Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Macedonia - What's in a Name?

I found this photo in my Dutch daily online today, Macedonians protesting the possible name change of their republic. 

The Macedonia naming dispute is a political dispute over the use of the name "Macedonia" between the south-eastern European countries of Greece and the Republic of Macedonia, formerly a region within Yugoslavia. Pertinent to its background is an early 20th century dispute and armed conflict that formed part of the background to the Balkan Wars. The specific naming dispute, although an existing issue in Yugoslav–Greek relations since World War II, was reignited after the breakup of Yugoslavia and the newly gained independence of the former Socialist Republic of Macedonia in 1991. Since then, it has been an ongoing issue in bilateral and international relations.

An old tobacco farmer, whose son was killed by guerillas, makes an anti-Slav speech during the Greek Civil War of 1945-1947. Location Rodopolis, Macedonia, Greece.
I may be offending some visitors here, but no, I have no sympathy for this kind of narrow minded nationalism. It's a name and borders are lines drawn on a map... Alas, a beret always goed well with a protest!

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