Sir,
Your previous issue [August 22] reported on how a group of 12 US journalism students visited Bulgaria to "bear witness to the consequences of unchecked racism through the lessons of the Holocaust, and within the context of history."
After the visit, the students returned to their respective universities and wrote articles about "Bulgaria: 50 Years after the Holocaust." Mr. Yaakov Djerassi, Chairman of Bulgaria Foundation claims that "Bulgaria found the courage and the strength to save the Jews." This comment, as well as the entire article leads, me to believe that the students have left Bulgaria with a false impression of Bulgaria's role in the Holocaust.
There is no mention that Bulgarian soldiers during WWII did the bidding of the Third Reich. Over 70,000 Jews from northern Greece and Macedonian were systematically murdered and deported by Bulgarian soldiers, while 50,000 Jews of Bulgaria proper were saved.
Though I was not part of this mission by the 12 American students, I am willing to speculate that Bulgaria's role in the murder of Jews from other countries was omitted from any presentation or meeting that the students attended. I am afraid that these students were misled into thinking that
Bulgaria was saintly during the Holocaust. I am writing this not to defame the Bulgarian people, but rather to stress the importance of historical accuracy.
Just as white America must openly accept responsibility and live knowing there was much blood shed due to racism and other inexcusable historical reasoning; so too must Bulgarians live and openly acknowledge their role in the Holocaust.
M. Stanislowsky
Your previous issue [August 22] reported on how a group of 12 US journalism students visited Bulgaria to "bear witness to the consequences of unchecked racism through the lessons of the Holocaust, and within the context of history."
After the visit, the students returned to their respective universities and wrote articles about "Bulgaria: 50 Years after the Holocaust." Mr. Yaakov Djerassi, Chairman of Bulgaria Foundation claims that "Bulgaria found the courage and the strength to save the Jews." This comment, as well as the entire article leads, me to believe that the students have left Bulgaria with a false impression of Bulgaria's role in the Holocaust.
There is no mention that Bulgarian soldiers during WWII did the bidding of the Third Reich. Over 70,000 Jews from northern Greece and Macedonian were systematically murdered and deported by Bulgarian soldiers, while 50,000 Jews of Bulgaria proper were saved.
Though I was not part of this mission by the 12 American students, I am willing to speculate that Bulgaria's role in the murder of Jews from other countries was omitted from any presentation or meeting that the students attended. I am afraid that these students were misled into thinking that
Bulgaria was saintly during the Holocaust. I am writing this not to defame the Bulgarian people, but rather to stress the importance of historical accuracy.
Just as white America must openly accept responsibility and live knowing there was much blood shed due to racism and other inexcusable historical reasoning; so too must Bulgarians live and openly acknowledge their role in the Holocaust.
M. Stanislowsky
