League of Macedonian-Americans (LOMA)

[VMRO]

Hi guys...

LOMA's website is back up. We are now .ORG.

https://www.leagueofmacedonians.org/

Great work Vic.

[Risto the Great]

Excellent.
You could update the page with your new email address now I would imagine.

[vicsinad]

Excellent.
You could update the page with your new email address now I would imagine.

Thanks.

We are still using [email protected] or [email protected] for now...baby steps lol

[vicsinad]

LOMA article:

https://www.leagueofmacedonians.org/single-post/2017/12/08/Do-Macedonians-Suffer-from-Battered-Identity-Syndrome

Do Macedonians Suffer from Battered Identity Syndrome?

December 8, 2017

To answer this question, we first must understand the concept of battered identity syndrome. This is not a term you’ll find (yet) in any legal, medical or psychology textbook; but, as you’ll see, it is a term that could likely apply to someone you know.



Battered identity syndrome is a condition experienced by individuals who, after lengthy periods of having their identity disrespected, degraded and denied, believe that they are the cause of such belittlement and that they are powerless in controlling their identity’s destiny. Often, someone suffering from battered identity syndrome will first deny that his identity is being belittled; then, he will transition into believing his belittler is justified in his actions. Many individuals never survive past this stage. However, for someone who does, he eventually becomes aware that he is not to blame for his abuser’s actions; and moreover, he realizes he has the power to either escape or halt the belittlement.



So, do the Macedonians suffer from battered identity syndrome?



For several decades, the Macedonians have been told by a variety of people that they are not Macedonians. Greeks, for example, insist that Macedonians are Slavs or Skopians or Fyromians – but certainly not Macedonians. Greece also insists that Macedonia’s real name is South Serbia or West Bulgaria or Vardarska – but certainly not Macedonia. Bulgaria, too, insists that Macedonians are not Macedonians but are rather Bulgarians with a Bulgarian language and history. In decades past, Yugoslavia drilled into the Macedonians that they were Slavs or Yugoslavs; and the Serbs perpetuated the notion that Macedonians were South Serbs.



Thus, Macedonians have certainly endured long periods of having their identity constantly denied, degraded and disrespected by a multitude of actors. However, undergoing such belittlement is only one aspect of battered identity syndrome. To fully suffer from the condition, one must also exhibit the symptoms, which include blaming oneself for the belittlement and believing that one is powerless to assume control of his own identity. Do the Macedonians exhibit these symptoms?



Unfortunately, today’s Macedonians could be described as the textbook case study for battered identity syndrome. For example, when Greece protested Macedonia’s name, Macedonia agreed to sit under ‘T’ instead of ‘M’ at the United Nations headquarters. When Greece didn’t like Macedonia’s flag, Macedonia agreed to change it. When a European official referred to Macedonia as fYRoM and then as Skopje, Macedonia’s prime minister smiled and remained silent. When Macedonia’s foreign minister was asked if he had any red lines when it comes to negotiating Macedonia’s name with Greece, he replied that he prefers green lights. When the European Union implied that Macedonia could not join its brotherhood until Macedonia came to an understanding with Greece, a Macedonian professor wrote that Macedonia should consider adopting a new identity for the sake of Balkan harmony. When the new Macedonian government came in to power this past year, they agreed to change Macedonian history books to appease Bulgaria’s views on Macedonian identity, and they began considering renaming and removing landmarks throughout Macedonia to appease Greece’s view on the Macedonian identity.



But the symptoms are not just exhibited by Macedonian officials and intellectuals. When Macedonians protest in the streets or celebrate weddings, they wave and carry a flag that was not chosen by them and has no historical connection to their identity. When Macedonians talk about their allies in the world, they refer to their ‘Slav’ brothers in Russia. When Macedonians listen to music, they turn off traditional Macedonian folk songs and tune into Serbian turbo folk. When Macedonians talk about making something out of their lives, they dream about fitting into multi-cultural Europe and ignore caring for their historical motherland.



The evidence is overwhelming. The Macedonians have accepted their belittlement as being of their own creation, and they demonstrate this by consistently attempting to amend their identity so to ward off the abuse. However, like a wife who strives to lose more weight or speak less often to appease her abuser, the abuse continues and often escalates. The Macedonians believe that they are at fault for the way others disrespect, degrade and demean their Macedonian identity. And the Macedonians religiously believe that they are helpless when it comes to naming their own country, choosing their own flag, interpreting their own history, and celebrating their own culture.



The Macedonians undoubtedly are suffering from battered identity syndrome.



So how do we Macedonians cure this condition?



The first step is recognizing that we are indeed being belittled. We Macedonians must realize that it is demeaning for our nation to be the only one that negotiates its name, flag, history and culture. We Macedonians must acknowledge that it is disrespectful for someone to refer to us by a name that we haven’t chosen for ourselves. We Macedonians must accept that it is humiliating to conduct business with the very same people who deny that we exist. If we realize that something is wrong, then we can acknowledge that something must be done to right this wrong.



Second, we Macedonians must understand that we are not at fault – we Macedonians did not cause Greece, Bulgaria and Europe to act this way. Before and after Macedonia’s independence from Yugoslavia, we Macedonians used the only name we’ve ever called ourselves and we celebrated the only culture and history that we’ve ever known to be true for ourselves. Something so democratic, positive and real cannot be the reason for such unprincipled, negative, and surreal reactions by Macedonia’s Balkan neighbors. For example, Greece’s insecurities, troubled history and xenophobia are the reasons why Greeks demean, degrade and disrespect the Macedonians. Greece is the reason why Greece belittles Macedonia, not Macedonia. Once we understand that we are not at fault, then we can think about how to defend against our abusers.



Third, we Macedonians need to realize that the power to defend our identity and to combat belittlement is within our control. When someone calls Macedonia ‘fYRoM’, we should correct that individual by saying, ‘Excuse me, it’s Macedonia!’ When someone asks us about our opinion on the name negotiations, we should respond that the Macedonian name and identity are not for sale. When a Macedonian is threatened by European officials with a non-existent European future, a Macedonian must insist that the only future he needs is a democratic and principled Macedonian one, not an unfair and compromised European one.



Further, we Macedonians must not fear the fabricated consequences of expressing our identity. For over two decades Macedonians have let our identity slip away; this has only created more problems for Macedonia. Whether it’s the Macedonian economy, political landscape or general societal conditions, Macedonia’s regression is directly correlated with an explosion of Macedonians fleeing from their identity. If we Macedonians were to regain control of our identity – our name, culture, language and history – then the Macedonian society and economy will have the necessary foundation to flourish.



Battered identity syndrome should not be taken lightly: we Macedonians suffer from it and most of us still do not know it. Women who suffer battered woman syndrome often end up killed at the hands of their abusers. The Macedonian identity may suffer a similar fate if we Macedonians don’t quickly become aware of our condition and realize that we have the power to do something about it.

Fellow Macedonians: let’s cure ourselves, together.

[vicsinad]

We are building up our "Community Center" section of the website. Currently, we have a calendar of events, list/description of Macedonian churches in the US, as well as athletic clubs and other.

https://www.leagueofmacedonians.org/community

[vicsinad]

Hi everyone,

Here's our newsletter. We have change it to a quarterly publication, hope you enjoy.

https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/783d8c_971c8441cd6f46f9a511c17ddab0bf42.pdf

We also have several changes to our website, especially regarding culture and community sections. Thanks!

https://www.leagueofmacedonians.org

[VMRO]

Hi everyone,

Here's our newsletter. We have change it to a quarterly publication, hope you enjoy.

https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/783d8c_971c8441cd6f46f9a511c17ddab0bf42.pdf

We also have several changes to our website, especially regarding culture and community sections. Thanks!

www.leagueofmacedonians.org

Great work Vic.

[vicsinad]

Thanks, VMRO.

[vicsinad]

A LOMA opinion on Zaev's Newsmax article.

https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/783d8c_83fc6f17e57940da84b2dc1814531b96.pdf

[vicsinad]

Two recent official statements by LOMA:

https://www.leagueofmacedonians.org/single-post/2018/01/10/LOMA-Encourages-Macedonians-to-Call-for-Deputy-PM-Bujar-Osmani%E2%80%99s-Resignation-or-Removal-from-Office

LOMA Encourages Macedonians to Call for Deputy PM Bujar Osmani’s Resignation or Removal from Office

January 10, 2018

LOMA is dismayed by Macedonia’s Deputy Prime Minister Bujar Osmani’s stubborn and relentless assault on the democratic process in Macedonia. In the past week, he has devalued public participation, discounted transparency, and avoided accountability in order to continue pushing through a name change for Macedonia. His attitude toward the democratic process is unjustifiable and intolerable, and he neither understands nor respects his role as a representative of the Macedonian people and their interests.



Last week, Mr. Osmani refused to accept holding a referendum of the Macedonian people on the possibility of changing Macedonia’s name. This week, Mr. Osmani acknowledged that he had discussed certain variations of a new name for Macedonia with Greek government officials. He further stated that he did not want to reveal any of these potentially new names for Macedonia “in order to withstand the pressure of the public.” Mr. Osmani refrained from revealing details about the name negotiations because he recognizes that the Macedonian citizens would be repulsed by the identity-shattering suggestions.



These revelations demonstrate that Mr. Osmani lacks the capacity to uphold and promote cherished democratic values. If your reason for withholding information from the public is because you know the public disagrees with you and will not support you, then you have compromised the entire democratic process. The Macedonian citizens have put their trust and faith in you to be an open, honest and accountable representative of the Macedonians’ interests. You fail them and the entire democratic system the instant you refuse to incorporate the citizens into the democratic process.



Mr. Osmani further outlandishly remarked that Greece’s issue with Macedonia’s name “has a rational core” and that several “emotional layers” must first be removed before the issue can be resolved. This is outlandish because there is nothing rational about Greece’s assault on the Macedonian name and identity. Greece’s reasons for obstructing Macedonia’s future are an imaginary Greek genetic and cultural lineage to the ancient Macedonians, and absurd fears that Macedonia (a nation of 2 million people) will attack Greece (a NATO member and a nation of 10 million people) in order to conquer Greece’s northern province. Greece’s issue with Macedonia’s name is irrational to the core. Mr. Osmani is only fooling himself when he declares that Greece’s dispute with Macedonia’s name and identity has a rational basis.



LOMA asks Macedonian citizens to put pressure on the current Macedonian government to remove Mr. Bujar Osmani from office should he decide not to resign or excuse himself from negotiating Macedonia’s name with Greece. In his short time in office, Mr. Osmani has proven himself to be unable and unwilling to respect the democratic process or represent the best interests of his country, Macedonia. The negotiations must end; but if they continue, the public must be involved through the entire process. Mr. Osmani, unfortunately, does not believe that the public should play an integral part in determining their own name and identity.

https://www.leagueofmacedonians.org/single-post/2018/01/09/Greeces-Actions-Undemocratic-and-Dangerous

Greece's Actions: Undemocratic and Dangerous

January 9, 2018

LOMA is exceedingly perturbed (but not surprised) by the Greek Foreign Minister’s recent comments. Mr. Nikos Kotzias’ latest statements fully reveal how irresponsibly, dangerously, and undemocratically the Greek government has been acting when it comes to the issue of Macedonia’s name.



First, Mr. Kotzias believes that Macedonia should have a compound name for all uses. He says that Macedonia should be renamed with an adjective (either before or after Macedonia); and further, he states that the new name should be embedded in Macedonia’s constitution, in addition to being used for international institutions such as the UN, EU and NATO. (On a side note: Greece’s leaders have clearly drew their red lines, while Macedonia’s leaders publicly admit that they have no red lines – a position that is exceptionally embarrassing and suicidal.) Mr. Kotzias’ words are simply an echo of mainstream (but irrational) Greek thinking that Greece has the authority to dictate Macedonia’s name both on the international stage and internally. Unfortunately, as long as Macedonian leaders continue allowing Greece to trample over Macedonia’s rights and liberties, Greece will prolong spewing such unreasonable and repugnant demands, and the European community will fully accept that Greece is justified in its actions.



Second, Mr. Kotzias believes that the name of Macedonia should not be decided by the citizens of either Greece or Macedonia. For example, he says that Greek citizens shouldn’t have the right to decide whether or not they approve of a negotiated name for Macedonia. While we agree that both the Greek government and its citizens have no right to interfere in Macedonia’s sovereignty, readers shouldn’t be fooled by the reason Mr. Kotzias gives for opposing a Greek referendum: he knows that Greek citizens are so overwhelmingly and unwaveringly against the ethnic Macedonian identity and name that they will doubtlessly vote NO to any agreement that includes the word Macedonia. In this way, Mr. Kotzias hopes to hide the hatred and prejudices that that are deeply entrenched in the minds of the Greek people.



What’s more inexcusable, however, is that Mr. Kotzias is against Macedonia’s citizens holding a referendum to decide their own name because he knows that if the Macedonians hold a referendum, then they will shoot down any name other than ‘Macedonia’. Mr. Kotzias therefore stated that Macedonia would face negative questions if Macedonian voters declined a new name for themselves. He further supports his opposition to a Macedonian referendum by stating that a referendum wasn’t held in 1995 when Macedonia succumbed to Greek sanctions by allowing itself to be referred to as ‘The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia’ in international organizations.



This Foreign Minister’s reasoning is absurd. Two essential differences exist between 1995 and 2018. One difference is that, in 1995, Greece had groundlessly and unjustifiably placed an embargo on Macedonia because Greece didn’t believe Macedonia had the right to name itself or choose its own symbols. This embargo came at a time when Macedonia was struggling to build an economy and democracy after declaring independence from Yugoslavia, which was engaged in a ferocious civil war that Macedonia avoided, but by which it was still impacted. Greece’s embargo was not in response to hostilities by Macedonia. Rather, Greece’s blockade of food and basic supplies from crossing the Macedonian border was solely because Macedonia existed as Macedonia. Is Greece again proposing to place an embargo on Macedonia?



The second difference is that the reference of Macedonia as ‘The fYRoM’ was not to be used internally or externally; it was to be used as a reference only in international organizations. Obviously, Greece proved itself to be a hypocrite and a liar when it blocked Macedonia from joining NATO under the fYRoM reference in 2008; and an international court even ruled that Greece violated this accord when it blocked Macedonia’s entrance into NATO (even though the 1995 agreement said the reference fYRoM was to be used for such purposes). The difference between an internationally accepted name and a temporary reference is not small or meaningless, even though both are humiliating.



Where Mr. Kotzias mostly misses the mark, however, is that he believes the 1995 agreement was legitimate (most courts of law agree that decisions made under duress, threat or coercion are illegitimate) and that it was appropriate and correct for the Macedonian government in 1995 to not bring the decision to the people. The Macedonian government made the wrong decision in 1995. But the most ridiculous aspect of Mr. Kotzias’ comments are how disillusioned he is with the notion of democracy when he suggests that there shouldn’t be a referendum on Macedonia’s name. He seems to think that the negative consequences of Macedonia holding a referendum will be its inability to enter NATO or the EU. But the real consequence is that Macedonia (as well as the Balkans and Europe) risk sacrificing cherished democratic principles and values by advocating for no referendum, in addition to advocating for negotiations of a peoples’ name and identity.



Make no mistake: Macedonia is not entering into negotiations over its name willfully. It is being forced to choose between its name and EU and NATO membership (we remind everyone: not a choice any other member of those institutions has had to make). While LOMA absolutely disagrees with changing Macedonia’s name for the sake of joining these two organizations, there are obviously some Macedonians that feel their future depend on Macedonia changing its name, thanks to Greek manipulation and chauvinism. However, these Macedonians would never have willingly chosen to negotiate their name had EU and NATO membership not depended on it. Thus, with its veto power, Greece is able to continue bribing Macedonians and obstructing Macedonia’s progress.



Essentially, we have learned that Mr. Kotzias and the Greek government (as well as the majority of Greek citizens) do not respect or appreciate sovereignty and self-determination. Greece has proven itself uncommitted to democratic principles and has for too long openly masqueraded its hostilities toward the ethnic Macedonian people in the Republic of Macedonia as well as within Greece’s own borders. Greece has demonstrated that it is an obstacle to good neighborly relations and an impediment to the democratic process.



Any change to Macedonia’s name will not result in a more democratic and peaceful Balkans. Rather, it may likely lead to future unprecedented Balkan conflicts so severe that European powers will be wishing that they had mustered the necessary resolve and courage to rein in Greece’s immature and dangerous rhetoric, or even had expelled Greece from their organizations for its volatile intimidation and aggression. It’s not too late.

Our Advocacy page has many more statements, commentaries and letters. https://www.leagueofmacedonians.org/advocacy


We also have profiles (and soon interviews) of Macedonian-Americans on our People page, including a NFL Pro-Bowler, a professor in San Francisco, and the president of the Minneapolis chapter of the Macedonian People's League during the 1930s/1940s.

https://www.leagueofmacedonians.org/people

[Tomche Makedonche]

Well written and well done LOMA

[Gocka]

Bravo Victor.

At least there is one Macedonian I can be proud of.

[Momce Makedonce]

Well done Vic!
I just brought two of your books, 'Anarchy in Macedonia' and 'The Macedonian Ressurrection'. I've already started reading the latter and I am absolutely loving it! Best wishes for the future and I hope you continue with all your hard work and dedication.

[vicsinad]

Thanks guys for the support!

Momce, thanks for buying the books. I'm always curious to know who is buying them -- it's nice get to get some feedback. I really appreciate it.

[mac4life2]

I'm a big time Macedonian-American, especially coming from the Chicagoland area. I also preach about it in the US Army, no one can take away or make me feel like we're not wanted. I can't wait to get back to my Macedonian roots back in Chicago. I love both my countries, but man does it feel nice seeing Macedonians to talk to about stuff in general.