What do you think of other Slavic nations?

[Monolith]

Originally Posted by Mynydd

From what I've gathered their composition looks rather as that of Bulgarians.

What composition?

There is a region called Macedon, which is not in the Republic of Skopje..

You're probably aware that the Macedonia region is divided by three nations; Bulgarians, Greeks, and the Slav Macedonians(as you call them).
I'm repeating again that it's wrong of them to think they're successors of the Alexander the Great, but they can call themselves Martians if they want.
The same thing is with today's Dalmatians and Istrians(part of the Croatian ethnic substratum). They are not ethnic Illyrians(Delmatoi, Histri) from the past, but they still carry their ancient names.

You don't create an ethnicity overnight and out of the blue. And less so taking the name of another people, and then demand respect.

When the ancestors of today's Macedonians came to their present home(between 620. and 680. AD), they were a group of Slavic tribes(Rihins,Halkids,Smoljans,Strumljans,Brsjaks..). They concentrated they efforts to conquer Greek city of Thessaloniki. The Bulgars, who were at that time united with Slavs, arrived arround the year 670. AD, and thus contributed to Macedonian(Slav) gene pool, as well as Thracians, Greeks, and Illyrians. Those people that today we call Ethnic Macedonians never had their own identity, and in the 20th century they first used the name "Macedonians" for themselves.
They earned my respect when they stood against Albanians that threatened to steal the parts of they country, and because they stand proudly against the nations who are much greater in number and in power.

[Menydh]

Originally Posted by Bardyllis

What composition?

The genetic pool of both peoples. I would be very surprised if it differed much from each other.

And even if they had the right to call themselves as they please (very arguable), it doesn't take out the fact that it would be (and in fact it is) a deceit.

[Monolith]

Originally Posted by Mynydd

The genetic pool of both peoples. I would be very surprised if it differed much from each other.

Genetically, they are closest to Bulgarians and Serbs, but a little bit closer to Serbs.
Genetic data

[Hegumen]

Originally Posted by Monolith

They are all wrong, and Macedonia shouldn't be split. That's primarily because Macedonians have already formed their national identity and they are too proud to be considered as either Greeks or Bulgarians. I personally know a Macedonian who would rather die, than see his county divided by those nations.
Macedonians
It's really stupid of them to think they descend solely from the ancient Macedonians, but who are we to judge who can call himself Macedonian and who can't?
It's primarily their choice, and I respect that.

You're right, it shouldn't. But these Balkan countries may need to start thinking of federations and alliances in the next few decades — I doubt many of the them will be able to survive alone.

Any Macedonian who claims direct descent from Alexander's Macedonians is just stupid, as you said. Unfortunately for us, as Macedonians, there are too many of these nut jobs around on the internet giving us a bad name.

Then again, it would be equally ignorant to say that we don't have any indigenous heritage and that we're only Slavs — for Christ's sake, just have a look at us! We (Macedonians, Serbs and Bulgarians) look more like Greeks and Romanians than Russians or Ukrainians (as much as that makes all those pan-Slavists cringe, it's true).

Originally Posted by Superstar

I agree with you and, like I've mentioned before, I personally don't claim direct descendancy from ancient Macedonians. However, I refuse to believe two things:

A - That all modern Greeks are direct descendants from ancient Greeks.

B - That the DNA of ancient Macedonians somehow completely dissapeared and all modern day Macedonians are purely Bulgarian.

While I do believe we have some ancient Macedonian heritage, I agree with your other points, Superstar.

[Hegumen]

Back on topic...

I personally have many eastern Slavic friends (Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians) and have found them to be the most welcoming and patriotic people I've ever met.

Macedonians also tend to get along with Croats very well.

[Heretik]

Originally Posted by Hegumen

Macedonians also tend to get along with Croats very well.

We'll see after the football match about that.

[The Duke]

the football match was friendly
Macedonia won 2:0 and we are still friends

[Monolith]

Originally Posted by The Duke

the football match was friendly

Not exactly, it was a qualifier match.

Macedonia won 2:0 and we are still friends

Indeed we are. Most Macedonians I've met were friendly, and nice folk.

[The Duke]

The same i can say about Croats

[Shakaras]

I have big distance to other slavic nation. Some sympathy for Czech and Slovaks. I don't like Russian. Neutral to Ukrainians and Bialorussians.
I don't know Balkanian Slavs, but I don't like Serbs.

[Hegumen]

Originally Posted by Shakaras

I have big distance to other slavic nation. Some sympathy for Czech and Slovaks. I don't like Russian. Neutral to Ukrainians and Bialorussians.
I don't know Balkanian Slavs, but I don't like Serbs.

That's the spirit!

[Shakaras]

Originally Posted by Hegumen

That's the spirit!

I buy this book, and I start read it S³owianie po³udniowi i zachodni VI-XX wiek - Jerzy Skowronek, Mieczys³aw Tanty, Tadeusz Wasilewski - Merlin.pl

[M.R.]

Originally Posted by Superstar

Slovenes - Like Poles. They think they are northern Europeans and don't want to be seen as being related to southern Slavs.

More central Europeans than northern. Other than that you're right.