The former Yugoslavians are mostly descendants of ethnic Bulgarians that had their identities oppressed by communists in Yugoslavia (mostly the Serbian element that wanted to prevent Bulgarian influence in Vardar) Long “forgotten” by many is that Greeks weren’t the only ones to oppose recognition of the former Yugoslavians as “Macedonians”. During the Greek civil war when their propaganda was more obvious the US itself claimed no such ethnic group exists (presumably not engaged in genocide of “Macedonians”)
I’m very mad at much of the world at the moment not for recognizing their state but for ridiculously recognizing them as “Macedonians”. For years Greeks warned in good faith they would abuse the name and history for irredentist purposes. And that is exactly what they have done and nearly everyone patronizingluy pretends we were wrong. Left and right, human rights groups, journalists, NGOs all play stupid today.
This is no small issue. It is likely to eventually flare up into conflict again since large numbers of the former Yugoslavians are violating Prespa by continuing to try to link themselves to Alexander They are literally trying to usurp our very identity as they can claim they are the “real” Macedonians… that hate anything Hellenic. This defies even basic common sense.
I have good reasons to be angry for prejudicial behavior towards Greeks. Despite this widespread panhellenism I don’t hate the world. Anger yes but not hate. If one indulges one’s hate then one becomes the thing that hates them.