Slav Macedonians

[Pelister]

I keep reading this term used by Western media for ethnic Macedonians. As much as it angers me, it also confuses me. Especially when it attempts to describe ethnic Macedonians in the Republic of Macedonia.

What purpose does it serve? There is only one ethnic Macedonian group and yet there are quite a few Slavic Macedonians. If we are to subscribe to this moniker, then the confusion would rest quite heavily on the many slavic speaking ethnicities in Macedonia. We could be describing citizens of Macedonia who are ethnically Macedonians, Serbs, Bulgars, Croatians, Torbeshi etc. when we say "Slav Macedonians".

Yet Albanians are afforded simple descriptors like Albanians (shock, horror). Does it really have to be this hard for ethnic Macedonians?

A slavic Macedonian can be one of a number of ethnicities and many journalists are either too ignorant to understand this or have a systematic policy of undermining the Macedonian ethnicity and identity. Either way, they are not helping their reader in any way whatsoever. Enough is enough.

Over the last century we have been seeing the "Slavicization" of the ethnic Macedonians.

This 'naming' of the Macedonians needs to be put into its proper historical context. We know there were various colonial terms used to describe the Macedonians - the purpose of these colorful names was to deny the struggles, the grievances and wishes of the Macedonians. So they were deliberately omitted, and misrepresented by the West. One term commonly in use was 'Slav' - despite it not being an ethnic terms, or a nationality - its use is widespread, and has been used by Europe to differentiate the New Hellenes, from the rest of the rabble. To use the words of Edward Said - the effect of this kind of colonial language is to reduce the natives to the status of a coolie class.

[Risto the Great]

I never knew Slavic Albanians existed. What characteristics would define a Slavic Albanian?

Allow me to respond.
You never knew Slavic Albanians existed because the media does not try to use a similar analogy with minorities who speak a slavic derived language in Albania. This merely highlights the stupidity of the approach taken with ethnic Macedonians in Macedonia. Thanks for helping us clarify this matter for you.

[NikodimMKD]

Agreed, it is like saying a Slavic Albanian, who could be either an ethnic Macedonian, ethnic Montenegrin or ethnic Serb from Albania.

There is only one reason they do this, and that is Greece. I would never accept such a term, where in this day and age it only serves to reduce the unique significance of the ethnic Macedonian, no Macedonian would.

I never knew Slavic Albanians existed. What characteristics would define a Slavic Albanian?

[Jankovska]

According to Karaman and Vlakoyan, you are a descendant of Anne Boleyn

Their arguments are quite funny really

[Soldier of Macedon]

I speak English too, does that make me English?

According to Karaman and Vlakoyan, you are a descendant of Anne Boleyn

[Risto the Great]

We all agree, it is stupid and based on nothing more than ignorance!

[Jankovska]

Yeah sure, it makes sense like that. But it also makes sense as a Serbian who is a Macedonian citizen. Whereas as "ethnic Macedonians" is far more precise and meaningful.

Well thhey can't be serious if the use Slav Macedonians to describe our ethnicity, that is plain stupid really. Our language may be part of the Slavic group of languages but in no way has anything to do with our ethnicity. I speak English too, does that make me English?

[Risto the Great]

If it's a ethnic Macedonian person who speaks a language which is part of the Slavic group of languages than it might make sanse.

Yeah sure, it makes sense like that. But it also makes sense as a Serbian who is a Macedonian citizen. Whereas as "ethnic Macedonians" is far more precise and meaningful.

[Jankovska]

It isn't, therefore is not necessary.

Perhaps the following could be applied to all nations....

• Macedonian-Slav
• French-Latin
• Dutch-German

.......perhaps, in a deluded world peopled by internet Greeks.

Yeah you are right, it's totaly stupid

[Soldier of Macedon]

It isn't, therefore is not necessary.

Perhaps the following could be applied to all nations....

• Macedonian-Slav
• French-Latin
• Dutch-German

.......perhaps, in a deluded world peopled by internet Greeks.

[Jankovska]

What is a Macedonians Slav?
If it's a ethnic Macedonian person who speaks a language which is part of the Slavic group of languages than it might make sanse.
Slav is not an ethnic group as far as I am aware?

[Daskalot]

No,
the only thing that we can do is stop people like STEFOV and his hard line SLAVISTS from trying to brainwash the proper Macedonian folk as well as OUTSIDERS and WESTERNERS, into maintaining that we are slavs and nothing else.

Funny you say this because Risto Stefov is claiming the opposite of what you say.

Could you just give us a reference where he states what you claim he states?

[Soldier of Macedon]

No,
the only thing that we can do is stop people like STEFOV and his hard line SLAVISTS from trying to brainwash the proper Macedonian folk as well as OUTSIDERS and WESTERNERS, into maintaining that we are slavs and nothing else.

To clear any (mis)conception that you have just written something due to unrestrained impulse, perhaps you can point us to the actual article of Risto Stefov where he has provided a hard line view of maintaining that we are slavs and nothing else.

I am sure all readers familiar with Risto Stefov and his work will be extremely interested in your findings. Let us know how it goes.

[King Makedon]

I totally agree, as i earlier posted all western medias usually describe us as such, exept the Dutch, and the Flamic Belgians.
I think we have to orginize us a little bit. We hsve to write to all major TV Stations around the world and and bombard them with protest letters. So that in Future this kind of errors won't happen again.

[Risto the Great]

ZAS, you should read Stefov's articles one day.
You will realise he is saying something quite opposite to what you are saying.