|
Recent Article in the New York Times:
"One Less Thorn, Perhaps, in Peace Negotiations in Macedonia"
Zoran Milososki
Mr. Fisher,
I'm writing you regarding your article "One Less Thorn, Perhaps,
in Peace Negotiations in Macedonia" from August 2, 2001, and
all of your articles on the Macedonian crisis.
Have you no journalistic ethics and decency sir? Have you no regard
for the truth and our right to self-determination? To call us "Slavs"
which we feel is a racist slur, on our national holiday is unbelievable.
I have written you several times so far, and I will continue writing
until you STOP CALLING US WHAT WE DO NOT WISH TO BE CALLED. WE ARE
ETHNIC MACEDONIANS, NOT "Slavs."
In case you haven't read my last email to you here it is again.
What do we, the ethnic Macedonians, have to do to convince you
that we are not "Slavs" but simply ethnic Macedonians?
I know you are (or were) in Macedonia. I just can't believe that
a journalist of the New York Times can continuously make the same
error (I don't know if it's ignorance, or you intentionally make
this mistake) after so many letters from ethnic Macedonians. Moreover,
being in Macedonia, the least you could have done is listen to the
people. Have you heard anyone of the ethnic Macedonians describe
her/himself as "Slav," "Macedonian Slav," "Slav
Macedonian," or any other variation containing the word "Slav?"
I think not. Everyone of Macedonian decent in Macedonia would describe
him/herself as simply Macedonian (first as a member of the Macedonian
ethnic group and second as a citizen of the Republic of Macedonia).
We all describe ourselves (and we truly are) ethnic Macedonians.
A good rule of thumb is to respect the self-determination of each
individual and each ethnic group. If we feel we are ethnic Macedonians
(and we state that in our census, which was monitored by OSCE) and
we undoubtedly do, nobody has the right to rename us and deny our
name. That is not only rude, but also a biased and inflammatory
journalism.
Influential news agencies (Reuters, Associated Press, BBC) have
recognized what we are and started addressing us accordingly. You,
Mr. Fisher are one of the few journalists that, for some reason,
continuously deny the ethnic Macedonians their (our) ethnic identity.
I urge you to respect us and recognize the truth and therefore address
us with respect, by calling us by our rightful name: ETHNIC MACEDONIANS.
Best regards,
Zoran Milososki
Ethnic Macedonian
Top
|
