During the final stop of Americas Head Cowboy, George W. Bush, European tour in Sofia, he and Sofia resident John Hazlewood, a fellow Texan, exchanged the Texas Longhorns famed Hook em Horns sign. (See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hook_em_Horns)
In the following days, the Bulgarian media struggled to decide whether the foreign hand signal was a satanic gesture, a symbol of rocker solidarity, or an exchange of President Bushs and Johns mutual love, as the Hook em Horns hand gesture is similar to the sign language gesture for I love you.
I took interest in this story since John is the guy who brought me to Bulgaria back in 1998 and although I am unsure of many things in life, I know for a fact that John is neither gay nor a Satanist. Although I must say that Bush Jr. never seizes to amaze me, but who knows? After all, if his British buddy Blair is converting to Roman Catholicism, anything is possible.
Of course it was the Ignoranusses of Ataka who made the most of this story. The party newspaper of the same name published a story in which they speculated that what President Bush really meant, when making what Ataka interprets as the sign of Satan, was actually to show the Bulgarian public that they were still hostages of communism which continued to rule the whole Bulgarian society. (Ignoranus, ig.nor.AY.nus: n. A person who is both stupid and extremely rude or obnoxious.)
How can anyone respect the Bulgarian press, about any topic, if they cant even be bothered to do a tiny bit of research before publishing this kind of insulting rubbish? After this nonsense, I would almost start to take my own ramblings seriously.
Hazlewood, who during the visit was wearing his favourite TEXAS T-shirt, was immediately interviewed by Bulgarian television station bTV which actually reported the correct version of the events.
FOREIGNERS NO LONGER
Recently passed changes to Bulgarian law now allows EU citizens to stand as candidate municipal councillors, but not as mayors. These changes were anticipated for some time as they are part of an EU directive.
During social gatherings in recent years a discussion among some EU citizens who are permanent residents in Bulgaria has gained momentum in regard to the foundation of a movement that could take part in local elections.
The movement would be driven and supported by foreign residents who have the best interest of this country at heart. Most have Bulgarian families and have their roots deeply embedded in Bulgarian soil.
The intention is not to rule, but to observe and comment on the way city councils in Bulgaria operate. More information soon... If you have any comments about this issue please email inbulgaria@gmail.com
FROM OXFORD WITH LOVE
My wife Lilly Stammler has spent the last year in Oxford, that ancient place of learning, where she suffered at the hands of professors of all ilk. She was tortured by historians, interrogated by linguists, spiritually flagellated by theologians and suffered the unspeakable acts of debased bureaucracy by the ghouls that dwell in the dungeons of the ancient administration offices, on her way to a masters degree in Byzantine studies.
I want to abuse my privilege as a column writer to congratulate Lilly on graduating and receiving her Master of Studies (MSt) with distinction (top of the class) and her invitation to continue at Corpus Christi College, Oxford to become a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil).
Lilly hardly knew any English when we met in 1999 and being the better half of an illiterate Dutchman was no help to her either. But through her hard work and unrelenting persistence she is has made me, her family, her friends and indeed the Bulgarian Academic Community very proud.
I suppose now I have to get serious about learning to speak proper Bulgarski ezik...
Koos Jan Schouten (1954) was born in Amsterdam, has lived in Bulgaria since 1998, owns www.webfactory.bg and has been married since 2002 to his lovely Lilly.
