By J. Lyn Carl, GalleryWatch.com
Austin, TX – "Resolved, that the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas Legislature hereby recognize that the ancient Macedonians are Hellenes and that the inhabitants of the northern province of Greece, Macedonia, are their Hellenic descendants."
SAY WHAT??????
That's the caption for HR 107, filed today by Rep. Dennis Bonnen (R-Angleton).
You have to admit, it probably did give pause to some who read it. But in a legislature that in the past has offered resolutions to make the lightning welk the official state shell, the Mexican free-tailed bat the official state flying mammal and once even commended the Boston Strangler for "population control," Texans have grown to expect just about anything.
But there's a reason - and a good one - for this particular resolution. Even if you're not up on your Greek gods or don't remember who Alexander the Great was, your next door neighbor could be of Greek ancestry.
In fact there is a large Greek-American population in the United States, according to Zachary Covar, Bonnen's chief of staff. And passage of this resolution is important to them.
Now comes your Greek history lesson.
The resolution simply proclaims that the residents of the region of Macedonia in Greece are Hellenic. Always have been - and want to remain so. But the country to the north of Greece, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, would prefer they be known as Macedonians rather than Hellenic.
So the Greek population in Macedonia is seeking support, although largely ceremonial, from the state governments of the United States. Three states - California, Illinois and Missouri - have already passed similar resolutions, and nearly a dozen more are considering resolutions.
"The people of Macedonia want these resolutions so they can say, 'The people of America are on our side. We've been Hellenic, they recognize we are, and so you can't annex us.'"
Seems annexation issues arise not only in Texas, but also in Greece.
And in the United States, says Covar, Greek-Americans "would prefer the Macedonians not change history and say Hellenics are not Hellenic."
"This is strictly to recognize northern Greece as Hellenic and not Slavic, and to recognize that those people have always been Hellenic," said Covar. The resolution notes that the history of ancient Macedonia has been Hellenic for the last 3,000 years and continues to be today.
So why is Bonnen offering the resolution? "His mother is of Greek descent," said Covar, "and this is something she's passionate about. And so he's passionate about it, too."
Word to the wise for the Slavs...DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS!