United Macedonia Diaspora

[UMDiaspora.org]

The latest issue of UMD Voice is here featuring Chinese-Macedonian TV Personality! http://umdiaspora.org/content/view/500/1/

[Makedonska_Kafana]

UMD is a organization based out of Washington DC. so can you please explain what exactly you're doing to the rest of us? In the search type any form of the word "Macedonia" ..

http://www.youtube.com/user/whitehouse#p/u

Does Athens add ID tags?

Now lets try the same thing again ..

http://www.state.gov/

As an outsider I would have to say somewhere along the line someone has failed the Macedonia diaspora badly - Phil Reeker?

[fyrOM]

It is an excellent article.
Vangelovski when you learn
Mizi da te lazam
Instead of needing fanfare and acknowledgements before you move it will start making more sense.

[Prolet]

Ozimak, We can never be happy about joining in any organization under any name other then Republic of Macedonia.

кога до коска ќе те заболи кога ќе слушнеш ПЈРМ

[UMDiaspora.org]

Matthew Becker - Macedonia and NATO Membership

http://www.examiner.com/volusia-county-foreign-policy-in-orlando/macedonia-and-nato-membership

[Frank]

Yet the Macedonian Ambassador to Uncle Sam reminds Skopje no solution to the name dispute means no NATO membership for you.

[indigen]

Бугарскиот историчар Димитар Бечев денеска во Скопје го промовира Речникот на македонската историја, кој ќе биде единствениот референтен документ од овој тип во официјалната листа на историски речници во Европа и ќе го афирмира македонскиот идентитет како производ на 1944 година
[...]

Novamakedonija.com.mk


Here is something "UMD" (and others purporting to represent the interests of Macedonians, including MPC-OA and Mk Government, amongst others.) should think about taking appropriate action on! This is an outrageous situation and, IME, no other nation on earth would ever allow such situation to eventuate without taking the most stern state action possible!

[UMDiaspora.org]

This is absurd and shows the real intentions of Bulgaria and Bulgarian historians. Can someone inform us where this book will be used as a dictionary in Europe? A letter of complaint should be sent to this institution.

What are Macedonian historians doing? Why aren't more Macedonian history books translated into English? So far, only a few are on Amazon from Risto Stefov, Michael Seraphinoff, etc...what are we as a community doing to promote our history more?

[Prolet]

Oh Come on UMD, havnt you been watching the news these past few days?

This is going from bad to worse, The Badev Family are deeply pissed off for this Historian calling Nikola Badev a Bulgarian, Vaska Ilieva was also mentioned.

UMD, Could you imagine what would happen to a Macedonian Historian if he came to the center of Sofia and promoted a Bulgarian Book stating that Bulgarians are Tatars and they originate from Mongolia? This is a disgrace, they wont stop with their provocations thats for sure what do they think this is Selo bez kucina? Za sramota

http://sitel.com.mk/video/makedonija/rechnikot-na-bechev-go-naluti-semejstvoto-na-badev

[UMDiaspora.org]

"Oh come on" won't help us here. Investing in further research of Macedonians historians would. TrueMacedonian is doing an excellent job in his research - maybe something can be done with all of the research. A compilation in a book maybe titled "What Western Historians and Scholars Have Said About Macedonia..."

Here is a conference that seriously lacks Macedonian academic presence: http://www.nationalities.org/

[julie]

Actually, TM and SoM have some good writings as does Bratot, Politecon publications publishes for Macedonians in Australia, have you thought about a compilation of your great research guys?

[fyrOM]

Actually, TM and SoM have some good writings as does Bratot, Politecon publications publishes for Macedonians in Australia, have you thought about a compilation of your great research guys?

Right said Julie.

UMD have you heard of the dumb guy principle. When even a dumb guy has a bit of an idea about something it usually means there’s more to the thing but if he has no clue about something then it really begs the question what’s the thing for.

A case in point me. I’ve only recently taken a greater interest in Macedonian matters yet apart from knowing there is this group called the UMD and they talk to a few guys while having their photo taken and hold these parties to fundraise I cant think of one concrete thing the UMD does. Why do you guys exist…not some wishy washy general statements about promoting the Macedonian Diaspora but something you have actually achieved. Concrete point your finger to it and touch it real thing done.

You may be tempted to say I should investigate the matter further and inform myself but you see that’s exactly the point…I shouldn’t. I don’t need to make some special effort to know what say Gruevski and co are doing. Even if I was so casual as simply reading a newspaper just once a week I would still know because he is doing stuff regularly. If you guys are doing stuff on a regular basis no one should need to make any great effort to know what you are doing…that being ofcourse if your not some secret society.

You promote yourselves as the premier Macedonian Diaspora organisation and as that title implies I would expect your organisation to have their finger on the pulse of everything. See I would think a premier organisation shouldn’t need to pay for an add to say something…they would have the clout to call a press conference or have ties with Macedonian media organisation where you could phone in or email your views on an important issue and you would be listened to. This then leads to my bewilderment by your recent statements Post2204 and Post2206.

This is absurd and shows the real intentions of Bulgaria and Bulgarian historians. Can someone inform us where this book will be used as a dictionary in Europe? A letter of complaint should be sent to this institution

Should a letter of complaint be sent to this organisation or are you saying as a leading organisation are going to take the lead and write this letter yourselves. Sometimes the odd fly ball will go to the keeper after all you don’t have your own spy satellite buzzing over Macedonia but shouldn’t the ease of the internet and your informers on the ground…you do have some don’t you…should be briefing you near close to real time or a day behind at the latest. Where is your stance on this matter.

Some might be tempted to say where is the government to make a stand on this absurdity but as an organisation dealing with politicians and political matters and I would assume you to have more than a rudimentary familiarity with Macedonian geopolitical situation then you would understand that there is a limited amount that the government can do without escalating the issue simply because they are the government. Unlike Obama who can joke about Kanye West and call him a jackass you know how even the littlest things can be touchy in the Balkans. On the other hand NGOs and especially from the Diaspora have no restrictions about being too politically correct and are the ideal tool to say the things that might need saying and the government wishes they had the freedom to say. Each according to their abilities and to their position. I expect more from an organisation promoting themselves as the leading Diaspora organisation…wouldn’t you.

What are Macedonian historians doing? Why aren't more Macedonian history books translated into English? So far, only a few are on Amazon from Risto Stefov, Michael Seraphinoff, etc...what are we as a community doing to promote our history more?

One could ask these questions of the UMD. I hear of the UMDs world travels so I think it would be safe to assume you have reasonable resources so is the UMD using any of their resources in association with Macedonian historians to find and organise a friendly printing house to publish translated Macedonian history books and or ebooks

"Oh come on" won't help us here. Investing in further research of Macedonians historians would. TrueMacedonian is doing an excellent job in his research - maybe something can be done with all of the research. A compilation in a book maybe titled "What Western Historians and Scholars Have Said About Macedonia..."

Great suggestions. What’s the UMD doing towards this end or do you think making suggestions and hoping others will spring to action is enough.

One might say what about the MTO…what have they done…aren’t they a Macedonian Diaspora organisation.
You would be belittling yourself to compare yourselves to the MTO. You are a semi professional organisation well funded and as a lobby organisation would have the ear or media groups and higher ups. On the other hand the MTO is a grassroots organisation of individuals with full time jobs or school commitments to attend to with no formal financial contributions. It isn’t apples with apples. In fact its hardly apples with a cherry yet as you have correctly recognised much research has been done by the members such that the historical section of the MTO is brimming with information. Thanks for the suggestion to do more work and compile a book.

Here is a conference that seriously lacks Macedonian academic presence: http://www.nationalities.org/

And you are telling us this because…you’d like the MTO to do something maybe. Just guessing.

Can you now understand my bewilderment by your statements.

[UMDiaspora.org]

Ozi - thanks for your points.

What our post said is can someone send us the address where the letter can be sent to complain about this Bulgarian propaganda?

If you take a look at the UMD's Issues section of our website, you will notice UMD has done quite a bit to promote Macedonian history and issues:

Let us name only a few for the sake of argument:

1. UMD has organized/co-sponsored/funded the premieres of A Name is A Name in Washington, D.C., New York, Toronto, New Jersey, and in three weeks in Chicago.
2. UMD sponsored the showing of the British documentary Next Year in Lerin at the 18th Annual Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival (see; http://umdiaspora.org/content/view/438/52/)
3. UMD co-sponsored the 7th North American Conference of Macedonian Studies at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.
4. UMD organzed 2 Global Conferences where history and Macedonian ancestry and heritage was a major topic/theme.
5. UMD sponsored the travel of 6 students from the University of Toronto this past spring to learn about Macedonia.
6. UMD co-organized/hosted 18 Congressional Staffers to Macedonia this summer where they met in addition to Macedonian government officials, with historians in Skopje, Bitola, and Ohrid.
7. UMD co-funded the publication by well-known Macedonian historian Aleksandar Donski "The Ancient Macedonians Were not Greeks! (In Defense of Macedonia)" in response to the letter by Greek sympathizers sent to President Obama, and soon will distribute copies of this publication to all members of Congress.
8. Every issue of UMD Voice since 2007 has had some sort of Macedonian historial topic in English so that readers around the world can learn.

Let us know if you have any questions Ozi.

[fyrOM]

I have hopes that any differences in opinion that Macedonian organisations big or small have can be resolved or at least temporally put to one side and each count the other as a resource of peers acting in roles that best suit them bearing in mind the the ultimate goal is the recognition of our common name and identity.

I have written in other threads that I expect the frequency intensity and variety of tactics used by those against Macedonia to only intensify over the next 2 years…nothing to do with 2012 rubbish…because as time moves by it will become apparent that all other impediments to EU and NATO membership have been worked out and removed and literally only the name issue remains. This will focus the worlds attention on the principles the EU and USA espouse for the world and how they apply them to Macedonia. They either let us through or get creative in their blocking or expose their hypocrisy for what it is. Ofcourse the last is not an option for them.

Naturally the government has the primary role and to their credit have in a very short period of time tackled major reforms and has set in motion processes which will propel the country. Legal and economic actions and decision making are their forte. It is also natural that they are involved in all aspects concerning Macedonia but also have their limits some of which are physical while others out of balancing the political environment both internally and externally. All other Macedonian organisations should be thinking about how to aid the government. NGOs particularly in the diaspora are uniquely placed to say things without anyone being able to point anything at the government…we are a bunch of Macedonian individuals expressing our personal views…and hence can be more liberal in what we say and how we say. An example of this is Indigens post.

The article and historical book are no doubt a provocation but not by the Bulgarian state…at least not openly… but instead by an individual so called historian and professor at Oxford. This person needs discrediting for he and multiple other provocations and those to come to go unanswered gives indirect credibility to them yet the government cannot entangle themselves in every minor matter firstly because they have more important things to do which they are more suited to…it would be a kind of drowning in actions and or paperwork… but more importantly issues of free speech and potentially escalating what many would call a minor matter into a state to state issue. This is an ideal matter for NGOs and individual historians to tackle.

Macedonia and Macedonians do not only need to establish a brand name and promote it but also defend it. Snipes like this if left uncheck can grow upon one another giving credence to each other. I as an individual and many individuals like me cannot just call a press conference to announce our displeasure and refute the accuracy of the book but collectively ready responses should be prepared to counter such stupidities. Individuals can add on the net or addressing their local newspaper or radio which may carry such an item. This is extremely important but this is not always enough and we need to engage the international press to tell our story. Connections with friendly media outlets outside of RoM should be sought but the one doing the speaking needs to have the clout to draw the media to them. I see the UMD as having the clout to do this. Supporting the Macedonian cause should be reward enough but actions like this will cement their position as The mouthpiece on Macedonian issues. I know some may say what about organisations in Australia or elsewhere but lets be realistic like it or not most of the world listens to usa media outlets rather than Australian ones yet the usa media are the most difficult to reach from Australia or elsewhere. Lets see each other as peers and use each others strengths for our common goals. I am not saying the UMD should see everyone else as their personal resource unit but instead if they want to be seen as the leading Macedonian diaspora organisation they should take the lead and call for assistance if and when needed. I think you will find the synergy of such action will lead to more assistance.

[Vangelovski]

UMD has yet to explain its name change proposals, support for treasonous agreements and vassal policies. The only views its a 'mouthpiece' for is those of Gligorov and co.