The historical events in the Balkans have always been a reason to divide and oppose. In the previous poll we asked, "Which is the most controversial and dramatic moment in Bulgaria and Greece's common historical past in your opinion?" The topic periodically provokes violent debates that will not be over soon. We are glad to find out that the majority of our readers, who have responded to the question, are of the opinion that the events of our common past belong to historical science and that the problems of the present day and the building of a common future are much more important.
The percentage of readers of the Bulgarian page of our website who respond that the historical events belong to the past and that Bulgaria and Greece are already living in the 21st century is the lowest in comparison with the pages in the other two languages. The fact that this group has formed a majority in the poll is extremely positive and the 54% vote in favour of this option is an extremely good result. 29% of our readers consider the assimilation of the Bulgarian population in Northern Greece during the Balkan wars the most dramatic moment of our common historical past. The two dramatic events according to respondents collect 8% each. The first is Samuel's soldiers made blind by Basil Bulgaroctonus and the second is the Bulgarian occupation of Northern Greece during World War II. The nationality of Saints Cyril and Methodius collects only 1% of readers' votes.
57% of readers of GRReporter's English-language page prefer to stand behind the idea that the two neighbouring nations are living in the 21st century and it is appropriate to close the pages associated with the past as a source of misunderstanding, conflict and confrontation. The assimilation of the Bulgarian population in Northern Greece during the Balkan wars ranks second again with 22% of votes. The Bulgarian occupation of Northern Greece during World War II collects 17%. About 4% of our English page readers believe that Samuel's soldiers made blind by Basil Bulgaroctonus was the most dramatic historical event in Bulgarian-Greek history. The nationality of Saints Cyril and Methodius is not something that provokes controversy and drama, according to readers' votes, as the option has not collected a single vote.
The largest percentage of GRReporter's Greek page readers have preferred to support the idea that Bulgarians and Greeks are living in the 21st century and the dramatic historical events belong to the past, accounting for 67% of the readers' votes. 17% perceive the Bulgarian occupation of northern Greece during World War II as the most dramatic historical event. 13% vote in favour of the assimilation of the Bulgarian population in Northern Greece during the Balkan wars. 4% consider the nationality of Saints Cyril and Methodius an especially dramatic historical problem. No reader of this language page has voted for the option of Samuel’s soldiers made blind by Basil Bulgaroctonus.
The main conclusion that we can draw from the poll results is that the majority of GRReporter readers have reconciled with the dramatic events of our common history, facing the present times, which is a pleasing fact, in view of the degree of rejection and hatred to which we are used in our neighbourly relations. An increasing number of people are discovering how much we are alike in the Balkans in terms of mentality and how artificial the boundaries, divisions and prejudices are inside us.
Our latest poll is returning to politics, asking you, "Negotiations with creditors have stalled. When do you think the government of Alexis Tsipras will fall?"
Remember to provide arguments for your vote in the comments section below the poll.
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