Historian Prof. Martin Ivanov is presenting "Former People" of Concentration Camp Bulgaria" today at the Regional Library in Shumen. The book was published a little over a year ago and has already had dozens of presentations in the country.
"The audience is very different in different places. There are probably a lot of people who are heirs, but there are also a lot of young people. In Kyustendil, the hall was full of young people, the same was the case in Blagoevgrad. The audience is very diverse," the author told the Bulgarian National Radio.
"Usually people ask if there is a danger of things repeating themselves. This is one of the topics that dominate the audience's questions."
According to Prof. Ivanov, analogies can be drawn. There are concerns among society, he noted. In his words, such signs are accumulating, and in history nothing is certain and everything depends on us.
"The generation that witnessed the events surrounding World War II firsthand is already passing away, it is no longer with us. We perceive these events as a computer game. A critical mass of unrealistic expectations and populist desires is accumulating, which extremist politicians easily take advantage of."
In Bulgaria, we are at odds with history, the historian said in the program "Predi visi". According to him, we are one of the most unhistorical nations in the region, not even knowing our family history.
"When we are not interested in our personal blood and history, how sincerely are we interested in the national one?", commented Prof. Martin Ivanov.
In his words, national holidays are perceived as an opportunity to relax on Greek beaches, not for reflection.