by Jennifer Raptopoulos (Rachkovski)
Macedonian Human Rights Movement International

Over many decades, the argument of my country's name (and our existence) caused friction betweenMacedonia and Greece and has become-- and remains-- one of the most significant political conflicts in the Balkans. To a degree, the dispute between these two neighbours is based on history (it is definitely presented as such). However, Greece has publicly admitted to its true motives behind initiating the so-called "name dispute" -- the cultural genocide of Macedonians. It used to deny the very existence of Macedonia (my family endured hearing "There's no such thing as Macedonia" constantly - even in Canada) until, shockingly, Greece started claiming, in 1988, that our name belongs to them! Imagine hearing the country that, for generations, tried to eradicate your name and existence, but now claims your name as "proof" that you don't exist!

In my opinion, being a Macedonian myself, the fact that my country's name and identity is even up for discussion is sickening to watch and hear. Greece shouldn’t have the right to tell another country what it should be called, and that my people “don’t exist”. No one should have the right to tell you who you are and to force a name change on you. Therefore, Greece and its government (along with their "strategic partners", the US, NATO and EU) have no right to force a name change on Macedonia.

In fact, it's not only our country's name that they have changed. My name, they changed MY NAME! Raptopoulos isn’t even the real last name of my family, it is Rachkovski. After Greece annexed part of our country (Macedonia's territory was forcibly partitioned in 1912/13 among Serbia [now the independent Republic of Macedonia], Greece, Bulgaria, and a few years later, Albania), the Greek government changed the names of all people, villages and landmarks and made it illegal to use any Macedonian names. The Greek government also forced children to go to Greek school and many (such as my dad and aunt) were forbidden to speak their Macedonian language. The fact my father was born in the early 1960s and this cruelty was still happening should be a shock to everyone.

Furthermore, if Macedonian was spoken/heard, children and adults were killed, beaten, put in jail or faced other drastic measures like having their tongues cut off. The only time the Macedonians in Aegean Macedonia had to speak their mother tongue was behind closed doors in their houses, and even that was done in secret. No child or person should ever have to go through this all because of one country. No one will ever tell me I’m a “Northern Macedonian”; I will always be Macedonian.

The name "North Macedonia" is extremely offensive and designed to deny our real name and identity - Macedonians from Macedonia. Yet, Macedonians hear the saying "forgive and forget" a lot. How can such a traumatizing period of time be forgiven and forgotten? It can’t, because it still continues today. The memories that Macedonians, like my grandparents, have still haunt them at night. There are so many Macedonian songs about these specific real-life events, all the heartbreaking stories that my own family have are simply tear-jerking. I feel more than blessed to have family that taught me the meaning of being Macedonian and what our traditions are and where we come from. I’m proud to be Macedonian and no one will ever tell me different!