Comments on How to Marry a Bulgarian: Gay pride in Sofia and Memphis

"Only here, if I complain about the same issue my ...

2009-07-01T01:03:44.742-05:00

"Only here, if I complain about the same issue my wife complains about (on an open forum) it looks as though I'm being culturally intolerable."
And it can also backfire, if you don't complain about or at least acknowledge a problem, you can be seen as taking that state of affairs as normal for Bulgaria, which can be seen as offensive.

Progress is progress, and at least there's some be...

2009-06-29T05:57:56.018-05:00

Progress is progress, and at least there's some being made.

I try not to comment too often on political and civil issues within Bulgaria, unless it's in private circles. It's kind of like in America, where black people can use the N word but if anyone else uses it, it's considered a derogatory term. Only here, if I complain about the same issue my wife complains about (on an open forum) it looks as though I'm being culturally intolerable.

But yes, there are a LOT of civil and other issues that need to be overcome in Bulgaria, on that I can agree. But at least there is some progress being made, rather than nothing at all happening.

I love living here...and I don't really miss the States, but there are a few key issues I think Bulgarians need to focus on, one of them being civil rights and tolerance. Bulgarians are a very proud people, and while that's all very well and good to have pride...there is such a thing as taking it too far.

I agree with you about general progress (esp. econ...

2009-06-28T09:56:40.646-05:00

I agree with you about general progress (esp. economic) but I think that we have a LONG way to go in terms of civil rights and, most importantly, attitudes towards diversity. :/

I see progress being made on a daily basis, and no...

2009-06-27T16:36:54.899-05:00

I see progress being made on a daily basis, and not just in the realm of civil rights. I've been coming here off and on since 2004 before finally moving here in 2008, and there have been some major changes in the last 5-6 years, most of them in the past 2 since Bulgaria joined the EU. There's still a lot of issues with corruption and people's attitudes, but there are little things every day which make you appreciate the fact that change--albeit slow--is in fact happening, on all fronts.