There is so much chaos in the world and yet major stories are buried and given little attention. Well, this last week such an event occurred. This event could be the social / political error of our generation.

Back in the day, before many of you could read a world atlas, there was a country called Yugoslavia. Now before you run off to Wikapedia, this country was in Europe. So, to save you time I have done the research for you so we can get to the point which I know you would like me to do some day.

Yugoslavia was a country of southeast Europe bordering on the Adriatic Sea. It was formed in 1918 as the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes after the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and was renamed Yugoslavia in 1929. Seems the concept back then was that if you had a number of groups who couldn't get along you solved the problem by making the all part of one country ... not unlike Iraq with its Shiites, Sunni and Kurds. Under the leadership of Marshal Tito the country became a Communist-led regime after World War II. No big deal it was all the rage back then to part of the big monolith of Communists ... they had all the cool slogans. After Tito's death in 1980, a collective presidency assumed power, but economic problems and ethnic tensions grew. Communist party control ended in 1990, and four of the six constituent republics (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Macedonia) declared independence in 1991. The two remaining republics, Serbia and Montenegro, formed a new country in April 1992

Very interesting but what does this have to do with anything that might be considered interesting or as advertised the political error of our generation? If you read the newspaper or watch The Daily Show or Stephen Colbert Report, you will know that Kosovo which is not on that list of parts did declare their independence and the U.S. recognized that new country resulting in the U.S. Embassy in Serbia being attacked because they didn't like us recognizing a break away group. Sorry, interesting but not the point ... just trying to keep you educated beyond the sports page.

The issue is that one of the original six decided that they want to become part of NATO. Nice, you say. Fill out the application form, submit three references and the $1,000,000 application fee and we will get to you sometime in the future.

Well, a clerk reading the application decided that there was a problem. No, it was not the check bouncing or that the application was written in doctor script. The application was very clear.

Seems, the application was from Macedonia. Now, what could be the problem. The name is not too hard to spell. The name is much less crazy than some of the countries coming out of the former U.S.S.R., look it up because I can not do all of your research.

Well, seems Greece was offended and people actually listened. Imagine that! Greece spoke up and people actually cared what they had to say. This must be the first time in 2,000 years. So, what was Greece's issue with Macedonia which has been a free standing country since 1991?

It now appears that the Greek leadership decided that this was the time to really make waves over this major issue. This issue which not only could keep Macedonia out of NATO but cause a major split in European politics. What's the problem? Do the people of Macedonia eat their salad before the meal as opposed to after the meal like most Europeans? No, that's not it. Do the people of Macedonia believe that Europe should follow the lead of the U.S. on all issues? Heck no. They clearly believe that Europe is the center of the world, just like France and Germany do.

Okay, I will get to it. Greece is blocking the country of Macedonia's entrance into NATO because there is an area within the legal borders of Greece which is also called .... believe it ... Macedonia. Seems back in 1991 when the people then living in the portion of the land that was breaking up for Yugoslavia had a contest and decided out of the blue to call their land ... Macedonia. Seems, as there are more and more countries in the world, all the good names are gone. So, for some silly reason they settled on a name of an area in Greece directly almost across the border. Of course, the fact that the area of the country of Macedonia has been referred to by that name for hundreds of years did not have any impact on the Greeks. The Greeks responded with "tuff tooties" ... yes they say that in Greece ... but then it sounds better in the actual Greece language and covered by oozing olive oil.

See, the Greek leadership believes that if they are forced to be allies with a country called Macedonia the people of Greece living in the area of Greece known as Macedonia might possibly get it into their heads that they should withdraw from Greece and join in with the people who like the same name that they do. Yes, if the country of Macedonia becomes a NATO member then the people living in Greece's subsection called Macedonia will suddenly become aware that there is such a country. This is clear since for last 17 years the people in Greece did not know there was a European country just over the hill that was call Macedonia.

So, how would Greece like the country of Macedonia to resolve this issue. Simple, just change their name so the people of Greece will not get any false notions into their heads. The example that they provide is New Mexico and the country of Mexico. See, is the territory within the United States should not be confused with the country of Mexico which is why they added the word "New" in front their name .. just like New York did so as not to be confused with York, England after which it was named. That is cool, except that all of the people of Mexico who think moving into New Mexico is just moving to the suburbs ... so the name adjustment does not seem to working there. Greece is also worried about this since they can not afford a security fence to keep their people in.

Enough ... the bottom line is that we are going to sponsor a contest to help Macedonia come up with a new name. The name can not be silly or foolish. The should convey the dignity of a fine people. It would be preferable for the name to actually mean something. Not unlike the name Yugoslavia which means a country composed of a bunch of little countries with nothing in common and whose real purpose is to eliminate the other sub countries within the country of Yugoslavia.

So, lets hear your suggestions so that the country formerly known as Macedonia can move its application forward. Then once they are in NATO they can do like Prince and change their name back and be Macedonia formerly known as X who was formerly known as Macedonia.