Get Pro-Active on the FYROM Issue

Nikoz78 · 08-18-2008, 02:32 PM

Here is a website about Saint Nicolas that has a section called "Around the World." In this section they have a listing for "Macedonia" (meaning 'FYROM').

I wrote them an email and politely asked them to change the name as it is offensive to me.

They wrote back saying this:

Hello Michael--

Thank you for your comments. I was not aware of this controversy and will certainly look into it. We always appreciate comments that alert us to sensitive matters.

However, I am away on holiday now, so I don't know how quickly I'll be able to attend to it.

Sincerely,

Carol Myers
St. Nicholas Center

Comments:

I respectfully request that you do not refer to the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia as simply "Macedonia." This is extremely offensive to Greek people. I would kindly suggest that you use the United Nations (UN) resolution name of "Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia" (FYROM). Please take this concern into consideration. If you are not aware of this naming dispute, please look into it.

I noticed that now it says "Macedonia, Republic of". This is not good enough. But this web master says they are on vacation and will look into the matter when they return to wherever it is they are from.

This is the website:
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And this is the page in question:
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If you see websites around the web that refer to this renegade nation as "Macedonia" please get pro-active and politely request that they change it to the UN resolution name.

A lot of people are unaware of this issue and the extreme offense it gives to people of Greek heritage.

TRUTH is on our side.
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Prokomenos · 08-18-2008, 02:39 PM

Well done Nikoz its important that we as Greeks we get more involved in issues like these. I used to get involved but lately Ive been slacking off.

Lets see if they change it when the webmaster gets back from vacation.

Hellenika · 08-18-2008, 02:45 PM

A lot of people are unaware and have become very confused by the whole thing. That's great you did that Nikoz.

phoenix · 08-19-2008, 02:17 AM

Are you guys talking about the webmaster from YouTube??
if so I'm a great fan of his and if not well iv made a rezili out my self then..

gorgona · 08-19-2008, 12:20 PM

I had an interesting experience recently with the NBC Olympics website. I noticed during the opening ceremony the commentators referred to FYROM as Macedonia and said nothing else about it. So I looked it up. Even though the UN and the IOC refer to it at FYROM, the US recognized it as Macedonia, so NBC will use that name.

So then I went to the Macedonia link on the NBC Olympics website. And lo and behold! They had put that Philip II of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great, had competed in the ancient Olympics and had won three events! It was just a couple of lines, but it was infuriating.

So I wrote a brief and polite email to the editor-in-chief explaining the difference between Ancient Macedonia and FYROM. The next morning it was changed to what it is now:
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I didn’t even have a chance to rally the troops at GreekRealm! They must have had a lot of complaints, since I don’t think a major network would have changed it just because of one email. But then again you never know. I’ll delude myself that I’m responsible.
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Prokomenos · 08-19-2008, 02:47 PM

Very good Gorgona. I wish I would of known I would of send an email to.

Hellenika · 08-19-2008, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gorgona
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So then I went to the Macedonia link on the NBC Olympics website. And lo and behold! They had put that Philip II of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great, had competed in the ancient Olympics and had won three events! It was just a couple of lines, but it was infuriating.

Well those idiots just don't realize their screw up then. Because in the ancient Olympics only Greeks from all the Greek city states were allowed to compete. Awesome you emailed them though, we know better, but most non-Greeks are totally confused by all of this.

phoenix · 08-19-2008, 11:06 PM

Who gives a sh#t what NBC says,Australia's just as bad,but then again America is just pissed that Greece has supported Russia in many was such as the oil pipeline deals etc and hopefully next time when America begs Greece so they can uee our naval bases for their fleets that we can go and tell them to stick it where the sun don't shine...

gorgona · 08-20-2008, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellenika
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Well those idiots just don't realize their screw up then. Because in the ancient Olympics only Greeks from all the Greek city states were allowed to compete. Awesome you emailed them though, we know better, but most non-Greeks are totally confused by all of this.

That’s exactly what I told them. The gist was that only Greeks competed, that Phillip was a Macedonian Greek just like Leonidas was a Spartan Greek, that FYROM has nothing to do with Ancient Macedonia and that they shouldn’t be responsible for perpetuating incorrect information to people who don’t know history.

gorgona · 08-20-2008, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phoenix
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Who gives a sh#t what NBC says,Australia's just as bad,but then again America is just pissed that Greece has supported Russia in many was such as the oil pipeline deals etc and hopefully next time when America begs Greece so they can uee our naval bases for their fleets that we can go and tell them to stick it where the sun don't shine...

I know that NBC is just TV, but a lot of people who know nothing get their “information” from these types of sources and then take it as gospel.