" ... An excellent example of what can occur with someone rewrites history can be seen in Germany during the 20's and 30's. When Hitler came to power, he rewrote history to say that Germany lost the World War I because they were betrayed by the Jewish people. Throughout the world, no one mounted a vigorous defense of the truth and the result was the Holocaust. We must always be on-guard against those who would rewrite history for their own selfish gains and opposition should not wait until after the fact.
In recent years, the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) decided to drop the first three words in their name and call themselves, Macedonia (for further background see the editorial shown below). At first glance it seemed rather innocent until you realize there is already a region known as Macedonia. What further alarms one is that they are not only trying to steal the name of another people, they are claiming that from the first, only they are the true Macedonians and that all the lands of ancient Macedonia belong to them. Sound familiar?
At present there are two bills before the Congress of the United States. SB300 is before the U. S. Senate and in the U. S. House of Representative, it is HB356. They are designed to formally declare that the name Macedonia belongs to the descendents of Aristotle and Alexander, who were Greeks, and can not be used or taken by any other people. Please contact your Representative and Senators and voice your support for this ideal and the two bills.
In America, we do not tolerate personal identity theft, nor should we condone the theft of an entire peoples' history and culture.
Historical Background: EDITORIAL – WHAT'S IN A NAME?
In 1936, Hitler rewrote history and claimed that part of Czechoslovakia belonged to Germany. England and France accepted his claim and allowed him to eventually conquer all of Czechoslovakia. This act led to World War II.
Near the end of that war, in 1944, as part of his long-range plans, in Yugoslavia, Tito took a page out of Hitler's book. He renamed the province of Vardarska Banovina, Macedonia. His ultimate goal was to use this as a pretext to seize the Greek province of Macedonia.
Unfortunately for Tito and the present leadership of that province, that didn't happen. Instead, the United States under President Truman provided military equipment and the Greeks provided the blood to stop Tito's plans and rescued the Greek Macedonian province and all of Greece from possible Communist rule. Thus Greece and her Macedonia province remained on the western side of the Iron Curtain.
So that should have been the end of the story Right? – Wrong! The reason is that as part of his preparation to annex Macedonia, Tito had begun telling everyone that the people of Vardarska Banovina were the true descendants of Alexander (the Great) and thus the true Macedonians. Everyone in the world either ignored this falsehood or simply laughed it off. Unfortunately, for over fifty years, the people of Vardarska Banovina were taught this lie by their communist masters. So it should have come as no surprise when Yugoslavia collapsed, that those still in power in Vardarska Banovina, now called the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) would carry on the lie. After all, that's what they had taught their people for over 50 years.
Additionally, experience should have taught us that people who have lived under and trained to follow a communist mentality, have great difficulty with facts that do not fit their plans. They ignore the truth and fabricate illogical reasons for why we should go along. Case in point: the misleading claims made by the foreign minister of FYROM, Antonio Milososki, to The Washington Times in the article Name Game Blame (Embassy Row, July 11). He stated that his country should be designated Macedonia, not FYROM, because it will promote stronger trade relations with the United States, and, help with its transition to an independent nation – How? He also failed to mention that his government continues to teach its children and future military officers that only they are the true Macedonia. All this does is continue to poison new generations with falsehoods and plant the seeds of hatred. These actions clearly violate the U.N.-brokered "Intermediate Agreement" signed by his country and Greece – thus demonstrating contempt for the rule of law. ... "
Historical Background: EDITORIAL – WHAT'S IN A NAME?
In 1936, Hitler rewrote history and claimed that part of Czechoslovakia belonged to Germany. England and France accepted his claim and allowed him to eventually conquer all of Czechoslovakia. This act led to World War II.
Near the end of that war, in 1944, as part of his long-range plans, in Yugoslavia, Tito took a page out of Hitler's book. He renamed the province of Vardarska Banovina, Macedonia. His ultimate goal was to use this as a pretext to seize the Greek province of Macedonia.
Unfortunately for Tito and the present leadership of that province, that didn't happen. Instead, the United States under President Truman provided military equipment and the Greeks provided the blood to stop Tito's plans and rescued the Greek Macedonian province and all of Greece from possible Communist rule. Thus Greece and her Macedonia province remained on the western side of the Iron Curtain.
So that should have been the end of the story Right? – Wrong! The reason is that as part of his preparation to annex Macedonia, Tito had begun telling everyone that the people of Vardarska Banovina were the true descendants of Alexander (the Great) and thus the true Macedonians. Everyone in the world either ignored this falsehood or simply laughed it off. Unfortunately, for over fifty years, the people of Vardarska Banovina were taught this lie by their communist masters. So it should have come as no surprise when Yugoslavia collapsed, that those still in power in Vardarska Banovina, now called the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) would carry on the lie. After all, that's what they had taught their people for over 50 years.
Additionally, experience should have taught us that people who have lived under and trained to follow a communist mentality, have great difficulty with facts that do not fit their plans. They ignore the truth and fabricate illogical reasons for why we should go along. Case in point: the misleading claims made by the foreign minister of FYROM, Antonio Milososki, to The Washington Times in the article Name Game Blame (Embassy Row, July 11). He stated that his country should be designated Macedonia, not FYROM, because it will promote stronger trade relations with the United States, and, help with its transition to an independent nation – How? He also failed to mention that his government continues to teach its children and future military officers that only they are the true Macedonia. All this does is continue to poison new generations with falsehoods and plant the seeds of hatred. These actions clearly violate the U.N.-brokered "Intermediate Agreement" signed by his country and Greece – thus demonstrating contempt for the rule of law. ... "
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