September 8, 2019 — Macedonia’s Independence Day

Imagine for one moment that today is September 8, 2019 — yes, 2019, about one year from now. Macedonians around the world are celebrating the Independence Day of….what? The Republic of Macedonia? The Republic of “North” Macedonia? If the government of Zoran Zaev gets its way, then yes, the officials and state institutions will be compelled and forced to celebrate the Independence of the Republic of “North” Macedonia. If you read the Zaev capitulation that is exactly what it states — please ask any government official about that and see what they say. There is, of course, much more to the capitulation than only having to celebrate the independence of “North” Macedonia once per year. Many people have explained, patiently, thoughtfully, and logically why this agreement is very, very bad for Macedonia and the Macedonians and you can read my own arguments here, here, here, and here.

But back to the present time and a gentle challenge to you, Macedonia, as you celebrate this Independence Day, 2018 — a foreign power is telling you to change your Constitution. A foreign state is telling you to change your name. A foreign government is telling you to swallow your dignity and accept their terms, not yours. Will you accept it?

Here’s a disquieting thought and I almost hate to bring it up: you didn’t shed any blood for your independence on September 8, 1991. Do you take it for granted? Do you take for granted what generations before fought for — and died for? Do you just assume that this independence was your right and that you deserved it? I don’t want to diminish the hardships Macedonia has had since 1991 starting with one most people forget (including the so-called “experts”): the war on Iraq (the first one in 1990): Macedonian construction companies lost a great deal of money because they had to leave and were never paid for their work. Then there was the Greek embargo, NATO’s “defensive” war against what was still Yugoslavia in 1999, the attempt by Macedonia’s own Albanians in 2001 to split the country in two, and more. You’ve been through a lot of suffering, much of it not of your own doing. But life ain’t fair. Never has been, never will be.

An honest and legitimate question: should the Government of Macedonia use this upcoming Independence Day, September 8, 2018, to recognize that this will be the last time that Macedonians will gather to celebrate “Macedonia’s Independence Day?” Because under the agreement, if implemented, Macedonians — at least at the level of government and all that government supports or funds — will not be able to use the stand alone word, “Macedonia.” So a year from now on September 8, 2019 — what should be Macedonia’s Independence Day — if, on that day, a Sunday, some government official says publicly that we are celebrating “Macedonia’s Independence Day” you can be sure that the Greeks will consider that a violation of the agreement. Mark my words. The Speech Police — of both the Greek and Macedonian variety — will, of necessity and because of the agreement — be out in force on that day — and on every day, making sure that no government official or state organ — or any entity or individual that receives any type of government assistance says, writes, or communicates in any way, the stand alone word “Macedonia.”

One last point: some of my friends have asked why our friends in the international community who agree with us on these issues cannot see the rational arguments of the Macedonian people who do not want to change their name. The reason is that too many of the so-called foreign policy experts in the West, in the US, EU, NATO, and including elected politicians, unelected bureaucrats, those in the NGO and think-tank community, academia, etc. suffer from the twin problems of narcissism and hubris. They think they know what is best for all people — and especially the “little people” in countries like Macedonia — and they are going to impose their will, whether the people like it or not. This is a natural outgrowth of their desire for global governance — with them as the global governors and high priests and priestesses of the new order.

There is, fortunately, one way to stop this and if you, Macedonia, raise your collective voices, they will sit up, listen, and back off, because ultimately, they are bullies. The one way you can stop this is by boycotting the referendum and killing this agreement. Regarding communism and communists, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn wrote that if you do not stand up to them, not only will they take what is yours, but they will also consider you a fool. However, Solzhenitsyn also said that if you do stand up to them, they will back down. The same thing is true of most so-called “foreign policy experts” in the West who believe Macedonia should negate itself, its history, its culture, its name, and its constitution and everything else that makes it unique. Give in to them and they’ll consider you a fool. Stand up to them and they will back down.

Stand up, Macedonia. And Happy Independence Day to the Republic of Macedonia and Macedonians everywhere — long live Macedonia!