Bulgaria’s image problem

So yesterday I came across an article that really got me mad.  So mad, in fact, that I wrote a letter to the editor (not that I expect it will do anything).  The article is about the East Germans killed while trying to escape the Communist bloc through Bulgaria, who they were, and how their families are trying to gain closure today.  The article highlights what is a growing problem for Bulgaria: its image and reputation abroad.  Recently many high profile European news sources including the BBC have run news stories highlighting the many negative aspects of Bulgaria, including the treatment of Bulgaria’s orphans, as I explored in a previous entry.  Bulgaria needs to actively combat this.  I thought that I would do my part.  Anyway, here’s the link to the article, it’s called The Cold War’s Forgotten Victims: Avenging East Germans Killed in Bulgaria.  Here’s my letter:

Dear Sir,

I understand of the need for closure for the families of the many victims.  However, what I do not understand is the need to constantly paint Bulgaria in such dark colors.  This article goes beyond its stated point, to avenge the East Germans killed in Bulgaria.  This article goes on to make a mockery of all citizens in Bulgaria, of all Bulgarian government institutions.  In fact, this article dehumanizes Bulgarians in a way reminiscent of Cold War propaganda.

Why not instead focus on Bulgarians, such as Rosi, who helped Germans maltreated by the Communist regime?  Or perhaps, we should take a look at why Bulgaria had a Communist regime in the first place; the country was invaded by Soviet soldiers after allying itself with Germany in World War II.  Perhaps we should also mention that Bulgaria saved all of its Jews from the Nazi regime as well.

We live in a different era now.  While there is need for closure, there is no need to stoke flames of hatred against Bulgarians.  And there is certainly no need to revive the Cold War today.  The majority of Bulgarians of today are good people.  Let’s not give them a reason to hate Germans.

Sincerely,

I’m not trying to claim that the deaths of the 18 East Germans at the Bulgarian borders is forgiveable.  However, 18 deaths out of ‘thousands’ of East Germans who tried to flee the Communist bloc seems to point that Bulgaria’s border patrol wasn’t quite as heavy handed as the Spiegel article claims.  Oh yes, the border signs were written in German as well as Bulgarian.  Incidentally, the Editor of the Spiegel that I sent my letter to will be on maternity vacation until January 2nd, 2009.

Anyway, I think Germany should be trying to forge new ties with Bulgaria, much as France is doing right now.  France just signed a strategic partnership agreement with Bulgaria, and Bulgaria is buying two corvettes (naval ships, not Chevys) worth $1.49 billion.

Point of Pride.

I apparently only have 32 hits on this blog.  But, on my previous blog I had 3,260 hits.  It’s a point of pride, and now I’ve made it and can continue my day.

renovatio.wordpress.com vs. renovatio.freepgs.com

Well, it seems I made the move to wordpress.com from my own webspace. Logically, it makes sense. Here I have 3 gigs of space, all the themes that I could ever want, and no hassles with upgrading and worrying about security. Great. My pride, though, doesn’t like being dependent on a blogging service. Oh well.

What I am going to use my web space for is something a little different. An actual website. I think I’m going to set up an online community for me, my family, my friends, friends of my friends, etc. Something where we can all keep in touch. I know facebook is already out, I’m not behind the times. The point of this is, how well can you really carry out a conversation on facebook? It’s impossible! Maybe on a forum it won’t be so tough…

Anyway, this migration is eating up my time. I have two midterms after my break ends, and both of which will require at least a couple days of studying. On top of that, I need to actually finish my resume, send it to my uncle, and see if I can find something to do over the summer. Oh, and I need to finish the switch from MAT 204 to MAT 202…<br/>

Yes, I did switch down. Why? Because I got a C on my midterm. And I can’t afford to have another bad final grade in a class, especially because Princeton doesn’t let you retake classes to get a better grade. Weird policy if you ask me. Then again, I’m in the position where I want to retake a class. Hmm..