Provocation for being Macedonian - Personal Experiences

[The LION will ROAR]

In 1994 when travelling around Europe ended up at the greek islands with a group of friends.. I saw allot of signs and billboard claiming "Macedonia is greek"
which really pissed me off.. I remember using my credit card a few times and the person at the counter who was taking my details/credit card would seem nice..but once they notice my name.. their faces had changed, no smile and would give me a dirty look every time..
after the greek islands a friend and I caught a plane to Solun and then a taxi to the border.. no problem there.. when checking into the border crossing they check my passport..
I had a Australian passport showing Australian born..the border officer couldn’t do anything or hassle me but knew I was Macedonian by surname.. when he finished checking the passport he fken threw it at me and it hit me on the chest. Being young and Naive I didn’t say or do anything.. but really pissed me off and still does till today..
After that we waited for a taxi, we needed greek and Macedonian passport taxi driver who was able to come and go..once one came A strange thing happen one of the greek border officers came into the taxi car and came for a drive into Bitola..we check into the Macedonian border and they just waved at the greek guy thru.. no questions asked and no documents showed...no nothing..I find it very strange
Has anyone heard of that happening before..?

[Zarni]

I never understand why any Macedonians who do not have family in the occupied homeland would venture to Greece

[Sekirani]

Maybe just to see the situation for themselves and to piss off a few Greeks along the way, as in my case !

[julie]

I spent 12 hours in total over the border, dolno kotori to mum's village, form there Solun, Voden, and Pella and back via Kostur. If it were not because wanted to go to the old crumbling, seized family home, would not have stepped foot over the border

[La Bira]

La Bira, You seem to want to highlight where i have acted inappropriately but you failed to mention how these 2 ladies also acted inappropriately first, without any reason to other than to mock and humiliate my fellow group members, go fuck yourself

I wasn't there. Based on your description it's not clear that they crossed the line, while you certainly did.
By the way, what does a typical organized tour include? How many days did you stay? What places did you visit? Any impressions?

[Daskalot]

La Bira, have you ever been denied the right to use your ethnic, cultural or national identity?

[Voltron]

I dont know guys, a lot of what is being said here I experienced first hand myself.
The beacratic hell that had been put before me to obtain Greek citizenship is something I wouldnt want to wish on my worst enemy. I dont think it has to do with anytype of racist tendencies although in some cases it could be. But for me that was a Greek American trying to obtain Greek citizenship, often times I wonder why they made it so difficult. As if I was some foreigner that they didnt want. But hey, its the performance these government workers are used to. Complacency and just flat out rude at times like they dont give a shit. Thats what permanent job status does to a person, if there are no consequences to them losing their job then they pretty can do what they want. And if you run in to some asshole that has no class and has a govt position just because he knows somebody then you can bet your really going to have a hard time. This is Socialism for you, all the bad aspects of it at least.

And dont get me started how the US treats its own like myself. I can go on for hours.

[La Bira]

I saw allot of signs and billboard claiming "Macedonia is greek" which really pissed me off..

Don't worry. That Greek moto does not refer to your country. It refers to the name, the History and the land (of Greek Macedonia).

I remember using my credit card a few times and the person at the counter who was taking my details/credit card would seem nice..but once they notice my name.. their faces had changed, no smile and would give me a dirty look every time..

My God, what IS your name?

I had a Australian passport showing Australian born..the border officer couldn’t do anything or hassle me but knew I was Macedonian by surname.. when he finished checking the passport he fken threw it at me and it hit me on the chest. Being young and Naive I didn’t say or do anything.. but really pissed me off and still does till today..

Probably, I wouldn't do anything either, still this behaviour is unacceptable. When I crossed the border the first time (to visit Skopje) the officer was not polite; he was shouting, asking for some “docoumenta” and couldn't speak English; I just thought this was his (rather vulgar) style. When I entered Turkey for the first time, the officer had to be bribed (with about 15 Euros) because my car actually belonged to my father or brother and I didn't have an authorization document.

After that we waited for a taxi, we needed greek and Macedonian passport taxi driver who was able to come and go..once one came A strange thing happen one of the greek border officers came into the taxi car and came for a drive into Bitola..we check into the Macedonian border and they just waved at the greek guy thru.. no questions asked and no documents showed...no nothing..I find it very strange
Has anyone heard of that happening before..?

Yes, it's a Greek... traditional custom called triplokoursa (hey... I'm going the same way. Can I come with you?).
Actually, I didn't know taxis can cross the border. The check-in officers from both sides obviously know each other.

[Bill77]

Don't worry. That Greek moto does not refer to your country. It refers to the name, the History and the land (of Greek Macedonia).

Which all three were stolen from true Macedonians.

When I crossed the border the first time (to visit Skopje) the officer was not polite; he was shouting, asking for some “docoumenta”

Can you be more precise? how about giving us gps coordinates of exactly where you went?

Last time i was there, i didn't need "docoumenta" to visit Skopje.....But i did need them entering Macedonia.

But seriously, something tells me your destination has nothing to do with your story, and i doubt you went there. Its just that your racist attitude, would cause you to choke or something if you said "Macedonia". Yet it seems to roll off your tongue easily when you put "Greek" infront of it.


By the way, Which country is Skopje the capital city of ?

[Daskalot]

Probably, I wouldn't do anything either, still this behaviour is unacceptable. When I crossed the border the first time (to visit Skopje) the officer was not polite; he was shouting, asking for some “docoumenta” and couldn't speak English

When using Skopje what are you referring to?
And please answer the last question Bill asks you and my other question to you further up on this page!

[La Bira]

Last time i was there, i didn't need "docoumenta" to visit Skopje.....But i did need them entering Macedonia.

Oh, were you coming from Skopje?

But seriously, something tells me your destination has nothing to do with your story, and i doubt you went there. Its just that your racist attitude, would cause you to choke or something if you said "Macedonia".

I basicaly... live in Macedonia, about 350 days a year, so... I can't really visit it, only exit it. Yes, I have visited Skopje, also Monastir and Struga. I haven't counted how many times I say Macedonia.

[Daskalot]

Oh, were you coming from Skopje?

I basicaly... live in Macedonia, about 350 days a year, so... I can't really visit it, only exit it. Yes, I have visited Skopje, also Monastir and Struga. I haven't counted how many times I say Macedonia.

When you exit the part of Macedonia that was annexed by Greece in 1913, to visit the city of Skopje, Struga or Bitola for that matter which sovereign state are you entering to do so, answer me or be banned.

[La Bira]

La Bira, have you ever been denied the right to use your ethnic, cultural or national identity?

Well, no. But I'll be damn if this question means anything.

When you exit the part of Macedonia that was annexed by Greece in 1913, to visit the city of Skopje, Struga or Bitola for that matter which sovereign state are you entering to do so, answer me or be banned.

Didn’t you know?
In Greece, we never call it Macedonia, or Republic of Macedonia, or Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia. The latter is used only in an official manner in public circumstances (by politicians, anchormen etc) but it’s way too long.
In everyday conversations most Greeks will call it Skopje or FYROM. Personally, my natural tendency is rather to call it Skopje.
If a politician or commentator is against Greece’s policy on the name dispute will probably use emphasis and call it Republic of Macedonia.

[Po-drum]

Well, no. But I'll be damn if this question means anything.


Didn’t you know?
In Greece, we never call it Macedonia, or Republic of Macedonia, or Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia. The latter is used only in an official manner in public circumstances (by politicians, anchormen etc) but it’s way too long.
In everyday conversations most Greeks will call it Skopje or FYROM. Personally, my natural tendency is rather to call it Skopje.
If a politician or commentator is against Greece’s policy on the name dispute will probably use emphasis and call it Republic of Macedonia.

Does it means that you as a commentator are not against Greece's policy on the name dispute over the name of Republic of Macedonia?

[La Bira]

Does it means that you as a commentator are not against Greece's policy on the name dispute over the name of Republic of Macedonia?

We ain't seen nothing yet. The real policy (for all interested parties, people and political leaders in both sides) will show when the final compromise is made. I'm not sure about my personal stance then.