A DEMOCRACY LESSON 
I recently contemplate much on the state of our nation and its 18-years of democratic development. I ask myself a lot of questions and try to answer them through my christian views. In the last 18 years, many human fortunes have been changed – some towards good, and some towards evil. Yet, I have the feeling that we are still at the very beginning. I watched the US elections with a great interest and delighted in this great nation. I can honestly say that I am proud of it, and that it is so close to my heart. I watched the reports which blessed me very much. I saw how the faces of people from both camps expressed HOPE for their nation. It was as if the people were moved supernaturally as well indefatigably for the fulfilling of their dream – the nation to be changed. My family was for McCain, but in same time, we sympathized with Obama as well, feeling that it would be exactly him who would be elected. When early in the morning we found out that Obama did win, I was not discouraged, on the contrary – I sensed something new would happen in America, something that will be an enormous blessing for the state. The choice for America was not easy. Only 45 years ago it would be unthinkable to imagine an afro-american president, due to the country segregation and racism against this ethnicity. But despite that, one man (Marthin Luther King Jr. ) said: I have a dream... and years later, that dream is a reality in that America elects an afro-american president. Not only that, but the republican McCain expresses with dignity his support for Обама with the following words, which I am paraphrasing: “Thenew U.S. president must be supported; the changes that await us must be supported; each and every one of us must ignore our differences and work for America…” Those words that I paraphrase, show what incredible strong a personality McCain is, as well how strong he would be, if he was elected to be the president. For me these elections teach us an incredible democracy lesson, showing how great democracy in America really is! I ask myself the following question: What is so great in the American democracy? Maybe many of us will say, that everything lies in the well constructed American system, the constitution, etc., but I believe, that the American democracy is a derivative from the dreams of people, longing for a society, led by ideals and humanism. A society, where human dignity and freedom are respected, despite of sex, race or religion. In the same train of thoughts, I am thinking for my brothers as well – The gypsies; how little they need, for them to be a constructive factor in society. When thinking of Marthin Luther King Jr., of Ghandi or Obama, they all stem from minority groups, so why among the gypsies there aren't such leaders that will bless the nation? Some will say: That’s because the gypsies lack education or that’s because their culture hinders them! Yes, maybe that’s an important factor indeed, but there’s another component and it is The DREAM FACTOR. We need people who will be dreaming for others! What is our Bulgarian democracy? In fact, does our democracy derive from dreams and ideals, or is a derivative only of different events happening, controlled by different interests – even if they be European ones? If our Bulgarian democracy lacks ideals and dreams, do not ever think we are living in a true democracy. Let me ask you the following questions : If the European Union collapses, will the democracy in our nation stand, or will communism be back? If our democracy exists only because of The European Union, and not because of ideals and dreams, believe me, we are living in a false democracy, that has no future. Do we have national leaders in the present, that will demonstrate their Ideals and Dreams for the development of a real equal, free and democratic society?............................................... In the present, are we, as Bulgarian citizens,proud with the achieved in Bulgaria during the last 18 years of democracy?................................................... Therefore, I will not stop dreaming, until I see my nation (Bulgarians, Turks, Gypsies, etc.) free and blessed. Let me close with one sentence from the “Time of the Gypsies” movie from director Emir Kosturitsa: A gypsy without a dream is like a tree without roots. Ivo Koychev
About the author:
Ivo Koychev is also the founder and senior pastor of “Life in Glory” Apostolic Christian Center – a unifying center, where people from different ethnicities in Bulgaria are gathered to work together in unity, for the betterment of society. The ministry of Ivo Koychev is strongly committed towards reformation amongst the gypsy community. His message has reached hundreds of people in Bulgaria. He’s been recognized as one of the young pioneering leaders, which the lord is raising in our nation.
Other articles from the same author: The word "gypsies" manipulates the image of the Roma Chernorizets Hrabar is not Chernorizets Racist
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Ivo Koychev is founder and president of
