority party EFA-Rainbow members, the Greek army entering an ethnic Macedonian village and arresting several inhabitants, and possible treason charges against Greek Helsinki Monitor spokesperson Panayote Dimitras for advocating minority rights.
MHRMI calls on the international community, and specifically the European Union, to finally hold Greece accountable for its persecution of its ethnic minorities and force Greece to abide by all European Court of Human Rights judgements against it.
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Macedonian Human Rights Movement International (MHRMI) has been active on human and national rights issues for Macedonians and other oppressed peoples since 1986. For more information, please visit www.mhrmi.org, or contact MHRMI at 416-850-7125, or info@mhrmi.org.
Monday, February 9, 2009
UMD Strongly Condemns Sofia Mayor Borisov’s Plans to “Buy” Macedonia
WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 6, 2009 - The United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD) categorically condemns Sofia mayor Boyko Borisov’s recent statements in Chicago advocating an effective “buyout” of Macedonia by Bulgarians to ensure “friendly relations” between the two states. “Such a statement by a leading politician of an EU and NATO member is deeply troubling and reveals a fundamental ignorance of the principles on which both organizations were founded,” stated UMD President, Metodija A. Koloski. Plans to effect a “buyout” of Macedonia by Bulgarians violate one of the EU’s most important principles, “promoting respect for the principles of independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders.” They are tantamount to economic extortion, not unlike the 1995 embargo that Greece imposed on Macedonia to create a “friendly atmosphere” among Macedonians.
UMD regards Mr. Borisov’s reasoning that Bulgaria, through economic and political isolation, will foster “friendly relations” with Macedonians as laughable on its face, if not dangerously mischievous. Although the UMD deplores Mr. Borisov’s remarks, the United Macedonian Diaspora promotes and encourages friendly, positive and mutually productive relations between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia.
UMD believes that Mr. Borisov’s stated goal of friendly ties would best be achieved not through economic extortion and enforced “bulgarianization” of Macedonia’s economy, but rather through the prompt registration of OMO-Ilinden PIRIN (Political Party of the Macedonian Minority in Bulgaria) as a legitimate political party representing ethnic Macedonians in Bulgaria. “Rather than resort to economic extortion, the Republic of Bulgaria would be well advised to recognize the sizable Macedonian minority in Bulgaria. And rather than ignore the very founding principles of NATO and the EU, the Republic of Bulgaria might even wish to issue a formal apology for the deportation of nearly 9,000 Macedonian Jews to Hitler’s death camps,” added Koloski.
As a final gesture of genuine friendship toward Macedonian citizens, the United Macedonian Diaspora would urge the Republic of Bulgaria to consider ending its support of subversive elements within Macedonian civil society that seek to deny the existence of a unique, separate and distinct Macedonian ethnicity, language and nation.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Bakoyannis the whore may visit Macedonia
Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis did not rule out the possibility of paying a visit to Macedonia during 2009 as part of her tour to all 19 of OSCE missions.
OSCE is chaired by Greece this year.
Bakoyannis urged the Macedonian Government to carry out free and fair elections, and to use Greece as an example, (where they have been shooting up cities for the past three months, causing in excess of 3 billion euros worth of damage).
The Greek FM noted that Macedonia's elections would be monitored by a delegation of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and by the OSCE parliamentary assembly.
She appealed again to the Macedonia's government to "abandon the nationalist rhetoric of yesterday", as this is usually reserved for Greece.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Mentally challenged individual manipulated by Greeks
Thanks to the very active Greek lobby in reference to Macedonia even Brussels learned the false story for the so-called arrest of Macedonian blogger who is spreading pro-Greek propaganda on the internet and with flayers in Skopje, Macedonian Nova Macedonia newspaper informs.
The edition informs the arrested blogger is mentally ill and taken to the local psychiatric hospital not in Skopje’s prison as Geek media informs.
Nova Macedonia published statement of blogger’s mother who says her son was treated actively in the psychiatric hospital, because he is sick.
Грција со лажна приказна ја обвини Македонија за иредентизам
(Greece acccuses Macedonia of irredentism with false stories)
Автор: Ивана Костовска
Благодарение на хиперактивното грчко лоби кога станува збор за Македонија, дури до Брисел стигна лажната приказна за наводното апсење на македонскиот блогер што шири прогрчка пропаганда на Интернет и лепи пропагандни летоци по Скопје. Откако грчки пратеник од ПАСОК ја обвини Македонија за екстремен национализам зашто наводно македонската полиција уапсила блогер што имал прогрчки ставови, деновиве и грчката Панмакедонска организација од САД со писмо до Брисел побара „Македонија да го ослободи членот на Словенската филхеленска мрежа и да престане со опасното иредентистичко однесување кон своите соседи“.
„Нова Македонија“ откри дека нема вистина во приказната што Грција ја донесе и во Европската Унија во обид да ја обвини Македонија за иредентизам кон соседните држави.
Уапсениот блогер всушност е душевно болно лице што било однесено на лекување во психијатриската болница „Бардовци“, а не во скопски затвор, како што пишуваа грчките медиуми.
Неговата мајка вчера беше вџашена од информациите што ги пласира Грција дека нејзиниот син наводно е уапсен од полицијата поради прогрчка пропаганда.
- Со асистенција на полицијата мојот син минатата недела беше однесен на присилно лекување во психијатриска болница зашто е болен. Првпат слушам дека некој во Грција реагирал дека е уапсен од полицијата поради прогрчки ставови. Можеби пишувал нешто на Интернет со цел да го спречи лекувањето - објаснува таа.
И од „Бардовци“ потврдуваат дека минатата седмица на лекување било донесено лице со таков идентитет. Соседите на блогерот објаснуваат дека полицијата пред две години интервенирала поради неговото проблематично однесување предизвикано од болеста.
Информацијата за наводното апсење прв на Интернет ја објави самиот блогер, кој напишал дека полицијата наводно го претресува неговиот стан и се подготвува да му стави лисици. На популарниот интернет-форум „Фејсбук“ се собира поддршка за негово ослободување. МВР во петокот демантираше дека полицијата уапсила блогер што шири пропаганда во корист на нашиот јужен сосед.
Грчката Панмакедонска асоцијација од САД деновиве ги информираше европратениците во Брисел дека „полицијата влегла во станот и најверојатно го уапсила членот на Словенската филхеленска мрежа поради неговата посветеност на подобрување на словенско-грчкото пријателство и силните критики на псевдомакедонизмот“. Во потрага по блогерот се впуштија и грчките пратеници, убедени дека македонската полиција го уапсила поради прогрчките ставови. Дури и пратеникот на опозицискиот ПАСОК Маркос Боларис обвинувајќи ја Македонија за екстремен национализам преку пратеничко прашање побара од Дора Бакојани, шефицата на грчката дипломатија, да дознае зошто е уапсен блогерот.
Овој пред две години на нотар заверил изјава дека е убеден во вистинитоста на тврдењето дека „државата што е создадена од Македонците и припаѓа на грчката политичка историја, а тие самите кон грчкиот народ и кон етничкото подрачје (Хелада) Грција. Од 2 век п.н.е. до 6 век н.е., кога почнуваат словенските населувања на Балканот, Македонците остануваат Грци што зборуваат грчки јазик“. Ваквите ставови тој ги објавува и на сајтот на Словенската филхеленска мрежа, а неодамна низ Скопје осамнаа прогрчки пропагандни летоци на кои беше потпишана оваа организација.
Идентитет
Васко Малиновски, Васил Глигоров, Васко Глигоријевиќ, Васко Глигоров, Васил Глигориевиќ... се имињата под кои блогерот веќе неколку месеци води активна антимакедонска кампања на Интернет. Поради тоа минатата недела беше тешко да се одреди неговиот вистински идентитет и место на живеење. Овој човек на Интернет се претставува како истражувач на историјата и на етнолошкиот идентитет на македонското население. Блогерот објави на Интернет дека македонската полиција го претресува неговиот стан и дека се подготвува да го уапси. Неговата мајка изјави дека полицијата асистирала при неговото носење на лечење во психијатриската болница во Скопје „Бардовци“. На популарниот интернет-форум „Фејсбук“ неговите грчки пријатели веќе собираат потписи за поддршка под мотото „Слобода на Глигориевиќ во ФИРОМ“. Пратеник на ПАСОК побара од Бакојани да дознае зошто е уапсен Глигоров или Глигориевиќ и рече дека „екстремниот национализам во Скопје не толерира еден активен граѓанин што настапува со аргументи против националистичкиот делириум на господинот Груевски“.
http://www.novamakedonija.com.mk/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabindex=0&tabid=2&fCat=1&EditionID=306&top=1&ArticleID=17062
His mother was shocked by the claims placated by Greece that her son was arrested by the police due to his pro-Greek position.
"With the assistance of the police, my son was taken to the psychiatric hospital for treatment because he is ill. For the first time I am hearing news that someone in Greece claimed that he is arrested due to his pro-Greek position. Maybe he wrote something on the internet to stop his treatment"- said his mother.
From the Bardovci psychiatric hospital we have confirmation that this individual was received for treatment. The neighbours of this blogger explain that the police intervened two years ago due to his problematic behavior caused by the illness.
The edition informs the arrested blogger is mentally ill and taken to the local psychiatric hospital not in Skopje’s prison as Geek media informs.
Nova Macedonia published statement of blogger’s mother who says her son was treated actively in the psychiatric hospital, because he is sick.
Грција со лажна приказна ја обвини Македонија за иредентизам
(Greece acccuses Macedonia of irredentism with false stories)
Автор: Ивана Костовска
Благодарение на хиперактивното грчко лоби кога станува збор за Македонија, дури до Брисел стигна лажната приказна за наводното апсење на македонскиот блогер што шири прогрчка пропаганда на Интернет и лепи пропагандни летоци по Скопје. Откако грчки пратеник од ПАСОК ја обвини Македонија за екстремен национализам зашто наводно македонската полиција уапсила блогер што имал прогрчки ставови, деновиве и грчката Панмакедонска организација од САД со писмо до Брисел побара „Македонија да го ослободи членот на Словенската филхеленска мрежа и да престане со опасното иредентистичко однесување кон своите соседи“.
„Нова Македонија“ откри дека нема вистина во приказната што Грција ја донесе и во Европската Унија во обид да ја обвини Македонија за иредентизам кон соседните држави.
Уапсениот блогер всушност е душевно болно лице што било однесено на лекување во психијатриската болница „Бардовци“, а не во скопски затвор, како што пишуваа грчките медиуми.
Неговата мајка вчера беше вџашена од информациите што ги пласира Грција дека нејзиниот син наводно е уапсен од полицијата поради прогрчка пропаганда.
- Со асистенција на полицијата мојот син минатата недела беше однесен на присилно лекување во психијатриска болница зашто е болен. Првпат слушам дека некој во Грција реагирал дека е уапсен од полицијата поради прогрчки ставови. Можеби пишувал нешто на Интернет со цел да го спречи лекувањето - објаснува таа.
И од „Бардовци“ потврдуваат дека минатата седмица на лекување било донесено лице со таков идентитет. Соседите на блогерот објаснуваат дека полицијата пред две години интервенирала поради неговото проблематично однесување предизвикано од болеста.
Информацијата за наводното апсење прв на Интернет ја објави самиот блогер, кој напишал дека полицијата наводно го претресува неговиот стан и се подготвува да му стави лисици. На популарниот интернет-форум „Фејсбук“ се собира поддршка за негово ослободување. МВР во петокот демантираше дека полицијата уапсила блогер што шири пропаганда во корист на нашиот јужен сосед.
Грчката Панмакедонска асоцијација од САД деновиве ги информираше европратениците во Брисел дека „полицијата влегла во станот и најверојатно го уапсила членот на Словенската филхеленска мрежа поради неговата посветеност на подобрување на словенско-грчкото пријателство и силните критики на псевдомакедонизмот“. Во потрага по блогерот се впуштија и грчките пратеници, убедени дека македонската полиција го уапсила поради прогрчките ставови. Дури и пратеникот на опозицискиот ПАСОК Маркос Боларис обвинувајќи ја Македонија за екстремен национализам преку пратеничко прашање побара од Дора Бакојани, шефицата на грчката дипломатија, да дознае зошто е уапсен блогерот.
Овој пред две години на нотар заверил изјава дека е убеден во вистинитоста на тврдењето дека „државата што е создадена од Македонците и припаѓа на грчката политичка историја, а тие самите кон грчкиот народ и кон етничкото подрачје (Хелада) Грција. Од 2 век п.н.е. до 6 век н.е., кога почнуваат словенските населувања на Балканот, Македонците остануваат Грци што зборуваат грчки јазик“. Ваквите ставови тој ги објавува и на сајтот на Словенската филхеленска мрежа, а неодамна низ Скопје осамнаа прогрчки пропагандни летоци на кои беше потпишана оваа организација.
Идентитет
Васко Малиновски, Васил Глигоров, Васко Глигоријевиќ, Васко Глигоров, Васил Глигориевиќ... се имињата под кои блогерот веќе неколку месеци води активна антимакедонска кампања на Интернет. Поради тоа минатата недела беше тешко да се одреди неговиот вистински идентитет и место на живеење. Овој човек на Интернет се претставува како истражувач на историјата и на етнолошкиот идентитет на македонското население. Блогерот објави на Интернет дека македонската полиција го претресува неговиот стан и дека се подготвува да го уапси. Неговата мајка изјави дека полицијата асистирала при неговото носење на лечење во психијатриската болница во Скопје „Бардовци“. На популарниот интернет-форум „Фејсбук“ неговите грчки пријатели веќе собираат потписи за поддршка под мотото „Слобода на Глигориевиќ во ФИРОМ“. Пратеник на ПАСОК побара од Бакојани да дознае зошто е уапсен Глигоров или Глигориевиќ и рече дека „екстремниот национализам во Скопје не толерира еден активен граѓанин што настапува со аргументи против националистичкиот делириум на господинот Груевски“.
http://www.novamakedonija.com.mk/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabindex=0&tabid=2&fCat=1&EditionID=306&top=1&ArticleID=17062
His mother was shocked by the claims placated by Greece that her son was arrested by the police due to his pro-Greek position.
"With the assistance of the police, my son was taken to the psychiatric hospital for treatment because he is ill. For the first time I am hearing news that someone in Greece claimed that he is arrested due to his pro-Greek position. Maybe he wrote something on the internet to stop his treatment"- said his mother.
From the Bardovci psychiatric hospital we have confirmation that this individual was received for treatment. The neighbours of this blogger explain that the police intervened two years ago due to his problematic behavior caused by the illness.
Monday, February 2, 2009
I am Macedonian- period!
Risto Stefov
How is it possible in the 21st century for someone else to decide who I am, or who I am not? Does the "universal human right to self determination" as declared by the United Nations not apply to me? Am I excluded from this declaration?
How does one become what or who he or she is? Is it the government that decides? The priest, the church, the United Nations…? Who has the power to decide ethnically and nationally who I am, what language I can speak, what songs I can sing, what dances I can dance,…. And if anyone has that right who has given it to him or her?
My mother was Macedonian, my grandmothers were Macedonian, and my great grandmothers were Macedonian as were their parents; they told me so themselves! So what am I now CHINESE? Not that I want to be one but even if I wanted to I cannot be anything but Macedonian because all my ancestors were Macedonian!
In the beginning of the 20th century my ancestors struggled to free themselves and Macedonia from the grip of the Ottoman occupiers as did the other nations in the Balkans. After five centuries of occupation it was time for freedom; time for the Ottomans to leave. The spirit of freedom was felt everywhere and blood was spilled to achieve it. Unfortunately freedom to the Macedonians did not come easily in spite of their effort. Not to Macedonia and not to my ancestors! One tyrant was replaced by three and instead of gaining its freedom Macedonia was again occupied and divided. Worse than before, in addition to losing their homeland, Macedonians now lost their identity and forcibly were made into Serbs, Bulgarians and Greeks.
The struggle for the Macedonian name, identity and language became and 100 years later is still a burden to all Macedonians and a shame for Greece, Bulgaria, the EU and the United Nations who still insist on their non-existence.
My ancestors fought hard for their identity, nation and country Macedonia but obviously not hard enough because they did not understand the power of politics and were naïve enough to trust their "neighbors" to have their best interest in their hearts when hundreds of thousands of them joined in the fight against the Ottomans to first free "their neighbors" and then their own homeland Macedonia. Macedonians believed in a United Macedonia and a Macedonia for Macedonians. The neighbors however had different ideas. The Greeks, Serbs and Bulgarians fought against one another for a larger "land grab" of Macedonia, each claiming that Macedonia and Macedonians belong to them, only to settle for its division in 1913.
Historian JS Gandeto writes:
"Nineteenth century Greeks did not regard the Macedonians as people of the same ethnicity (Politis 1993:36; Dimaras 1958; Karagatsis, 1952). (1) Greeks in the late eighteen and early nineteenth century viewed the Macedonians as conquerors of Greece. Only after the "Megali Idea" took root in Greece did the Greeks embark on providing and securing 'evidence' for their new political vision…"
The Great Powers of the time particularly England, France and Russia decided to condone Macedonia´s division in accordance with their interests instead of relying on justice, democratic principles, or human rights. It was easy for them to offer the new Balkan states something that did not belong to them, instead of standing up for justice, decency, human rights and democracy. This is the "shame" of Europe. Europeans made a great mistake in the 20th century and Europeans must fix it now.
Serbia, to its credit, begrudgingly but none the less gave back "its" 1913 portion of the spoils to the Macedonians to whom it belongs. Bulgarians and Greeks are still holding on to more than 2/3 of Macedonia. All three committed "ethnocide "and, yes, GENOCIDE since they acquired Macedonian territories in 1913 but Greece and Bulgaria continue to do so to this day! Yes, even today Macedonians in Greece and Bulgaria are forbidden to use their language, sing their songs and freely express their ethnic identity even though both countries are members of the European Union! Both Greece and Bulgaria accuse Macedonians of stealing Greek and/or Bulgarian history, as both will do all they can in their power to exterminate the Macedonian name, language and history. Both claim that: "there is no such thing as a Macedonian nation, language, customs or history".
What about me, my ancestors, my mother, grandmothers, great grandmothers and millions of other Macedonians worldwide? What are we? Are we a mass of unidentified humans? A new species that just appeared on this planet out of nowhere!? What about all the songs that glorify Macedonia, Alexander, his father Philip II, Tsar Samoil, Gotse Delchev, Jane Sandanski, …. In fact there are thousands of folk songs mentioning Macedonia and the struggle for freedom from the Roman Empire, the Ottoman occupation, Macedonia´s division of 1913, the Second World War, etc, which are neither of Greek or of Bulgarian creation. Macedonia is not even mentioned, let alone glorified by Greece and Bulgaria. If Macedonia was Greek or Bulgarian why did both consent to splitting it into three pieces in 1913? Why split what is yours!! Only Macedonians were against splitting Macedonia and only the Macedonians want it put back together. I don´t hear any Greeks or Bulgarians wanting something back that they lost in 1913. They never lost anything because one cannot lose something if one never had it.
Both Greece and Bulgaria since 1913 have changed the names of people and places to wipe out everything Macedonian. Greeks even went so far as to change the names of the dead by inscribing Greek names on the gravestones of the deceased and long gone Macedonians. This is the SHAME of Europe!
If this historical injustice is not righted and if Macedonians are not given rights as other nations enjoy, there will never be true peace in the Balkans or in Europe!
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Modern Greece and the Macedonian Heritage – Part 5 - Why did the Europeans need a Greece?
By Risto Stefov
rstefov@hotmanil.com
February 1st, 2009
In the first four parts of this series we established that the people living in the southern region of today’s Greece in the early 19th century were predominantly Albanian, Vlach and Slav immigrants who had settled there over the centuries to replace the population void created by the disappearance of the so-called “Ancient Greeks”. Given the fact that this new population was predominantly not Greek, 18th century authorities decided to label it Greek anyway in an effort to connect it with a culture that once existed on those lands a long time ago. In this part we will explain why there was such a need to create a Greece and how it benefited Europe.
It is not my intention here to delve into the various details or the rational involved in creating a Greece so I will present the reader with only a general overview to show why 18th and 19th century Europeans needed a Greece and how they proceeded in creating one.
The reader must keep in mind that when 18th and 19th century authorities were contemplating the creation of Modern Greece and writing its history there were several overriding criteria that needed to be addressed. These were:
1. The belief that God created the world and that the world was no more than 5,000 years old.
2. The human race had descended from Noah’s Ark which was believed to have landed in the Caucasus after the great flood.
3. History began at the point when the world was created by God. No history was acceptable before that.
4. The history of a nation had to be based more or less on a “national myth” designed to support the “nation”, its people and particularly its rulers.
5. The writing of a nation’s history was usually sponsored by those in authority who during the 18th century were predominantly monarchs.
So, as one can see, the history of a nation or of the world for that matter had to be written to fit the above criteria as well as to suit the desires and approvals of its sponsors.
In order to understand why Europeans chose “Ancient Greece” after which to model their own culture, we need to examine Europe’s late 18th and early 19th century political, cultural and economic situation.
The first and foremost reason for Europeans choosing “Ancient Greece” as their model to build on is because Ancient Greece was part of Europe. It was important for Europeans to show that the most “enlightened” civilization in the world originated in Europe.
Europeans at the time were involved in all sorts of ventures including the occupation and colonization of various regions of Africa, Asia, Australia and America. They were also involved in enslaving people from Africa and Asia in order to obtain free labour for building their cities and transportation routes, operating their farms, serving as domestics, etc. All these “doings” had to be justified as “moral” and appropriate not only to the world but also to the European masses which supported the political systems and those in power.
One way to justify them was to show examples of other civilizations doing exactly that; that it was okay to take other peoples’ lands and enslave them for the benefit of this new European civilization. In order to convince the world, particularly their own people, the Europeans needed a practicing example which they found in the “Ancient Greeks”.
Europeans also needed precedence to show that they were not the first to condone imperialism and slavery and at the same time maintain the image that they were civilized. It was one thing to say that a “Greek” civilization existed 2,500 years ago in a savage world full of Barbarians however it would have been more convincing if such a civilization existed today, in this world.
As mentioned in a previous article, certain Europeans, later referred to as Philhellenes, convinced that such a civilization could be re-created, decided to instigate an uprising against the Ottoman Empire. Believing that if the Greeks of today could be freed from the Ottoman yoke they would be politically and culturally capable of quickly progressing to the level of the so-called “Civilized Ancient Greeks” of some 2,500 years ago.
Be it by chance or by design, once the Western European Public found out about the merits of this so-called “Ancient Greek Civilization” it began to look up to it and accept it not only as a source of enlightenment but as a guiding light for Europe’s future.
As it happened, the first step in re-creating this old civilization was to popularize it abroad among intellectuals and academics, especially in Britain and France.
With the publication of the Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage and Lord Byron’s work, the British and French audience was quick to catch on and became very open to the idea of “bringing back the Ancient Greeks”.
Once popularized, a movement started forming giving the “idea of re-creating Ancient Greece” life and impetus and later moral, financial and military support. The movement caught on much easier and faster in Western European countries than it did inside the Ottoman Occupied Greek Regions but with persistence from the Great Powers and British gold, Hellenism was reborn.
Once the European public was in support of such a venture, it was time to convince the people living on the lands where once the so-called “Ancient Greeks” lived. Unfortunately, convincing the “locals” became a harder task than convincing the European public but in the long run persistence paid off and today we have pure Greeks, descendants of the Ancient Greeks.
The primary reasons why Europe wanted a Greece can be summarized as follows;
1. Europeans needed to justify the use of slavery as a moral deed for the greater good of a superior and moral Modern European civilization. Because of its intellectual capacity, the so-called “Ancient Greek Civilization” was considered both superior and moral which not only condoned slavery but practiced it. As I have shown in previous parts of this series of articles, more than half of Ancient Athens was populated by slaves who served the ruling elite.
2. Europeans needed precedence to justify their acts of colonization and imperial land grabs and found it in the so-called Ancient Greeks, particularly in the imperial ventures of Ancient Athens.
3. Besides 1 and 2 above, Europeans needed a “model” on which to build their own civilization and to show that European “knowledge” and “culture” were genuinely European and not imported from any of the “other” lands from which slaves were imported. They found this “model” in Ancient Greece and took from it what they deemed appropriate and discarded the rest.
In other words, late 18th and early 19th century Europeans found in Ancient Greece a civilized people with a superior culture and intellect which at the same time practiced slavery, fought for booty and colonized other peoples’ lands; a behaviour worthy of emulation.
What is most interesting, little known and needs emphasis is the fact that the so-called “Greek Uprising of 1821” was not at all a “Greek Uprising” but an uprising instigated by non-Greek Europeans outside of Greece. Also, another little known fact is that this uprising was mostly financed by Great Britain and fought with the help of Western European volunteers.
The aim of this venture was not just to free the people from the Ottoman yoke but to turn them into something they were not. And thus the curse of Hellenism was born.
Hellenism may have been viewed as “something wonderful” by outsiders who yearned to see the “Ancient Greek Civilization” re-born but it was a nightmare for the people directly involved who were asked to give up their true identities for something alien, foreign and long dead; to which they never belonged. Ninety-two years later, the Macedonians of Greek occupied Macedonia were asked to do the same; become Hellenes, something foreign and alien. One-hundred and seventy years later we are re-living the curse of Hellenism as the Republic of Macedonia is attempting to assert its identity.
In the book “Entangled Identities Nations and Europe” edited by Atsuko Ichijo and Willfried Spohn on page 109 we read “It should be strongly emphasized, however, that this new image of classical Greece was constructed in Europe and was imported to the new born Greek state (Tsoukalas 2002). Modern ideas touched the general Greek population only marginally, if at all.”
After the Greek state was created for the first time in 1829 it was incapable of governing itself and was placed under foreign rule and a foreign administration. On page 110 of the book “Entangled Identities Nations and Europe” we read “Greece was governed by an imported young monarch, Prince Frederic Otto of Wittlesbach, the seventeen year old son of King Ludwig of Bavaria.”
“The three men regency council which in fact was to rule [Greece] was also Bavarian and protestant. What came to be called ‘the protecting powers’ exercised such an influence on the newly-born state that the first political parties were named appropriately ‘the English party’, ‘the French party’ and ‘the Russian party’. Supporters of these parties represented nascent class structures in Greek society but above all these parties represented corresponding foreign influences and interests.”
As we continue to read the book “Entangled Identities Nations and Europe” on page 111 we find “The political parties which existed, as we mentioned earlier, reflected the interests and the antagonisms of foreign powers.”
“In reality, however, this utopian, irredentist idea [which the Greeks developed on their own] served as a smoke screen for corruption and severe socio-economic problems faced by the government and as an excuse for the even greater blatant intervention of the Great Powers in Greek affairs. (Clogg 1979: 76-79)”
In the book “The Greek Phoenix” by Joseph Braddock on page 137 we read “Colonel Napier was seeing a lot of his celebrated guest, and paid him every attention, realizing that Byron, as a representative of the London Greek committee, might have considerable influence both in Greece and London in helping him obtain military command. So it was arranged that Napier should be given leave to go to London, furnished with a letter of introduction from Byron to the London Greek committee. He arrived in January 1824, carrying a letter written on the 10th of December 1823 in which Byron advised that a loan of 500,000 pounds should be raised to provide an army for Greece to be commanded by Napier. ‘Of his military character it was superfluous to speak; of his personal, I can say from my own knowledge’ Byron wrote ‘that it is excellent as his military -in short a better or a braver man is not easy to be found. He is our man to lead a regular force or to organize a national one for the Greeks. Ask the army; ask anybody! He is, besides, the personal friend of Mavrocordato, Colonel Stanhope and myself; and in such concord with all three that we should pull together, an indispensable as well as rare point, especially in Greece at present.’
Alas, the London committee was too preoccupied to welcome Napier’s services. At the moment they were busy devising acrimoniously the menu for their next public dinner, and were more interested in making plans for the cultural regeneration of Greece than in hearing about Napier’s military virtues.”
In the “Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece” edited by Nigel Wilson, which so many Modern Greeks encouraged me to read so that I can “educate” myself on page 345 we read “Hellenization denotes the spread of Hellenic culture in non-Greek ‘barbarian’ society and the process under which ‘barbarians’ accept, adopt, and incorporate Hellenic culture.”
“The first modern appearance of the concept of Hellenism and Hellenization occurs in Geschchite des Hellenismus, G. Droysen’s great three volume work published between 1833 and 1843”
Hellenism, whatever purpose it was intended to serve should have died a long time ago along with Fascism, Nazism and slavery but unfortunately it has not. Instead, nurtured by the Powers that created it, it has flourished and swallowed and destroyed nations of people including part of my own; the Macedonians in Greek occupied Macedonia who to this day are struggling to get free.
What is this phenomenon called “Hellenism”? Whatever it is, it has different interpretations to different people but as Macedonians that have been touched by it, while refusing to yield to it, for us it has been a nightmare. Greece, after invading, occupying and annexing 51% of the Macedonian territories in 1912, 1913, in the name of Hellenism tortured, murdered and expelled all Macedonians who refused to become “Hellenes”. It then changed all peoples’ and place names to “Hellenize” them and make them Greek. If that was not enough, Greece then abolished the Macedonian language rendering it illegal to be spoken both in public and private, all this in the name of “Hellenism”. In other words, Hellenism for the Macedonians has been a relentless enemy whose aim has been to destroy what is real and replace it with something artificial which has no roots or a real past.
For those who are still not convinced that the Modern Greek identity is an artificial creation, please continue to read this series of articles.
Author’s note:
Dear Macedonians, one way to defend ourselves from the Greek onslaught and gain back our identity and dignity is to fight back to the level to which the Greeks have reduced us; that is to attack their identity as they have attacked ours. We need prove nothing to them except to expose them as the artificial identity they truly are and to uncover their design to wipe us out in order to usurp our Macedonian heritage.
To be Continued.
Many thanks to TrueMacedonian from www.maknews.com for his contribution to this article.
rstefov@hotmanil.com
February 1st, 2009
In the first four parts of this series we established that the people living in the southern region of today’s Greece in the early 19th century were predominantly Albanian, Vlach and Slav immigrants who had settled there over the centuries to replace the population void created by the disappearance of the so-called “Ancient Greeks”. Given the fact that this new population was predominantly not Greek, 18th century authorities decided to label it Greek anyway in an effort to connect it with a culture that once existed on those lands a long time ago. In this part we will explain why there was such a need to create a Greece and how it benefited Europe.
It is not my intention here to delve into the various details or the rational involved in creating a Greece so I will present the reader with only a general overview to show why 18th and 19th century Europeans needed a Greece and how they proceeded in creating one.
The reader must keep in mind that when 18th and 19th century authorities were contemplating the creation of Modern Greece and writing its history there were several overriding criteria that needed to be addressed. These were:
1. The belief that God created the world and that the world was no more than 5,000 years old.
2. The human race had descended from Noah’s Ark which was believed to have landed in the Caucasus after the great flood.
3. History began at the point when the world was created by God. No history was acceptable before that.
4. The history of a nation had to be based more or less on a “national myth” designed to support the “nation”, its people and particularly its rulers.
5. The writing of a nation’s history was usually sponsored by those in authority who during the 18th century were predominantly monarchs.
So, as one can see, the history of a nation or of the world for that matter had to be written to fit the above criteria as well as to suit the desires and approvals of its sponsors.
In order to understand why Europeans chose “Ancient Greece” after which to model their own culture, we need to examine Europe’s late 18th and early 19th century political, cultural and economic situation.
The first and foremost reason for Europeans choosing “Ancient Greece” as their model to build on is because Ancient Greece was part of Europe. It was important for Europeans to show that the most “enlightened” civilization in the world originated in Europe.
Europeans at the time were involved in all sorts of ventures including the occupation and colonization of various regions of Africa, Asia, Australia and America. They were also involved in enslaving people from Africa and Asia in order to obtain free labour for building their cities and transportation routes, operating their farms, serving as domestics, etc. All these “doings” had to be justified as “moral” and appropriate not only to the world but also to the European masses which supported the political systems and those in power.
One way to justify them was to show examples of other civilizations doing exactly that; that it was okay to take other peoples’ lands and enslave them for the benefit of this new European civilization. In order to convince the world, particularly their own people, the Europeans needed a practicing example which they found in the “Ancient Greeks”.
Europeans also needed precedence to show that they were not the first to condone imperialism and slavery and at the same time maintain the image that they were civilized. It was one thing to say that a “Greek” civilization existed 2,500 years ago in a savage world full of Barbarians however it would have been more convincing if such a civilization existed today, in this world.
As mentioned in a previous article, certain Europeans, later referred to as Philhellenes, convinced that such a civilization could be re-created, decided to instigate an uprising against the Ottoman Empire. Believing that if the Greeks of today could be freed from the Ottoman yoke they would be politically and culturally capable of quickly progressing to the level of the so-called “Civilized Ancient Greeks” of some 2,500 years ago.
Be it by chance or by design, once the Western European Public found out about the merits of this so-called “Ancient Greek Civilization” it began to look up to it and accept it not only as a source of enlightenment but as a guiding light for Europe’s future.
As it happened, the first step in re-creating this old civilization was to popularize it abroad among intellectuals and academics, especially in Britain and France.
With the publication of the Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage and Lord Byron’s work, the British and French audience was quick to catch on and became very open to the idea of “bringing back the Ancient Greeks”.
Once popularized, a movement started forming giving the “idea of re-creating Ancient Greece” life and impetus and later moral, financial and military support. The movement caught on much easier and faster in Western European countries than it did inside the Ottoman Occupied Greek Regions but with persistence from the Great Powers and British gold, Hellenism was reborn.
Once the European public was in support of such a venture, it was time to convince the people living on the lands where once the so-called “Ancient Greeks” lived. Unfortunately, convincing the “locals” became a harder task than convincing the European public but in the long run persistence paid off and today we have pure Greeks, descendants of the Ancient Greeks.
The primary reasons why Europe wanted a Greece can be summarized as follows;
1. Europeans needed to justify the use of slavery as a moral deed for the greater good of a superior and moral Modern European civilization. Because of its intellectual capacity, the so-called “Ancient Greek Civilization” was considered both superior and moral which not only condoned slavery but practiced it. As I have shown in previous parts of this series of articles, more than half of Ancient Athens was populated by slaves who served the ruling elite.
2. Europeans needed precedence to justify their acts of colonization and imperial land grabs and found it in the so-called Ancient Greeks, particularly in the imperial ventures of Ancient Athens.
3. Besides 1 and 2 above, Europeans needed a “model” on which to build their own civilization and to show that European “knowledge” and “culture” were genuinely European and not imported from any of the “other” lands from which slaves were imported. They found this “model” in Ancient Greece and took from it what they deemed appropriate and discarded the rest.
In other words, late 18th and early 19th century Europeans found in Ancient Greece a civilized people with a superior culture and intellect which at the same time practiced slavery, fought for booty and colonized other peoples’ lands; a behaviour worthy of emulation.
What is most interesting, little known and needs emphasis is the fact that the so-called “Greek Uprising of 1821” was not at all a “Greek Uprising” but an uprising instigated by non-Greek Europeans outside of Greece. Also, another little known fact is that this uprising was mostly financed by Great Britain and fought with the help of Western European volunteers.
The aim of this venture was not just to free the people from the Ottoman yoke but to turn them into something they were not. And thus the curse of Hellenism was born.
Hellenism may have been viewed as “something wonderful” by outsiders who yearned to see the “Ancient Greek Civilization” re-born but it was a nightmare for the people directly involved who were asked to give up their true identities for something alien, foreign and long dead; to which they never belonged. Ninety-two years later, the Macedonians of Greek occupied Macedonia were asked to do the same; become Hellenes, something foreign and alien. One-hundred and seventy years later we are re-living the curse of Hellenism as the Republic of Macedonia is attempting to assert its identity.
In the book “Entangled Identities Nations and Europe” edited by Atsuko Ichijo and Willfried Spohn on page 109 we read “It should be strongly emphasized, however, that this new image of classical Greece was constructed in Europe and was imported to the new born Greek state (Tsoukalas 2002). Modern ideas touched the general Greek population only marginally, if at all.”
After the Greek state was created for the first time in 1829 it was incapable of governing itself and was placed under foreign rule and a foreign administration. On page 110 of the book “Entangled Identities Nations and Europe” we read “Greece was governed by an imported young monarch, Prince Frederic Otto of Wittlesbach, the seventeen year old son of King Ludwig of Bavaria.”
“The three men regency council which in fact was to rule [Greece] was also Bavarian and protestant. What came to be called ‘the protecting powers’ exercised such an influence on the newly-born state that the first political parties were named appropriately ‘the English party’, ‘the French party’ and ‘the Russian party’. Supporters of these parties represented nascent class structures in Greek society but above all these parties represented corresponding foreign influences and interests.”
As we continue to read the book “Entangled Identities Nations and Europe” on page 111 we find “The political parties which existed, as we mentioned earlier, reflected the interests and the antagonisms of foreign powers.”
“In reality, however, this utopian, irredentist idea [which the Greeks developed on their own] served as a smoke screen for corruption and severe socio-economic problems faced by the government and as an excuse for the even greater blatant intervention of the Great Powers in Greek affairs. (Clogg 1979: 76-79)”
In the book “The Greek Phoenix” by Joseph Braddock on page 137 we read “Colonel Napier was seeing a lot of his celebrated guest, and paid him every attention, realizing that Byron, as a representative of the London Greek committee, might have considerable influence both in Greece and London in helping him obtain military command. So it was arranged that Napier should be given leave to go to London, furnished with a letter of introduction from Byron to the London Greek committee. He arrived in January 1824, carrying a letter written on the 10th of December 1823 in which Byron advised that a loan of 500,000 pounds should be raised to provide an army for Greece to be commanded by Napier. ‘Of his military character it was superfluous to speak; of his personal, I can say from my own knowledge’ Byron wrote ‘that it is excellent as his military -in short a better or a braver man is not easy to be found. He is our man to lead a regular force or to organize a national one for the Greeks. Ask the army; ask anybody! He is, besides, the personal friend of Mavrocordato, Colonel Stanhope and myself; and in such concord with all three that we should pull together, an indispensable as well as rare point, especially in Greece at present.’
Alas, the London committee was too preoccupied to welcome Napier’s services. At the moment they were busy devising acrimoniously the menu for their next public dinner, and were more interested in making plans for the cultural regeneration of Greece than in hearing about Napier’s military virtues.”
In the “Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece” edited by Nigel Wilson, which so many Modern Greeks encouraged me to read so that I can “educate” myself on page 345 we read “Hellenization denotes the spread of Hellenic culture in non-Greek ‘barbarian’ society and the process under which ‘barbarians’ accept, adopt, and incorporate Hellenic culture.”
“The first modern appearance of the concept of Hellenism and Hellenization occurs in Geschchite des Hellenismus, G. Droysen’s great three volume work published between 1833 and 1843”
Hellenism, whatever purpose it was intended to serve should have died a long time ago along with Fascism, Nazism and slavery but unfortunately it has not. Instead, nurtured by the Powers that created it, it has flourished and swallowed and destroyed nations of people including part of my own; the Macedonians in Greek occupied Macedonia who to this day are struggling to get free.
What is this phenomenon called “Hellenism”? Whatever it is, it has different interpretations to different people but as Macedonians that have been touched by it, while refusing to yield to it, for us it has been a nightmare. Greece, after invading, occupying and annexing 51% of the Macedonian territories in 1912, 1913, in the name of Hellenism tortured, murdered and expelled all Macedonians who refused to become “Hellenes”. It then changed all peoples’ and place names to “Hellenize” them and make them Greek. If that was not enough, Greece then abolished the Macedonian language rendering it illegal to be spoken both in public and private, all this in the name of “Hellenism”. In other words, Hellenism for the Macedonians has been a relentless enemy whose aim has been to destroy what is real and replace it with something artificial which has no roots or a real past.
For those who are still not convinced that the Modern Greek identity is an artificial creation, please continue to read this series of articles.
Author’s note:
Dear Macedonians, one way to defend ourselves from the Greek onslaught and gain back our identity and dignity is to fight back to the level to which the Greeks have reduced us; that is to attack their identity as they have attacked ours. We need prove nothing to them except to expose them as the artificial identity they truly are and to uncover their design to wipe us out in order to usurp our Macedonian heritage.
To be Continued.
Many thanks to TrueMacedonian from www.maknews.com for his contribution to this article.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Συμβαίνουν γύρω μας
Του Γιώργου Ν. Παπαδάκη
Καθώς οι γραμμές αυτές γράφονται γιορτινές μέρες, είχα αρχικά σκοπό να αναφερθώ σε κάτι πιο ήπιο, πιο ευχάριστο, πιο «εορταστικό» αν θέλετε…
Μετά από την Δεκεμβριανή μαυρίλα στην Ελλάδα, νομίζω ότι είχαμε όλοι ανάγκη να πιστέψουμε ότι δεν είναι όλα τόσο σκοτεινά γύρω μας.
Δυστυχώς, και να θέλει κάποιος να «αγιάσει», που λέει ο λόγος, δεν τον αφήνουν τα γεγονότα. Είμαι σίγουρος ότι στα ελληνικά ΜΜΕ πέρασε στα πολύ ψιλά γράμματα (αν εμφανίστηκε και πουθενά) η είδηση ότι το 6ο κανάλι της κρατικής τουρκικής τηλεόρασης TRT θα εκπέμπει από την 1η Ιανουαρίου πρόγραμμα ΑΠΟΚΛΕΙΣΤΙΚΆ στην κουρδική γλώσσα.
Σε ποια γλώσσα είπατε; Στην κουρδική; Η κρατική τουρκική τηλεόραση; Μα οι Τούρκοι δεν ήταν αυτοί που μέχρι πριν λίγο καιρό έλεγαν επίσημα σε όλα τα διεθνή fora ότι δεν υπάρχουν Κούρδοι αλλά μόνο «ορεσίβιοι Τούρκοι»;
Η απάντηση σε όλα αυτά τα ερωτήματα είναι καταφατική. Όμως οι καιροί αλλάζουν, και μάλιστα τόσο γρήγορα που ενίοτε νιώθουμε ότι δεν προλαβαίνουμε καν να παρακολουθήσουμε τις εξελίξεις. Μέσα σε ελάχιστο χρόνο, η κουρδική γλώσσα της ανυπαρξίας, της ολικής απαγόρευσης και της καταστολής μπήκε στα σπίτια των Τούρκων- Κούρδων και μη- αρχικά μέσω της μουσικής και στη συνέχεια μέσω της δορυφορικής τηλεόρασης. Το Roj TV είναι ένα δορυφορικό κανάλι ελεύθερης λήψης με έδρα τη Δανία που εκπέμπει όχι σε μια αλλά σε 4(!) διαλέκτους της «ανύπαρκτης» κουρδικής, καθώς και στα τουρκικά, τα περσικά, τα αγγλικά και τα αραβικά.
Η τρομακτική του απήχηση στους Κούρδους της Τουρκίας και όχι μόνο, «ανάγκασε» ουσιαστικά την TRT να αντιδράσει. Δειλά –δειλά, πριν 3,5 χρόνια εμφανίστηκαν τα πρώτα προγράμματα στα κουρδικά από την κρατική τηλεόραση για να φτάσουμε σήμερα να υπάρχει ένα ολόκληρο κανάλι αποκλειστικά γι’ αυτά.
Θα μου πείτε- και πιθανόν θα έχετε και δίκιο- ότι αν δεν υπήρχε το Roj TV και η γενικότερη χαλάρωση των απαγορεύσεων αναφορικά με τα κουρδικά από το 2002 και μετά, ίσως να μη βλέπαμε ποτέ αυτό το θέαμα.
Συμφωνώ. Είναι σαφές ότι ένας από τους λόγους που το τουρκικό κράτος αντιδρά φτιάχνοντας ένα κανάλι αποκλειστικά για Κούρδους, είναι και η προπαγάνδα. Ήδη, η συντριπτική πλειοψηφία των προγραμμάτων του καναλιού 6, αναφέρονται στον Ατατούρκ και στον αρχαίο τουρκικό πολιτισμό. Είναι εύλογο αυτό να συνεχιστεί και να εμπλουτιστεί και με νέα στοιχεία, ως «αντίβαρο» στο Roj TV που θεωρείται ότι –ως ένα σημείο- εκφράζει τις αρχές του ΡΚΚ.
Όμως, αυτό δεν είναι το κυρίαρχο θέμα εδώ. Η προσοχή μας θα πρέπει να εστιαστεί στο ότι μια «ανύπαρκτη» γλώσσα σε μια χώρα που παραμένει προβληματική στον τομέα των ανθρώπινων και μειονοτικών δικαιωμάτων, «νομιμοποιείται» με τον πλέον επίσημο τρόπο. Μέσω της κρατικής τηλεόρασης.
Για ελάτε τώρα να αντιπαραβάλουμε την Τουρκία με τη δική μας, «προηγμένη», «ευρωπαϊκή» και κυρίως «δημοκρατική» χώρα. Η οποία, όμως, παραμένει σταθερά ουραγός παρόμοιων εξελίξεων όχι μόνο σε ευρωπαϊκό αλλά και σε περιφερειακό, βαλκανικό επίπεδο. Και το χειρότερο είναι ότι δεν διαφαίνεται καμία διάθεση για αλλαγή στάσης, για προσαρμογή στις νέες συνθήκες. Εμείς έχουμε τη σχεδόν 100ετή συνθήκη της Λοζάννης ως ευαγγέλιο, τι να μας πουν τώρα όλοι αυτοί οι περιττοί νεωτερισμοί…
«Ανύπαρκτες» γλώσσες έχουμε δυστυχώς ή ευτυχώς και στην Ελλάδα. Είναι, νομίζω, σενάριο επιστημονικής φαντασίας ακόμα και το να σκεφτεί κανείς ότι στο ορατό μέλλον θα δούμε στην ΕΡΤ ένα έστω 15λεπτο πρόγραμμα π.χ. στα μακεδονικά.
Αλλά μήπως βλέπουμε πληθώρα προγραμμάτων και στις «υπαρκτές» γλώσσες, όπως τα τουρκικά; Τι αλήθεια γνωρίζει ο μέσος Έλληνας για τις μεγάλες γιορτές και τις θρησκευτικές παραδόσεις των μουσουλμάνων συμπατριωτών του; Ποια είναι η εξοικείωσή του με τις άλλες θρησκείες που υπάρχουν στη χώρα και-υποτίθεται ότι- είναι ισότιμες με την επίσημη; Και τι κάνει η κρατική ελληνική τηλεόραση για να μας φέρει έστω λίγο πιο κοντά στη διαφορετικότητα που ζει δίπλα μας;
Την απάντηση για όλα τα παραπάνω είναι και πάλι πολύ εύκολη και την γνωρίζουμε όλοι. ΤΙΠΟΤΑ.
Επί 52 εβδομάδες, κάθε Κυριακή, «βομβαρδιζόμαστε» τόσο από το 1ο όσο και από το 3ο κανάλι της κρατικής τηλεόρασης με την Ορθόδοξη Θεία Λειτουργία και τα τηλε- κηρύγματα ορισμένων έξαλλων γραφικών που ακολουθούν. Ούτε μια Κυριακή ή άλλη μέρα αφιερωμένη στους Καθολικούς, τους Εβραίους, τους Μουσουλμάνους, το Κουρμπάν Μπαιράμ, το Χάνουκα και τόσα άλλα…
Γιατί άραγε; Αυτοί οι άνθρωποι δεν πληρώνουν όπως όλοι οι Έλληνες κάθε μήνα την ΕΡΤ; Δεν πληρώνουν κανονικά τους φόρους τους;
Ασφαλώς και το κάνουν. Όπως το κάνουν και οι Μακεδονόφωνοι της Έδεσσας, οι Τουρκόφωνοι της Ξάνθης, οι Βλαχόφωνοι των Τρικάλων, οι Αρβανιτόφωνοι της Θήβας, οι Ρομά του Ασπρόπυργου. Και όμως εξακολουθούν να είναι «αόρατοι» και «ανύπαρκτοι» σε μια χώρα που θέλει να λέγεται σύγχρονη ευρωπαϊκή δημοκρατία και η οποία σε όλες τις εκκλήσεις για διάλογο από όλους αυτούς τους ανθρώπους απαντά με δυσφήμιση και δικαστήρια. Ίσως γιατί πλέον μας τελείωσαν τα Μακρονήσια και τα Γιούρα.
Ε, ας μην είμαστε και αχάριστοι, ας μην τα θέλουμε όλα δικά μας. Κι αυτό (η κατάργηση δηλαδή των τόπων εξορίας) είναι μια πρόοδος, διάβολε…
Όλο και κάτι θα αλλάξει προς το καλύτερο τα επόμενα 100 χρόνια. Επειδή όμως εσείς κι εγώ δεν θα είμαστε εδώ για να το δούμε, τουλάχιστον ξέρετε πλέον τι θα απαντάτε στον επόμενο που θα σας πει για την «καθυστερημένη» και «βάρβαρη» Τουρκία. Για την «θρασύτατη» και «προκλητική» Μακεδονία με μια κρατική τηλεόραση που δεν έχει χρήματα για να πληρώσει μισθούς αλλά συνεχίζει να μεταδίδει πρόγραμμα σε 7 γλώσσες, την «υπανάπτυκτη» και «βρώμικη» Αλβανία με τα 4 μειονοτικά τηλεοπτικά προγράμματα και τους άλλους Βαλκάνιους γείτονες που μας κάνουν να κοκκινίζουμε ντροπιασμένοι.
Αν βέβαια θυμόμαστε πια τι είναι ντροπή…
Καλή Χρονιά.
Καθώς οι γραμμές αυτές γράφονται γιορτινές μέρες, είχα αρχικά σκοπό να αναφερθώ σε κάτι πιο ήπιο, πιο ευχάριστο, πιο «εορταστικό» αν θέλετε…
Μετά από την Δεκεμβριανή μαυρίλα στην Ελλάδα, νομίζω ότι είχαμε όλοι ανάγκη να πιστέψουμε ότι δεν είναι όλα τόσο σκοτεινά γύρω μας.
Δυστυχώς, και να θέλει κάποιος να «αγιάσει», που λέει ο λόγος, δεν τον αφήνουν τα γεγονότα. Είμαι σίγουρος ότι στα ελληνικά ΜΜΕ πέρασε στα πολύ ψιλά γράμματα (αν εμφανίστηκε και πουθενά) η είδηση ότι το 6ο κανάλι της κρατικής τουρκικής τηλεόρασης TRT θα εκπέμπει από την 1η Ιανουαρίου πρόγραμμα ΑΠΟΚΛΕΙΣΤΙΚΆ στην κουρδική γλώσσα.
Σε ποια γλώσσα είπατε; Στην κουρδική; Η κρατική τουρκική τηλεόραση; Μα οι Τούρκοι δεν ήταν αυτοί που μέχρι πριν λίγο καιρό έλεγαν επίσημα σε όλα τα διεθνή fora ότι δεν υπάρχουν Κούρδοι αλλά μόνο «ορεσίβιοι Τούρκοι»;
Η απάντηση σε όλα αυτά τα ερωτήματα είναι καταφατική. Όμως οι καιροί αλλάζουν, και μάλιστα τόσο γρήγορα που ενίοτε νιώθουμε ότι δεν προλαβαίνουμε καν να παρακολουθήσουμε τις εξελίξεις. Μέσα σε ελάχιστο χρόνο, η κουρδική γλώσσα της ανυπαρξίας, της ολικής απαγόρευσης και της καταστολής μπήκε στα σπίτια των Τούρκων- Κούρδων και μη- αρχικά μέσω της μουσικής και στη συνέχεια μέσω της δορυφορικής τηλεόρασης. Το Roj TV είναι ένα δορυφορικό κανάλι ελεύθερης λήψης με έδρα τη Δανία που εκπέμπει όχι σε μια αλλά σε 4(!) διαλέκτους της «ανύπαρκτης» κουρδικής, καθώς και στα τουρκικά, τα περσικά, τα αγγλικά και τα αραβικά.
Η τρομακτική του απήχηση στους Κούρδους της Τουρκίας και όχι μόνο, «ανάγκασε» ουσιαστικά την TRT να αντιδράσει. Δειλά –δειλά, πριν 3,5 χρόνια εμφανίστηκαν τα πρώτα προγράμματα στα κουρδικά από την κρατική τηλεόραση για να φτάσουμε σήμερα να υπάρχει ένα ολόκληρο κανάλι αποκλειστικά γι’ αυτά.
Θα μου πείτε- και πιθανόν θα έχετε και δίκιο- ότι αν δεν υπήρχε το Roj TV και η γενικότερη χαλάρωση των απαγορεύσεων αναφορικά με τα κουρδικά από το 2002 και μετά, ίσως να μη βλέπαμε ποτέ αυτό το θέαμα.
Συμφωνώ. Είναι σαφές ότι ένας από τους λόγους που το τουρκικό κράτος αντιδρά φτιάχνοντας ένα κανάλι αποκλειστικά για Κούρδους, είναι και η προπαγάνδα. Ήδη, η συντριπτική πλειοψηφία των προγραμμάτων του καναλιού 6, αναφέρονται στον Ατατούρκ και στον αρχαίο τουρκικό πολιτισμό. Είναι εύλογο αυτό να συνεχιστεί και να εμπλουτιστεί και με νέα στοιχεία, ως «αντίβαρο» στο Roj TV που θεωρείται ότι –ως ένα σημείο- εκφράζει τις αρχές του ΡΚΚ.
Όμως, αυτό δεν είναι το κυρίαρχο θέμα εδώ. Η προσοχή μας θα πρέπει να εστιαστεί στο ότι μια «ανύπαρκτη» γλώσσα σε μια χώρα που παραμένει προβληματική στον τομέα των ανθρώπινων και μειονοτικών δικαιωμάτων, «νομιμοποιείται» με τον πλέον επίσημο τρόπο. Μέσω της κρατικής τηλεόρασης.
Για ελάτε τώρα να αντιπαραβάλουμε την Τουρκία με τη δική μας, «προηγμένη», «ευρωπαϊκή» και κυρίως «δημοκρατική» χώρα. Η οποία, όμως, παραμένει σταθερά ουραγός παρόμοιων εξελίξεων όχι μόνο σε ευρωπαϊκό αλλά και σε περιφερειακό, βαλκανικό επίπεδο. Και το χειρότερο είναι ότι δεν διαφαίνεται καμία διάθεση για αλλαγή στάσης, για προσαρμογή στις νέες συνθήκες. Εμείς έχουμε τη σχεδόν 100ετή συνθήκη της Λοζάννης ως ευαγγέλιο, τι να μας πουν τώρα όλοι αυτοί οι περιττοί νεωτερισμοί…
«Ανύπαρκτες» γλώσσες έχουμε δυστυχώς ή ευτυχώς και στην Ελλάδα. Είναι, νομίζω, σενάριο επιστημονικής φαντασίας ακόμα και το να σκεφτεί κανείς ότι στο ορατό μέλλον θα δούμε στην ΕΡΤ ένα έστω 15λεπτο πρόγραμμα π.χ. στα μακεδονικά.
Αλλά μήπως βλέπουμε πληθώρα προγραμμάτων και στις «υπαρκτές» γλώσσες, όπως τα τουρκικά; Τι αλήθεια γνωρίζει ο μέσος Έλληνας για τις μεγάλες γιορτές και τις θρησκευτικές παραδόσεις των μουσουλμάνων συμπατριωτών του; Ποια είναι η εξοικείωσή του με τις άλλες θρησκείες που υπάρχουν στη χώρα και-υποτίθεται ότι- είναι ισότιμες με την επίσημη; Και τι κάνει η κρατική ελληνική τηλεόραση για να μας φέρει έστω λίγο πιο κοντά στη διαφορετικότητα που ζει δίπλα μας;
Την απάντηση για όλα τα παραπάνω είναι και πάλι πολύ εύκολη και την γνωρίζουμε όλοι. ΤΙΠΟΤΑ.
Επί 52 εβδομάδες, κάθε Κυριακή, «βομβαρδιζόμαστε» τόσο από το 1ο όσο και από το 3ο κανάλι της κρατικής τηλεόρασης με την Ορθόδοξη Θεία Λειτουργία και τα τηλε- κηρύγματα ορισμένων έξαλλων γραφικών που ακολουθούν. Ούτε μια Κυριακή ή άλλη μέρα αφιερωμένη στους Καθολικούς, τους Εβραίους, τους Μουσουλμάνους, το Κουρμπάν Μπαιράμ, το Χάνουκα και τόσα άλλα…
Γιατί άραγε; Αυτοί οι άνθρωποι δεν πληρώνουν όπως όλοι οι Έλληνες κάθε μήνα την ΕΡΤ; Δεν πληρώνουν κανονικά τους φόρους τους;
Ασφαλώς και το κάνουν. Όπως το κάνουν και οι Μακεδονόφωνοι της Έδεσσας, οι Τουρκόφωνοι της Ξάνθης, οι Βλαχόφωνοι των Τρικάλων, οι Αρβανιτόφωνοι της Θήβας, οι Ρομά του Ασπρόπυργου. Και όμως εξακολουθούν να είναι «αόρατοι» και «ανύπαρκτοι» σε μια χώρα που θέλει να λέγεται σύγχρονη ευρωπαϊκή δημοκρατία και η οποία σε όλες τις εκκλήσεις για διάλογο από όλους αυτούς τους ανθρώπους απαντά με δυσφήμιση και δικαστήρια. Ίσως γιατί πλέον μας τελείωσαν τα Μακρονήσια και τα Γιούρα.
Ε, ας μην είμαστε και αχάριστοι, ας μην τα θέλουμε όλα δικά μας. Κι αυτό (η κατάργηση δηλαδή των τόπων εξορίας) είναι μια πρόοδος, διάβολε…
Όλο και κάτι θα αλλάξει προς το καλύτερο τα επόμενα 100 χρόνια. Επειδή όμως εσείς κι εγώ δεν θα είμαστε εδώ για να το δούμε, τουλάχιστον ξέρετε πλέον τι θα απαντάτε στον επόμενο που θα σας πει για την «καθυστερημένη» και «βάρβαρη» Τουρκία. Για την «θρασύτατη» και «προκλητική» Μακεδονία με μια κρατική τηλεόραση που δεν έχει χρήματα για να πληρώσει μισθούς αλλά συνεχίζει να μεταδίδει πρόγραμμα σε 7 γλώσσες, την «υπανάπτυκτη» και «βρώμικη» Αλβανία με τα 4 μειονοτικά τηλεοπτικά προγράμματα και τους άλλους Βαλκάνιους γείτονες που μας κάνουν να κοκκινίζουμε ντροπιασμένοι.
Αν βέβαια θυμόμαστε πια τι είναι ντροπή…
Καλή Χρονιά.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Greece finds cheap real estate for a monument
Greece will build a monument honoring the Macedonian warrior-king Alexander the Great at an ancient battlefield in southern Iraq.
Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said the agreement was reached at the talks in Athens with Iraqi FM Hoshyar Zebari.
Zebari said the battlefield monument would underline the interaction of civilizations in the region.
Paying an honor to the great conquest "must symbolize the mutual influence between the two peoples," the Greek and the Iraqi ones, Bakoyannis said.
The monument will be built at the locality bearing the ancient name of Gaugamela, situated near the city of Mosul. At the time - 331 B.C. - Iraq was part of the Persian Empire, which stretched throughout most of the Middle East. 25-year-old Alexander won a crushing victory over a Persian army and declared himself Emperor of Asia. //01.27.09 //MINA
Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said the agreement was reached at the talks in Athens with Iraqi FM Hoshyar Zebari.
Zebari said the battlefield monument would underline the interaction of civilizations in the region.
Paying an honor to the great conquest "must symbolize the mutual influence between the two peoples," the Greek and the Iraqi ones, Bakoyannis said.
The monument will be built at the locality bearing the ancient name of Gaugamela, situated near the city of Mosul. At the time - 331 B.C. - Iraq was part of the Persian Empire, which stretched throughout most of the Middle East. 25-year-old Alexander won a crushing victory over a Persian army and declared himself Emperor of Asia. //01.27.09 //MINA
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Modern Greece and the Macedonian Heritage – Part 4 - Why Greece and not Arvanitovlachia?
Risto Stefov
January 25, 2009
"This unique nation-state [Greece] would represent the ultimate achievement of the Hellenic ideal and, as such, would lead all Europe to the highest levels of culture yet known." (Michael Herzfeld)
In parts 2 and 3 of this series we established that prior to and during the creation of the Greek state in the early 1800´s the majority of the population living on Greek lands was predominantly immigrant, mostly of Albanian, Vlach and Slav origins, which had settled in Greece to fill the void created by the disappearance of the so-called ancient Greeks. This leads us to the question "Why was this region not called ´Arvanitovlachia´ which would have correctly represented the land´s demography? Why Greece, a Latin name, and not Arvanitovlachia an appropriate name to represent the two distinct ethnic identities which lived on those lands at that time?"
Although a difficult question to answer, in view of the Modern Greeks who have for the last 200 years tried to bury all evidence of their true past, the best response would be to say that ´the people living in Greece at the time of their independence were not given a choice to self identify´. When Greece was first created in the early 1800´s the population was neither asked nor involved in any kind of self-identification. Unlike the Macedonian people who in 1991 participated in a free referendum which enabled them to self identify and gain independence, the people of Greece were not given that choice! In essence the decision to call the newly created state "Greece" solely rested with foreigners and academics who, instead of calling the new state by its true representative demographic, opted for calling it "Greece" so that they could connect it with a world and culture that had died more than 2,000 years before.
In this article we are going to discover the reasons why Greece was named Greece and not Arvanitovlachia or some other name that would have appropriately connected the land with the current people.
We so readily use the word "Ancient Greece" and "Ancient Greeks" to refer to a place and a people in the classical period (about 600 BC to 300 BC) without realizing that the terms "Greece" and "Greeks" are of Latin origin which probably came into use sometime after the 1st century BC and were popularized during the 19th century.
The reason I mention this is because today Greece, without any justification, objects to the Macedonian peoples´ use of the name Macedonia to refer to their country on the grounds that the name "Macedonia", for historic reasons, belongs to the Greeks. To which Greeks does the name "Macedonia" belong? Is it to the so-called Ancient Greeks whose very name is not only of non-Greek origin but given to those people by the Latins after they disappeared from the face of this earth? Or does the name "Macedonia" belong to the Arvanitovlachs, the immigrants who over the centuries came to live on those lands? Or does the name "Macedonia" belong to the modern imposters who go by the name of "Greeks"?
Why Greece and not Arvanitovlachia? To find the answers to this questions we will first look at segments of William St. Clair´s book, "That Greece Might Still Be Free" which appeared in my series of articles called "William St. Clair on 19th century Greece and the Modern Greeks", at;
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/82531 and http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/82785)
According to St. Clair "To be Greek was to be a drunkard, a lecher, and, especially, a cheat."
But later by the seventeenth century, as more information was uncovered about a people who once lived on those lands, a new picture began to emerge. In time Europeans, without ever having been to Greece, came to believe that the Ancient and Modern Greeks were one and the same. As more information came out, especially after Lord Byron visited Greece in 1809 and 1810, and, on his return, published the first two cantos of Childe Harold´s Pilgrimage, the legend of a place called "Ancient Greece" and a people called "Ancient Greeks" began to grow and spread like wildfire. Besides experiencing Greece for himself, Byron had also read and drew on the many travel books in the works of dozens of earlier writers in prose and in verse which helped him compose some of his best work described as best-sellers. At least twelve editions of his poem were printed between 1812 and 1821 and it was translated into several European languages.
Byron´s work prompted more travelers to visit "Greece" but very few were equipped to make more than superficial observations. That, however, did not stop them from making generalizations and expanding the myth surrounding these so-called "Greeks". As the idea of a "Greece" and "Greeks" grew it was romanticized by more and more writers. Many without ever having visited "Greece" shamelessly drew on the work of others and raised this mythical "Greece" into legendary status.
By 1770 the legend became so real that the few writers who questioned it were dismissed as cranks.
Again according to St. Clair, "With the advent of Byron, literary philhellenism became a widespread European movement. Hosts of imitators copied his rhetorical verses, and travelers who visited Greece after the appearance of Childe Harold in 1812 were even more enthusiastic than their predecessors.
By the time of the Greek Revolution in 1821 the educated public in Europe had been deeply immersed in three attractive ideas;
1. that Ancient Greece had been a paradise inhabited by supermen;
2. that the Modern Greeks were the true descendants of the Ancient Greeks; and
3. that a war against the Turks could somehow ´regenerate´ the Modern Greeks and restore the former glories."
So even before the so-called "Modern Greeks" had a chance to discover who they truly were and to decide what to call themselves and their little country, the outside world had made that decision for them. They were going to be called "Greeks", the embodiment of the "Ancient Greeks" and their little country was going to be called "Greece".
Not everyone however believed in these ideas but in Western Europe where philhellenism flourished the deed was done. But as St. Clair tells us, "The responsibility for turning philhellenism into a political programme belongs to the Greeks themselves.
The impetus came from the Greeks overseas."
By late eighteenth century colonies of people who came from the region that later became known as "Greece" and settled in Europe had become largely integrated into Western European culture. It was these people who naturally embraced the literary tradition of philhellenism and later built on it.
As Michael Herzfeld in his book "Ours Once More: Folklore, Ideology, and the making of Modern Greece" on pages 4 and 5 tells us: "By the nineteenth century, Classical scholars had come to pride themselves on a remarkable degree of academic perfectionism, but their views were clearly as much a matter of intellectual fashion as ever. A frankly critical American observer of nineteenth-century European scholarship decried not only the English scholars' ´limp Grecism,´ as evidenced in the excessively ´scented, wholesale sweetness of the modern aesthetic school in England,´ but also the Germans' use of Greek' ´as a stalking-horse for Teutonic psychology´ and their grave concern with minutiae. Scholars of the two nations resembled each other, he thought, ´in but a single trait–the conviction that they understand Greece´ (Chapman 1915: 12-13). Nor was this acid commentator entirely free of any such conviction about himself, to judge from the tone of these remarks. And so, presumably, it will go on. New truths will yield to still newer truths about the same basic idea, the vision of Classical Greece–the source, in a commonly held view, of the very practice of historical writing itself.
Such changes in perception are of interest here for two reasons. First, they show that through all the divergent interpretations there runs a common theme: the idea of Hellas as the cultural exemplar of Europe. And, second, these same contrasts mark the progressive enhancement of that exemplar's authority, not its dissolution (as we might expect) in the bickering of the ages. Whatever Greece is or was, the idea of Greece–like any symbol–could carry a wide range of possible meanings, and so it survived triumphantly. Similarly, the concept of European culture, so stable at the level of mere generality, has undergone many transformations through the centuries. ´Europe,´ like ´Hellas,´ was a generalized ideal, a symbol of cultural superiority which could and did survive innumerable changes in the moral and political order. It was to this European ideal, moreover, that Hellas was considered ancestral. Such is the malleable material of which ideologies are made."
What the Europeans saw in Greece they saw in themselves and as David Holden puts it "philhellenism is a love affair with a dream which envisions ´Greece´ and the ´Greeks´ not as an actual place or real people but as a symbol of some imagined perfection." Whatever Greece is or was, the idea of Greece–like any symbol–could carry a wide range of possible meanings, ´Europe,´ like ´Hellas,´ was a generalized ideal, a symbol of cultural superiority. Europe needed a genuine noble European past, a source for its enlightenment and it found it in a mythical Greece, a Greece of its own creation.
On page 5 of his book Michael Herzfeld goes on to say: "It is as an ideological phenomenon that we shall treat the twin concepts of Hellas and Europe here. They provided the motivating rationale for one of the most explosive political adventures of the nineteenth century, an adventure which claimed thousands of lives and brought many more under the control of a nation-state that had never before existed as a sovereign entity. This adventure was the Greek struggle for independence of 1821 to 1833. Its eventual success was by no means certain in the early stages. The Great Powers were reluctant to commit themselves to the Greek cause until, forced by public opinion at home, by the Greeks' own successes, and by the fear of each other's intentions, they began to take a more active part in bringing the Greek State into existence. That the Greeks did eventually prevail, despite the enormous Turkish armies with which they had to contend as well as their destructive internal squabbles, is some measure of the evocative power of the name of Hellas among their European supporters. To be a European was, in ideological terms, to be a Hellene.
Yet the Hellas which European intellectuals wished to reconstitute on Greek soil was very different from the Greek culture which they actually encountered there, despite all the western-educated Greek intellectuals' efforts to bridge the gap."
If I interpret Herzfeld correctly, not only did Europeans invent and mold the concept of a "Greece" and "Hellenism" but by their instigation of the so-called "Greek Struggle for Independence", with assistance from the Great Powers, they created a country where one never existed before! Yes you read it right! The Europeans instigated the so-called "Greek Struggle for Independence" in order to bring back the mythical "Ancient Greeks"! Further, they helped create a country based on a myth and shaped the character of its population on a culture that had died more than 2,000 years ago. And all this at the expense of the real, living and vibrant cultures that lived and coexisted on those lands for centuries. This reminds me of what the Greeks did in Macedonia nine decades later when they invaded, occupied, annexed Macedonia, destroyed its living and vibrant culture and turned the Macedonian people into mythical Greeks!
Why Greece and not Arvanitovlachia? Because the Europeans, aliens to the so-called Greek lands, took it upon themselves to reshape the new country and its people into something artificial to suit their own desires. Which begs the question "Why did the Europeans need a Greece and how did the birth of Greece shape Europe?" a subject for my next article.
Why give "Greece" a Latin name? The obvious answer is because the "concept" of a Greece was invented by the Modern Latins even before the "country" Greece came into existence. Since the Latins invented Greece it was appropriate that they give it a Latin name?
For those who are still not convinced that the Modern Greek identity is an artificial creation, please continue to read this series of articles.
Author´s note:
Dear Macedonians, one way to defend ourselves from the Greek onslaught and gain back our identity and dignity is to fight back to the level to which the Greeks have reduced us; that is to attack their identity as they have attacked ours. We need prove nothing to them except to expose them as the artificial identity they truly are and to uncover their design to wipe us out in order to usurp our Macedonian heritage.
To be Continued.
Many thanks to TrueMacedonian from www.maknews.com for his contribution to this article.
You can contact the author at rstefov@hotmail.com
Monday, January 26, 2009
Modern Greece and the Macedonian Heritage - Part 3 - Where did modern Greeks come from?
By Risto Stefov
rstefov@hotmail.com
January 18, 2009
In part 2 of this series we established that prior to and during the creation of the Greek state in the early 1800’s the majority of the population living on Greek lands was predominantly of Albanian, Vlach and Slav origin, which leads to the question “Where from and when did these Albanians, Vlachs and Slavs come to Greece and what happened to the indigenous population living on those lands?”
Modern Greeks claim that they are the descendents of the so-called Ancient Greeks. Is this fact or fiction?
We will begin the investigation with the “Popular Science Monthly” edited by J. McKeen Cattell, published in 1915. The Popular Science Monthly on page 41 reads: “Once Greece led the world in intellectual pursuits, in art, in poetry, in philosophy. A large and vital part of European culture is rooted directly in the language and thought of Athens. The most beautiful edifice in the world was the Peace Palace of the Parthenon, erected by Pericles, to celebrate the end of Greece’s suicidal wars. This endured 2,187 years to be wrecked at last (1687) in Turkish hands by the Christian bombs of the Venetian Republic.
But the glory of Greece had passed away long before the fall of the Parthenon. Its cause was the one cause of all such downfalls – the extinction of strong men by war. At the best, the civilization of Greece was built on slavery, one freeman to ten slaves. And when the freemen were destroyed, the slaves an original Mediterranean stock, overspread the territory of Hellas along with the Bulgarians, Albanians and Vlachs, barbarians crowding down from the north.”
So, what is the writer of the Popular Science Monthly from 1915 trying to tell us here? For one he or she is telling us that at the best of times; that would mean during the classics, Greece was predominantly populated by slaves and when the City States fell to the Romans the so-called ancient Greeks were numbering one freeman to ten slaves. So even before the turn of the new millennium the classical Greeks had vanished and were replaced by the slaves they once employed. Furthermore, the author is telling us that the glory of the so-called Ancient Greeks had passed away, died long before the Venetians occupied Greece in 1687. So where is the cultural and ancestral connection between the ancients and the moderns? Does it really exist?
Again looking at page 42 of the “Popular Science Monthly” we read: “It is maintained that the Modern Greeks are in the main the descendants of the population that inhabited Greece in the earlier of Byzantine rule. Owing to the operations of various causes, historical, social and economic, that population was composed of many heterogeneous elements and represented in very limited degree the race which repulsed the Persians and built the Parthenon. The internecine conflicts in the Greek community, wars with foreign powers, and the deadly struggles of factions in the various cities had to a large extent obliterated the old race of free citizens by the beginning of the Roman period. The extermination of the Plateans by the Spartans and of the Melians by the Athenians during the Peloponnesian wars, the proscription of the Athenian citizens after the war, the massacre of the Corcyrean oligarchs by the democratic party, the slaughter of the Thebans by Alexander and of the Corinthians by Mummius are among the more familiar instances of the catastrophe which overtook the civil element in the Greek cities. The void can only have been filled from the ranks of the metics and resident aliens and of the descendants of the far more numerous slave population. In the classic period four-fifths of the population of Attica were slaves; of the remainder half were metics. In AD 100 only three thousand arm-bearing men were in Greece. (James Bourchier)”
James Bourchier here reaffirms the fact that the so-called Ancient Greeks disappeared a long time ago and the void was filled by the numerous slaves they employed which at the time consisted of 80% of the total population.
Looking further down on page 42 of the “Popular Science Monthly” we read: “The constant little struggles of the Greeks among themselves made no great showing as to numbers compared to other wars, but they wiped out the most valuable people, the best blood the most promising heredity on earth. This cost the world more than the killing of millions of barbarians. In two centuries there were born under the shadow of the Parthenon more men of genius than the Roman Empire had in its whole existence. Yet this empire included all the civilized world, even Greece herself. (La Pouge)”
La Pouge here confirms what many others believed; the so-called Ancient Greeks were wiped out a long time ago.
At the bottom of page 42 of the “Popular Science Monthly” we read: “The downfall of Greece, like that of Rome, has been ascribed by Schultz to the crossing of the Greeks by the barbaric races which flocked into Hellas from every side. These resident aliens, or metics, steadily increased in numbers as the free Greeks disappeared. Selected slaves or helots were then made free in order to furnish fighting men, and again as these fell their places were taken by immigrants.”
Here again Schultz validates the fact that the so-called Ancient Greeks disappeared a long time ago and were replaced by aliens, slaves and immigrants. But who were these immigrants and where did they come from?
To get some answers to these questions we will examine the book “Customs and Lore of Modern Greece” by Rennell Rodd published in 1892. Rennell Rodd on page 17 writes: “Those who adopted the creed of their conquerors, in order to escape from these indignities, as did a large portion of the inhabitants of Euboea, and subsequently of Crete lost their national character, and, becoming Mussulman, practically ceased to be Greek; indeed, from the time of the Ottoman conquest the question of nationality is largely merged in the opposition of creeds. Sultan Mohammed II appears to have foreseen a safeguard against future insurrection in draining the resources of the country, and literally exhausting its population; and he re-peopled the vanquished Constantinople by transferring to the city the wealthiest inhabitants of the lands he subsequently reduced. Slavery awaited the Venetian subjects of Modon and Nauplia when they fell into his hands in 1463, and a similar fate befell a number of the natives of Euboea in 1470. The Ionian were called upon to yield their quota to the re-population of Constantinople, and a number of slaves were drawn from Rhodes in 1480. In the last year of the 15th century and the opening of the 16th, when the Morea was again the battle-field of Turk and Venetian, the occupants of the plains of Argos and of portions of Attica were practically exterminated, and Albanian colonists began to re-occupy the ruined lands. In the following century the Ottoman admiral, Barbarrosa, carried off the female inhabitants of Aegina into slavery, and massacred the males, leaving the island entirely depopulated until it was re-colonized by Albanians. He reduced the majority of the Aegean islands to subjection, expelled the Italian nobles and said to have carried off 30,000 Greeks into slavery.”
So what is Rennell Rodd telling us about the Modern Greeks and their true origins? Well, for one, he confirms what others are saying, that is, the original Greeks that inhabited the Greek islands and the mainland of Greece proper vanished a long time ago. Some converted to Islam and the rest were taken into slavery. He is also telling us that the vacant lands left behind were settled and colonized by Albanians.
It is interesting to note here that most of the Greek nobility was taken to Constantinople and no doubt Islamized to maintain loyalty. If that were the case and we have no reason to doubt it, then the question that begs to be asked is “Who is more Greek, the descendants of the Modern Turks of Constantinople or the Modern Greeks of Greece proper?” It makes one wonder!
According to Rennell Rodd however, one thing is certain and that is that there is very little that connects the Modern Greeks with the Ancient so-called Greeks and plenty of evidence that connects the Modern Greeks with the Albanians!
Let us see what else Rennell Rodd has to say. On pages 18 and 19 of his book “Customs and Lore of Modern Greece” published in 1892, Rennell Rodd goes on to say: “Meanwhile, the deserted lands were gradually occupied by Christian Albanians moving south before the wave of Turkish advance. Their earlier immigrants are lost in the silence of time, but the first recorded mention of their appearance in Peloponnesus occurs in the middle of the 14th century, when Manuel Kantacuzen brought Albanian mercenaries to Mistra, and later established colonies in the peninsula. Again, at the close of the 14th century in the reign of [Byzantine Emperor] John Paleologus, some 10,000 of them crossed the Isthmus, and in later days of the despots of the Morea they are found serving as mercenaries in their armies. The immigration continued through the 15th century, after the final reduction of Albania by the Turks. They occupied the greater part of Boetia, Attica and Megaris, portion of the Corinthian territory, of Argolis and Achaia, as well as small districts of in Phocis, Elis, and Archadia...”
Here again we find evidence of Albanians occupying deserted Greek lands as early as the 14th century. Even the Byzantine Emperors had a hand in re-colonizing Greece with Albanians. Then later during the Ottoman invasion of Albania we have even more Albanians invading and occupying Greek territories.
In view of what we have read so far, we can see a clear pattern developing which indicates without a doubt that as the so-called Ancient Greeks disappeared from Greek lands, they were replaced by predominantly Albanian immigrants who no doubt are the ancestors of today’s modern Greeks.
I use the reference “so-called Ancient Greeks” because as we earlier learned from “Popular Science Monthly” edited by J. McKeen Cattell, published in 1915, the Greek population that survived the Roman invasions and occupation were predominantly the Slaves of the Ancient Greeks. So when we make reference to the so-called Ancient Greeks in the 14th century AD, we are talking about the descendents of the Slaves who served the Ancient Greeks. So you see the so-called Greek lineage was already watered down even before the Slav, Vlach and Albanian migrations into Greek lands.
Speaking of Vlachs and Slavs, let us see what T. J. Winnifrith has to say? On page 119 in his book “The Vlachs The History of a Balkan People”, T. J. Winnifrith writes: “In the area where Vlachs as opposed to Romanians now live there is no shortage of reference to Vlachs after the breakdown of Byzantine authority. Choniates describing the Bulgarian revolt mentions a Vlach Chrysos setting up an independent principality in near Strumitsa and calls Thessaly ‘Great Vlachia’. [Byzantine Emperor] Andronicus I in an edict 1184 refers confusingly to Bulgars, Cumans and Vlachs in the Meglen with the Vlachs receiving preferential treatment. In 1221 the Bishop of Naupaktos, John Apokaukos, refers to the injuries suffered by Simeon Sgouropolos and his daughter at the hands of Avriolines Constantinos, a colonist of the Romans, whom people today call the Vlachs. This piece of evidence would seem to indicate a Vlach presence in Aetolia, especially as Constantinos with his Latin sounding first name (a corruption of Aurelian) had plenty of his race to support him. This evidence is sighted in an article by P. Nasturel which is a useful summary of Medieval Vlach history from the Romanian point of view. It is interesting that we have a definite indication that the Vlachs were seen as the descendants of the Romans, although it is just possible that Vlachs on the sea coast of Greece might be Dalmatian-speakers. Nasturel rather weakens his case by mentioning the people who call themselves Romans, cited by Constantine Porphyrogenitus, who are certainly Dalmatians and by drawing attention to the reference in about 1165 by the priest of Dioclea to Morlachs, black Latins, who used to call themselves Romans. This may be a reference to Dalmatians, although the etymology of Morlachs, from Mavrovlachoi shows a greater contact with Greece than most Dalmatians would have had, and we must not forget the fondness of Modern Vlachs for black clothes.”
On pages 120 and 121 in his book “The Vlachs The History of a Balkan People”, T. J. Winnifrith also writes: “As in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries when there was much Albanian activity at a time the Ottoman Empire was losing its authority, so in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries the breakdown of Byzantine authority lead to movements by both Vlachs and Albanians into Greece. These movements parallel earlier waves of invasions by Slavs on the breakdown of East Roman authority in the seventh century and by Dorians or north-western Greeks in the twelfth century B.C. after the collapse of the Mycenaean civilization. The details of all four movements of populations are obscure. There was bound to be much intermingling between races. Some Byzantine verses at the end of the fourteenth century describe Momicila a Bulgaralbanotovlachos, and slightly later we hear of one Boncoes a Serbalbanitovulgarovlachos. Modern polyglot Vlachs had polyglot ancestors.
Throughout the fourteenth century Vlachs are hard to distinguish from Albanians. The first mention of the Albanian language is not until 1285. According to John Kantakouzenos some people who lived in no town but inaccessible places in the mountains of Thessaly submitted in 1334 to the [Byzantine] Emperor Andronicus III. They were Albanians with no King, called after their tribal chiefs, Malakasaii, Bouii and Masaritae. But these were probably Vlachs; there were in Pouqueville’s time Vlachs in the Pindus who called themselves Bovi, and there is still a village called Malakasi. Elsewhere we hear of the Albanian leader Peter Leosas, leading Malakasii of his own race, and this would seem to suggest two kinds of Malakasii. The name may derive from the coastal plain of Malekastir, a word of Latin origin, in central Albania. The theory that the Bouii came from the nearby highland pasture of the Bevaei is more conjectural. Together with the Albanians the Vlachs penetrated to central and Southern Greece. We hear of Vlachs in Attica, Kephallenia and Crete, although in these instances and in the place names with Vlach elements which can be found as far south as the Peloponnesus there maybe confusions between Vlachs or shepherds and Albanians.”
Even though there is much too much detail for my purpose, I decided to include T. J. Winnifrith’s above two quotes for those who maybe interested in further pursuing this study. T. J. Winnifrith does however answer the question “Where from and when did these Albanians, Vlachs and Slavs come to Greece?” to a comfortable degree to reach another conclusion and that is not only are the Modern Greeks not the descendents of the Ancient Greeks but their origins can be traced in the Albanian and Vlach immigrants who were not even from Greece proper. So how does that make them the descendants of the Ancient Greeks? It does not!
After reading T. J. Winnifrith’s quotes above I am beginning to understand why Greeks throughout the Ottoman period right up to the time when Greece was created, correctly referred to themselves as “Romaoi” (Romans). Being partially the descendents of the Vlachs who in turn are the descendents of the Romans, naturally made them feel like Romans, thus their name “Romaoi”. This understood, then why did the Modern Greeks opt for being called “Greeks” and “Hellenes” and tied themselves to the Ancient Greek Heritage when they are not Greeks at all? A subject for my next article!
For those who are still not convinced that the Modern Greek identity is an artificial creation, please continue to read this series of articles.
Author’s note:
Dear Macedonians, one way to defend ourselves from the Greek onslaught and gain back our identity and dignity is to fight back to the level to which the Greeks have reduced us; that is to attack their identity as they have attacked ours. We need prove nothing to them except to expose them as the artificial identity they truly are and to uncover their design to wipe us out in order to usurp our Macedonian heritage.
To be Continued.
Many thanks to TrueMacedonian from www.maknews.com for his contribution to this article.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Greek journalist has been dismissed because used the neighboring state Republic of Macedonia just "Macedonia", in the greek Sunday newspaper REALNEWS
ΠΟΛΙΤΙΚΟ ΚΟΜΜΑ ΤΗΣ ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΚΗΣ ΜΕΙΟΝΟΤΗΤΑΣ ΣΤΗΝ ΕΛΛΑΔΑ
Μέλος της Ευρωπαϊκής Ελεύθερης Συμμαχίας - Ευρωπαϊκό Πολιτικό Κόμμα (EFA-EPP)
Μέλος της Ομοσπονδιακής Ένωσης των Ευρωπαϊκών Εθνοτήτων (FUEN)
Στ. Δραγούμη 11 Φλώρινα/Lerin Τ.Κ. 53100; Τ.Θ. 51 Τηλ./fax 0030 23850 46548
www.florina.org; e-mail: rainbow@florina.org
Δελτίο Τύπου
Καμία έκπληξη, δυστυχώς, δεν προκάλεσε στην Ε.Ε.Σ- Ουράνιο Τόξο αλλά και σε ολόκληρη την κοινή γνώμη η αποπομπή συνεργάτη της εφημερίδας «Real News», επειδή υπέπεσε στο ολέθριο, ποινικά κολάσιμο και εγκληματικό σφάλμα να αποκαλέσει το βόρειο γείτονά μας «Μακεδονία», σε άρθρο που δημοσιεύτηκε στις 11 Ιανουαρίου
Φλώρινα/Lerin - 19 Ιανουαρίου 2009
Real News The scandal map
Καμία έκπληξη, δυστυχώς, δεν προκάλεσε στην Ε.Ε.Σ- Ουράνιο Τόξο αλλά και σε ολόκληρη την κοινή γνώμη η αποπομπή συνεργάτη της εφημερίδας «Real News», επειδή υπέπεσε στο ολέθριο, ποινικά κολάσιμο και εγκληματικό σφάλμα να αποκαλέσει το βόρειο γείτονά μας «Μακεδονία», σε άρθρο που δημοσιεύτηκε στις 11 Ιανουαρίου.
Καμία έκπληξη δε μας προκάλεσε το γεγονός ότι το «μοιραίο» περιστατικό ανακάλυψαν πρώτα, αφού είχαν ήδη περάσει 2 ημέρες, τα γνωστά εθνικιστικά σκουπιδό-blogs.
Καμία έκπληξη δε μας προκάλεσε η «ακαριαία» αντίδραση του μεγαλοδημοσιογράφου, μικροεκδότη, πολυεκατομμυριούχου παρουσιαστή, και «έντιμου» πατριώτη Νίκου Χατζηνικολάου, ο οποίος όχι μόνο απέλυσε τον (πιθανότατα χαμηλόμισθο και ανασφάλιστο) συνεργάτη της εφημερίδας του αλλά ζήτησε και ταπεινά συγνώμη.
Καμία έκπληξη δε μας προκάλεσε η σιωπή των ελληνικών Μέσων Μαζικής Διστρέβλωσης για το γεγονός.
Καμία έκπληξη δε μας προκάλεσε το αδιάφορο σφύριγμα της Ένωσης Συντακτών Ημερησίων Εφημερίδων Αθηνών, η οποία σε αντίστοιχες περιπτώσεις εργοδοτικής ασυδοσίας και απολύσεων, ξεσηκώνει το σύμπαν και διοργανώνει μέχρι και απεργιακές κινητοποίησεις. Είναι, άλλωστε, η ίδια Ένωση που έχει ως μέλη της έμμισθους υπαλληλους της ΕΥΠ και του ΥΠΕΞ και επαγγελματίες παραχαράκτες της αλήθειας.
Καμία έκπληξη δε μας προκάλεσε η σιγή ιχθύος όλων των Ελλήνων πολιτικών και ιδιαίτερα εκείνων που έχουν χρισθεί αυτόκλητοι προστάτες της «γενιάς των 700 ευρώ». Πιθανότατα διότι ο ατυχής που απολύθηκε αμοιβόταν με πολύ λιγότερα χρήματα.
Αλήθεια, θα τελειώσει ποτε αυτή η εθνικιστική νεοελληνική παράνοια που στην καλύτερη περίπτωση λοιδώρεί και συκοφαντεί ενώ στη χειρότερη εξοντώνει αμείλικτα κάθε τι το διαφορετικό σ’ αυτή τη χώρα;
Το Γραφείο Τύπου της Ε.Ε.Σ. – Ουράνιο Τόξο
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