Friday, March 3, 2017

Bulgarian Liberation Day

Those who have studied America’s Revolutionary War will be acquainted with the words of Patrick Henry from his speech given on March 23, 1775, “Give me liberty or give me death!”

I was surprised years ago when I read a similar sentiment on a green flag with a rampant gold lion in my father-in-law’s garage here in Bulgaria.


“Свобода или смърт,” is Bulgarian for “liberty or death.”  These are the last words of a poem written by the Bulgarian poet Ivan Vazov.  They were a rallying cry during the Bulgarian fight for independence from the Ottoman empire which took place a century after America fought for her independence from the British empire.

As Bulgarians celebrate liberation from the Ottomans today, I am reminded of this message.  We can learn a lot about a culture by what they are willing to die for.   Many Bulgarians, like many Americans, value freedom even over life.

Happy Liberation Day!


2 comments:

  1. Blisses,=
    We attend Hope Church in Oakdale. So I am on The City.

    When married in 1998, I met a very dear gal who I remember often from Bulgaria. The couple was making things work as he was a PhD student at University of Minnesota.

    Then I met a friend from Romania who's husband was traveling. She was a health professional and I just loved her view on life.

    Thank you for sharing the liberty story. In our family, we want tht too. But we also know that returning to love each other is essential to reality.

    Sincere Regards,

    Katherine Rivard

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