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.
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.
