Our syndromes
With a continuous and wide social action from the social environment of Macedonia should disappear, among other things, several syndromes, which erode and pollute the social ecology (Prof. Aceski), but also the human soul / spirit of the Macedonian and his fellow citizens.
Macedonian society can be included in societies with a high degree of politicization. Public opinion polls, free public discussions, and more recently the contents of the media and social networks show that many Macedonian citizens are closely following and commenting on the turbulent political events that the young Macedonian state is going through. Although sparsely populated, in Macedonian society still exist, reflect and act (with more or less intensity and influence) almost all ideological and political options.
What is positive is that most of the manifested ideological and political views are still on the side of establishing and strengthening the young Macedonian democratically organized republic. Unfortunately, in addition to the mainstream of the democratic determinations of the people, in the Macedonian political practice we are witnessing the decade-long functioning of a system of primitive corrupt autocratic (Gruevist) dictatorship, but also the existence of conditions with elements of the so-called Hybrid democracy.
Self-destruction syndrome
Democracy has become an integral part of our worldview. It is already an existential need of the modern Macedonian man to be able to gradually and upwards to organize his society more and more as an expression and reflection and as an adequate way to satisfy his civilizational deeds, desires, ideals and life needs. It is a space that will be conquered in the coming millennia, until the moment of the state of the so-called total man (Marx).
However, the conquest of the space of democracy presupposes strategic steps with which the society should be directed towards that space, but also to get rid of the accumulated negative processes and relations from the past that are obstacles to the normal civilization of the Macedonian national (collective) and individual tissue. . In that purification from the negatives, it is important to overcome the so-called syndromes that are a remnant of times of obedience and misery.
The entry into the EU is connected with the act of changing the "human material", of "filling" the mental structure of the Macedonian with the European spirit. Therefore, with a continuous and wide social action from the social environment of Macedonia should disappear, among other things, several syndromes that erode and pollute the social ecology (Prof. Aceski), but also the human soul / spirit of the Macedonian and his fellow citizens. . Here are the syndromes:
- Self-destruction syndrome. In the domestic and international public there are "loud" thoughts that Macedonians are among the nations with a low degree of mutual empathy and tolerance - "We ate each other." There is also a joke about the Macedonians and the cauldron in hell. The attempt of the Macedonian to get out of the cauldron was unsuccessful because the others, his own, did not help him but dragged him down, back into the cauldron. Fighting this syndrome is an eternal, timeless, fateful challenge. We must look at other positive examples of societies that feel closeness, kinship, empathy and fateful connection with the people around us and build such social relationships in our society.
A good example of this is the Korean people. According to Korean tradition and experience among Koreans (who consider themselves a tormented people) there are two states of mind - HAN (the first condition that signifies DEEP SADNESS and Fury of injustices against them in their history; this condition is already GENETIC, NOT RELATED TO WINE ) and CHONG (second condition denoting DEEP LOVE OF OTHER KOREANS). As a reminder - Korea (South) is part of the group of so-called. Asian Tigers, along with Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia… This Korean story should be a lesson and a guide for all our agents to act in the educational, upbringing and political engagement.
The next generations must grow up with the knowledge that: Love for the fatherland is measured primarily by love and respect for our people, compatriots, fellow citizens and others with whom we share a common destiny… Hatred and subjugation in human behavior (for which the example of "virtuoso" the "role of life" in the lustration process of "Kjoseto" from Bitola - The Great Inquisitor and Executor of the Dictatorship of Gruevski) in civilized people are suppressed by the humane attitude towards people.
- Empty nest syndrome (Buzarovska). Although the census has not been conducted in the country for a long time, there is still confidence and fear that about 600.000 people have emigrated from the country in the last two or three decades, most of them with university degrees and highly professional jobs. This has profound consequences not only for the economy but also for the demographic structure of the population. The long emigrant tradition of the Macedonian area from the 19th century onwards continued to be maintained in the independent Macedonian state. The young leave, the old people are left without their offspring in the empty homes. Therefore, Buzarovska is right when she talks about "empty nests". The reasons for leaving are no longer just economic. Young people leave because of dissatisfaction with the social environment in which there are no appropriate conditions for career and great work results and success. Changing the bad unstimulating and unmotivating environment must be one of the primary tasks of the government, but also of the opposition, of all political entities. Otherwise, the empty nest syndrome will jeopardize the very existence of the state - "there is no state without a people"…
- Poverty Syndrome. According to Deutsche Welle (DW from 30.10.2020), almost a quarter of the inhabitants of Northern Macedonia are sinking into poverty. According to the latest data from the State Statistical Office, 455.600 people in S Macedonia live in difficult conditions, which is 21,9 percent of the total population. From the Western Balkans, Macedonia and Albania are in the worst condition. The largest annual increase in the number of unemployed this year was recorded in Albania, by 25 percent, and in Macedonia, by 11 percent. The data indicate the so-called alarm condition, because misery is a (too) long mark of the development of the republic. This is one of the reasons for emigration, especially of young people, which feeds the terrible and dangerous for RS Macedonia syndrome of empty nests. Poverty is the most acute, hottest and most urgent problem to be solved by the competent governing authorities / entities in RSM… Poverty is the most severe (social, with biological consequences) disease for people…
Lost social energy
- Syndrome of failed and rotten institutions. The institutions in RSM according to their foundation and functioning are still far from the European track. Even some of them can recognize elements that are usually part of the autocratic color of government. There are still no effective mechanisms that would favor democracy, as opposed to the rule of an alienated and captive state. The power of certain individuals (powerful) from business and political circles is disproportionately large and very pronounced, almost out of the control of society. The civic initiative, as a possible instrument in the development of democratic and anti-corruption processes, is not powerful enough and favored enough to successfully oppose the hardened bureaucracy in the numerous dysfunctional porous political and social institutions. The dominance of the political does not give enough space to inflame the civic initiative.
In our practice, we are far from the spirit of Kennedy's message to the Americans: "Do not ask what the state can do for you, but ask yourself what you can do for the state." Social energy is being lost through numerous channels, the demands of the Colorful Revolution for further democratization of the Macedonian society are still relevant. A sense of responsibility must be built for all individual citizens of Macedonian society (all ethnicities and religions) to build normal and efficient institutions that should serve the needs of citizens and not their masters. Quality institutions are equal to a quality modern state.
Next, but not the last, could be the syndrome of ignoring science and intellectuals (disrespect / negation of the mind). However, given the longevity of this syndrome in this area, there is no need for a more detailed elaboration.
(The language in which they are written as well as the views expressed in the column "Columns" are not views and reflections of the editorial policy of "Free Press")
