| Narodno Delo |
| MKoloski |
Narodno Delo
By
Michael A. Dimitri
Author and lecturer he is a specialist on the ancient Macedonians
http://macedon.org/dimitri/index.html
What does the title of this article mean to you? The literal translation may be something like "a patriotic act" or "work done on behalf of your people." Neither translation, however, produces the full impact of the expression. A narodno delo is something you do on behalf of your people, but it is something you do out of selfless love and without thought to your own well being in the same way a parent does anything for his/her child. For example, I doubt any parents think to themselves, "Should I feed my child today? Should I hug him?" It is an automatic response to the love we feel for our children. By the same token a narodno delo is something you do for your people without question or hesitation. It may even be something you are already doing without realizing it.
On the other hand, no matter how good a parent we believe we are, we still question at times if we are doing enough and doing what is right to raise our children. The same could be said for our role as Macedonians. Are we doing what is right and are we doing enough for Macedonia and other Macedonians? Some ways of reviewing your own narodno delo follow.
Record your family history. Nothing is more interesting than eyewitness, personal experiences. They enliven history and help us to see the human side of events. It is also through a family narration that we can learn personal points of view and nuances of language like expressions, idioms, colloquialisms that are typically not found in textbooks. It is easy to write or tape by cassette or video your own family history. Chances are there is someone in your family already who would like to record this information.
Speak out about your life and views as a Macedonian. Often as a writer I am sought out by Macedonians who tell me fantastic stories about their lives, but then say, "Please don't tell anyone I told you this." Although I respect their wishes, I also feel that we are losing a lot by not sharing this information with one another and the rest of the world. A friend of mine who is an American priest in a largely Macedonian Orthodox Church often chastises the Macedonians for not singing the liturgy out loud. I try to explain to him that for a few generations it could be fatal to do so and that I think many Macedonians (as well as other ethnic groups) were originally afraid for their lives and those of their families to celebrate their own faith openly. However, I find myself agreeing with him that in North America and nearly every other part of the world, they have nothing to fear. This learned helplessness must be overcome. We Macedonians have a wonderful history and a beautiful culture that will not be appreciated or respected by the rest of the world if it is not shared.
Use your expertise wherever it may be helpful or needed. If you are good with computers, teach other Macedonians to use one or establish websites and other sources of information. If you speak, read and write Macedonian well, teach others. (I recently received 5 letters from children ranging in age from 12-16 that were beautifully written in Macedonian. When I asked how they learned, they said their parents and grandparents taught them!) Whatever you are good at, share.
Whenever I attend a Macedonian event, I am always amazed at the number of successful Macedonians I see. Doctors, lawyers, business owners, teachers, etc. fill the room. More must be done to create professional organizations where Macedonians can meet and network to help one another out. Those of us who have established ourselves in our careers must also reach out to help those who are beginning theirs to make the path a bit easier for them than it was for us.
This would include establishing scholarships, foundations, and other organizations, which can help those of our community in need. Educate yourself and your family. Teach and practice the Macedonian language and culture with them. Learn a relevant foreign language so that you can read the original sources of our history (i.e., I studied Latin in college mostly for this reason). Read everything written about Macedonia and Macedonians. Keep questioning statements made about Macedonia and the Macedonians. Accept no idea or theory without question. Be watchful of the media and our governing officials. When something is said or written that is negative or inaccurate regarding Macedonia and/or the Macedonians, contact the source and politely request a retraction or correction. Become a source of advice or information for them.
Of course I know that many of the above suggestions have been done by many Macedonians for some time. It is good, however, to occasionally rethink our priorities. What is your narodno delo?
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| Strelec |
ti rekov veke... ne si ti vinoven...
ako bese bistar, ke ja sfatese porakata...:)
|
| HanAvitohol |
My narodno delo is to keep the history of my family alive, the one that was forced to leave south-western makedonia in 1913. However, my grandparents and thousands like them in Bulgaria will never forget the land where their ancestors lived since 7-8 century AC. Unfortunately, nowadays their exhomelands are occupied by shiptari, who settled their according to the will of Tito, the same one, who ordered the "macedonian" language to be designed by serbian linguists in 1943 in Jaice, Yugoslavia. The Belgrade archives still keep records of that congress....sad, but true... |
| edlund |
My narodno delo will be to tell my children where they come from.
My mother is born in a village that was founded by macedonian refugee - the founder's name was Goce and the name of the village is Gucal. When my mother moved to the city she listened to radio "Skopje" so that she feels like home. My grandmother listens radio Skopje even now.
The grandfather of my father participated in 3 wars. He has medals for saving the people from his hometown that is placed in macedonia. There was even a street that weared his name. I can show the medals to anyone interested. [url]http://www.bgmaps.com/map.asp?sid=630ce6d447394df55c472a0c7a01a22f&grid=batlas1[/url]
Here you can see where this town is placed.
This is not a political provocation, this is the truth about my family, like it or not. |
| Thief |
Edlund, реши се: ги браниш татарскиот народ, јазик и идентитет или си Македонец (додуша сите денешни т.н. Бугари, се Македонци, ама ај нејсе!) [;)] |
| edlund |
На прашанието ке ти одговора искрено - jас сум 100% българин. Бив ти кажувал оште доста нешта но не знам как ке ги возприемеш. |
| n/a |
По душа, не додуша сме македонци :))) Aма сите момци македонци сме част от Бугария :) дали ке ти ареса или нема ... ова е твой проблем :) |
| dimkoska |
quote:
Originally posted by edlund
На прашанието ке ти одговора искрено - jас сум 100% българин. Бив ти кажувал оште доста нешта но не знам как ке ги возприемеш.
Dobro e toa sto si 100% Bugarin, samo razberi deka ima mnogu koi se 100% Makedonci, ne samo vo Makedonija, tuku i vo Bugarija i Grcija. Kako dobar Bugarin, pokazi respekt za lugeto koi ne se osekaat kako Bugari tuku kako Makedonci, nezavisno vo koj del od Balkanot ziveat. Ako ja prasas mojata baba, koja e rodena 1918 vo Prilep, i seuste e ziva, ke ti kaze deka e taa 100% Makedonka. |
| NARCIS` |
Bugari od kaj se kotite bre...aj chibu |
| edlund |
quote:
Originally posted by dimkoska
mojata baba, koja e rodena 1918 vo Prilep, i seuste e ziva, ke ti kaze deka e taa 100% Makedonka.
И мойата баба е родена 1918, и сеуште е жива, наздраве! |
| DJ_SHEMA |
quote:
Originally posted by edlund
quote:
Originally posted by dimkoska
mojata baba, koja e rodena 1918 vo Prilep, i seuste e ziva, ke ti kaze deka e taa 100% Makedonka.
И мойата баба е родена 1918, и сеуште е жива, наздраве!
I kogo go zabole za bab ti? |
| Strelec |
quote:
Originally posted by edlund
И мойата баба е родена 1918, и сеуште е жива, наздраве!
epa na tvojata baba nikoj ne i' go osporuva pravoto da se cuvstvuva bugarka...
i neka i' bide dozvoleno i na babata na dimkoska da se cuvstvuva makedonska...
ti spomnav veke deka vasiot hendikep e toa sto se raboti za mnogu svez period... taka da site nie (so koi sto polemiziras) sme SVEDOCI kako se cuvstvuvale nasite babi i dedovci i od nivni usti sme slusale kako se cuvstvuvale nivnite babi i dedovci... znaci nie govorime za argumenti stari najmalku 150 godini, a ti najrano mozes da se povikas na periodot na drugar ti Todor Zivkov...
ama koga ke razmislam malku podobro, pa i ne si ti vinoven... nikoj ne te prasal dali smee da ti go pere mozokot pred toa da ti go napravat...:)
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| edlund |
Па ништо лошо не сум кажувал сега со мойата баба, нали? Вие пак ме взимате на нож.
Другарот Тодор Живков и другарот Георги Димитров слушали сичко што им се нарежда от Коминтерна и по техно време ништо не се е чувало за Македония, и во училиштата не се е учело за Македония, то и сега не се учи обаче всеки знае вистината:) |