Hateful Press

[Risto the Great]

Perhaps a thread should be dedicated to authors who perpetuate racist and hateful remarks about Macedonians.

I found Stephen Schwartz's remarks in the article titled "Macedonia Mischief" particularly infuriating. He wouldn't know a Slav if it came and slapped him sideways.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/macedonia-mischief_965007.html

A whole bunch of "Slav".

http://www.weeklystandard.com/author/stephen-schwartz#biography

Interesting notes about him here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/709496/posts

Stephen Schwartz needs to be contacted. Anyone have his contact details?

[Nikolaj]

Great idea Risto,

The Republic of Macedonia replies to this gesture of contempt by claiming Alexander the Great, who came from ancient Macedonia and lived in the fourth century b.c., as its historical ancestor—notwithstanding the fact that most present-day citizens of the Republic of Macedonia are Slavs whose forebears did not appear in the region until at least the sixth century a.d. Alexander the Great was definitely not a Slav.

[vicsinad]

Here's his wiki page. I believe it is the same Stephen Schwartz:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Suleyman_Schwartz

[vicsinad]

Contact Information

Please direct inquiries to Stephen Suleyman Schwartz.
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 1.415.956.9296
Fax: 1.866.792.9439 (toll-free)
Webmaster email: [email protected]

[vicsinad]

From this website:

http://www.islamicpluralism.org/about/

[George S.]

I read that article and its biased Its particularly towards the muslim moderate element.The forget in a democracy the rule of law is rule by majoruity not minoeity.I'm not happy to read that we are just fyrom and we are just slavs.

[vicsinad]

Letter sent. Good thread, Risto.

[Nikolaj]

Letter sent. Good thread, Risto.

Vicsinad do you mind sharing what you sent to him?

#LOMA, love from Australia.

[vicsinad]

Nikolaj,



Yes, here it is.



Dear Mr. Stephen Schwartz,

The League of Macedonian-Americans (LOMA) is writing to you regarding the inappropriate, disrespectful, and uninformed terminology used in your article Macedonia Mischief in The Weekly Standard. In particular, you claimed that today’s majority inhabitants of the Republic of Macedonia are ‘Slavs.’ However, this is false. The majority of citizens in Macedonia are ethnic Macedonians.

First, the term ‘Slav’ inaccurately describes the ethnic Macedonians. Historians and academics agree that the term ‘Slav’ today does not represent an ethnic or racial identity. Additionally, the term ‘Slavic’ is used to describe the linguistic branch in which the Macedonian language is included and not any particular culture. Furthermore, scientific studies have demonstrated that the genetic composition of the Macedonian people is substantially different than neighboring ethnic peoples whose language is classified as ‘Slavic’. Moreover, this term was forced onto Macedonians throughout history by several different competing groups, such as the intellectuals who advocated for the failed Yugoslav experiment creating a geographic union based on linguistic similarities, 19th century Russian officials seeking to expand Russia’s sphere of influence, and foreigners seeking to categorize a people based on discriminatory and uninformed opinions.

Any historical references of Macedonians calling themselves Slavs are not indicative of their ethnic affiliation, but rather of their linguistic affiliation. If we are to compare apples to apples, when you call a Macedonian a ‘Slav,’ you should call an Englishman a ‘German’ or a Mexican a ‘Romantic’ because you are using a linguistic classification. However, this classification scheme is not related to modern-day notions of ethnicity and you do not make this evident in your article.

Second, even though there are other Balkan peoples that use a Slavic language, you do not refer to them as Slavs. For example, you call Serbs ‘Serbs’ and not ‘Slav Serbs’ or ‘Slavs.’ The Macedonian people of today form their own ethnic identity based on genetic and cultural influences from the tribes of ancient Macedonia, the Roman conquests, Slavic migrations, the Byzantine era, the Turkish occupation, and from other influences. Over several thousand years, the interacting, merging and overlapping of these different cultures and peoples have helped mold and solidify the Macedonian identity as a separate and distinct identity from neighboring Balkan peoples. It should also be noted that all peoples of the Balkans – including Greeks, Bulgarians, Serbs and Albanians – have their own histories of different cultural and genetic influences. This does not mean that these people are not ethnic Greeks, Bulgarians, Serbs or Albanians. The same applies to Macedonians.

Third, the Greek state and the majority of Greece’s citizens use this term to justify their violent and chauvinistic history of attempting to eliminate and eradicate the Macedonian people and nation and to currently deny the identity of the Macedonians living in Greece. Several human rights organizations have concluded that tens of thousands (and possibly hundreds of thousands) ethnic Macedonians live in Greece and that Greece refuses to recognize this minority. Also, most historians and academics agree that ancient Macedonia was never a part of ancient Greece and that only the Macedonian elite adopted Greek culture and language as a matter of policy. While no peoples of the Balkans can or should claim absolute lineage to a specific period in history, Greece claims they are directly, and only, descended from the Hellenic people, which is ridiculous and untrue. The current Greek state was formed by a multitude of different cultural and ethnic groups that Greek authorities eventually forcibly assimilated into a Greek identity. As the nineteenth century progressed, Greece advocated for Macedonian territory to be included in its irredentist “Megali Idea.” You do not mention any of this in your brief analysis of the Macedonian-Greek conflict.

Finally, people have the right to self-determination. It is nothing short of disrespectful to call a person something other than he calls himself. You label all other peoples as they label themselves; yet, you refuse to do so for the Macedonians. This is indeed biased and inaccurate. More importantly, however, it shows that you refuse to treat the Macedonian people as equals or with dignity.

Your choice to use the term ‘Slav’ for the Macedonian people is terribly disappointing. Instead of being a champion for equality and respect, you have placed yourself on the side of discrimination and ignorance. LOMA calls on you to apologize for referring to Macedonians simply as ‘Slavs’ and to no longer refer to Macedonians as ‘Slavs.’ Thank you for your time.

[George S.]

hink they adopted this form of terminology,Those that create this form of identification in their propaganda forget the ultimate form of identification is self identification.Also a majority of nations refer to us as Macedonians.Anything else is unacceptable.

[Philosopher]

Dear Mr. Stephen Schwartz,

The League of Macedonian-Americans (LOMA) is writing to you regarding the inappropriate, disrespectful, and uninformed terminology used in your article Macedonia Mischief in The Weekly Standard. In particular, you claimed that today’s majority inhabitants of the Republic of Macedonia are ‘Slavs.’ However, this is false. The majority of citizens in Macedonia are ethnic Macedonians.

First, the term ‘Slav’ inaccurately describes the ethnic Macedonians. Historians and academics agree that the term ‘Slav’ today does not represent an ethnic or racial identity. Additionally, the term ‘Slavic’ is used to describe the linguistic branch in which the Macedonian language is included and not any particular culture. Furthermore, scientific studies have demonstrated that the genetic composition of the Macedonian people is substantially different than neighboring ethnic peoples whose language is classified as ‘Slavic’. Moreover, this term was forced onto Macedonians throughout history by several different competing groups, such as the intellectuals who advocated for the failed Yugoslav experiment creating a geographic union based on linguistic similarities, 19th century Russian officials seeking to expand Russia’s sphere of influence, and foreigners seeking to categorize a people based on discriminatory and uninformed opinions.

Any historical references of Macedonians calling themselves Slavs are not indicative of their ethnic affiliation, but rather of their linguistic affiliation. If we are to compare apples to apples, when you call a Macedonian a ‘Slav,’ you should call an Englishman a ‘German’ or a Mexican a ‘Romantic’ because you are using a linguistic classification. However, this classification scheme is not related to modern-day notions of ethnicity and you do not make this evident in your article.

Second, even though there are other Balkan peoples that use a Slavic language, you do not refer to them as Slavs. For example, you call Serbs ‘Serbs’ and not ‘Slav Serbs’ or ‘Slavs.’ The Macedonian people of today form their own ethnic identity based on genetic and cultural influences from the tribes of ancient Macedonia, the Roman conquests, Slavic migrations, the Byzantine era, the Turkish occupation, and from other influences. Over several thousand years, the interacting, merging and overlapping of these different cultures and peoples have helped mold and solidify the Macedonian identity as a separate and distinct identity from neighboring Balkan peoples. It should also be noted that all peoples of the Balkans – including Greeks, Bulgarians, Serbs and Albanians – have their own histories of different cultural and genetic influences. This does not mean that these people are not ethnic Greeks, Bulgarians, Serbs or Albanians. The same applies to Macedonians.

Third, the Greek state and the majority of Greece’s citizens use this term to justify their violent and chauvinistic history of attempting to eliminate and eradicate the Macedonian people and nation and to currently deny the identity of the Macedonians living in Greece. Several human rights organizations have concluded that tens of thousands (and possibly hundreds of thousands) ethnic Macedonians live in Greece and that Greece refuses to recognize this minority. Also, most historians and academics agree that ancient Macedonia was never a part of ancient Greece and that only the Macedonian elite adopted Greek culture and language as a matter of policy. While no peoples of the Balkans can or should claim absolute lineage to a specific period in history, Greece claims they are directly, and only, descended from the Hellenic people, which is ridiculous and untrue. The current Greek state was formed by a multitude of different cultural and ethnic groups that Greek authorities eventually forcibly assimilated into a Greek identity. As the nineteenth century progressed, Greece advocated for Macedonian territory to be included in its irredentist “Megali Idea.” You do not mention any of this in your brief analysis of the Macedonian-Greek conflict.

Finally, people have the right to self-determination. It is nothing short of disrespectful to call a person something other than he calls himself. You label all other peoples as they label themselves; yet, you refuse to do so for the Macedonians. This is indeed biased and inaccurate. More importantly, however, it shows that you refuse to treat the Macedonian people as equals or with dignity.

Your choice to use the term ‘Slav’ for the Macedonian people is terribly disappointing. Instead of being a champion for equality and respect, you have placed yourself on the side of discrimination and ignorance. LOMA calls on you to apologize for referring to Macedonians simply as ‘Slavs’ and to no longer refer to Macedonians as ‘Slavs.’ Thank you for your time.

Bravo Vic. Very well written.

[George S.]

Vicsinads I don't know if your aware that we have had a court case in the state of Victoria in recent years.It was over the term slav Macedonian .As you stated the word slav doexn't have a ethnic identifier but is linked with a influence of slav on the language slightly.Anyway the court ruled that the use of the slav prefix such as slav Macedonian was considered an offensive and derogatory term.Isn't it any wonder that all our enemies are using this sort of negative description to negate us.On the contrary the real Macedonians exist as self identified as Macedonians in different parts of occupied Macedonia.Even in Rom they have realised that they are Macedonians and not Slav as the occupiers have claimed and brainwashed people into thinking they are not Macedonians.Macedonians across the world
have realised that what a wonderfull heritage the Macedonians have got.Not only this but we have let ourselves down over the years by believing these falsehoods about us.We are not slavs as they have claimed.Example a myriad of books have been written that the slavs had gone through the whole Balkans including hellas.Greece should be labelled by the same logic as slav.Macedonia was not the only one that was influenced only linguistically and not ethnicaly.
'We have far too long let other people write about us.Just remember there are quite a lot of books written by say the greeks hundereds of years later after the events.Certainly the slav and fyrom prefix is to disown us from our real heritage.Don't stand for this anymore.
Can you honestly believe such a name is suitable as fyrom for the name of a country?only if we let them.We must assert ourselves of who we are.
Finally,Vicsand your letter is well written and we hope they run a withdrawal and correction in their editorial They should offer a total rectractionwith an apology .

[Nikolaj]

Very well written Vic. If that was written to me I'd feel like i'm about to be sued for open discrimination. I am also happy you include that many scholars identify ancient Macedonians as a non-Greek people, I feel like others who write emails to people like this do not include such detail.

[George S.]

That's right nik Vick he has taken the trouble to explain what were angry about.I think a correction apology shoud be forthcoming.i would be most surised ised as if it didn't.They would be a self serving to the minority and trouble seekers for their own cause.And another thing visand?nikolaj this has happened to us as we have been content in our complacency of being Yugoslav and not doing anything by asserting our own ethnic identity.We have let others dictate our fate.It's a sorry state of affairs.

[vicsinad]

Thanks guys. He may or may not respond, but will more likely respond if there are more people contacting him.

George, what you have said is spot on. I've only briefly read about that decision in Australia. I'll look more into it. It is a helpful argument to have on our side.