Macedonia News - Florence Ratis

To the Governor of the State of Illinois, The Honorable George H. Ryan, Senators and Members of the House of Representatives of the State of Illinois:

This letter is with respect to the recently adopted Senate Resolution 92_SR0446 proclaiming that the ancient Macedonians were Hellenes. I am writing to let you know how utterly disappointed I am with this resolution, which is unjust and discriminatory.

Did the State of Illinois conduct an independent investigation of the facts before passing this resolution? Did the State of Illinois consult with its Macedonian community before passing this resolution? If not, then by what authority did the State of Illinois pass a resolution confirming that the ancient Macedonians were Hellenes? Enlighten me, please, as I would really like to know.

The notion that the ancient Macedonians were Hellenes is a Modern Greek myth, which I am certain has King Philip of Macedon turning in his grave (anyone who knows anything at all about ancient Macedonian history will appreciate the latter). But more importantly, does the State of Illinois not realize the seriousness of the implications associated with this resolution in respect of today's Macedonians who assert a distinct Macedonian identity (to say nothing of the implications to the Republic of Macedonia)? Are the good people of Illinois aware of Greece's reputation with respect to its documented human rights abuses against the Macedonian minority living within its borders (2) and that by adopting Resolution 92_SR0446, the State of Illinois is helping give Greece a license to further discriminate against this minority that rightly asserts a separate and distinct Macedonian ethnicity?

Aegean Macedonia, now the northern province of Greece, was acquired by Greece in 1913 against the will of its inhabitants, the Macedonian people. Since then Greece has made it policy to erase and deny everything Macedonian. It forcibly expelled the majority of the indigenous population who called themselves Macedonians and who spoke the Macedonian language and it is relentless in its forced assimilation policy towards the remaining Macedonians in Greece. Furthermore, even today in this modern time, Greece maintains a 'blacklist' containing the names of many law abiding former Greek citizens (and in some cases even their children) who assert a Macedonian identity and it does not allow them entry to their ancestral homeland. Are these actions in keeping with the principles and ideals of the Land of Lincoln? I would think not.

For the reasons stated above and for so many more reasons that are much too numerous, lengthy and complex to explain in the context of this letter, but which the Honorable Governor, Senators and Members of the House of Representatives of the State of Illinois are free to research, I respectfully request that the State of Illinois reverse Resolution 92_SR0446.

Yours very truly,

Florence Ratis,
First generation Canadian proud of my Macedonian heritage

E-mail f_ratis@hotmail.com

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