Dear Darin, I am glad you are representing the other side of the problem. Although my diary focuses on the suffering of the Roma population, my view is not that restricted, so I certainly agree with most of the points you make.

As I recently replied to a comment, there are Roma and Roma. Some of them are dirty, illiterate, do not want to find jobs, steal, beg or even curse when you refuse to give them money. Actually, they start blessing you while you pass by them, but if you do not give them money, they begin cursing. So, I would surely not tolerate such behaviour and I cannot pity them. But, there are really nice Roma who are civilized enough, well-clad, educated and willing to come to friendly terms with the Bulgarians. But, the Bulgarians do not accept them. What I do not approve is our intolerance and lack of morality. Not all Bulgarians are perfect - some of them steal as well, do not study and are not more civilized than the Roma. But still.... I guess no Bulgarian would ever be asked to leave a shop just because he/she has a fair complexion, right? Correct me if I am wrong!

I do not make any generalizations. As I already said, not all Roma are good and I approve neither their way of living, not their basic understanding of how they should make a living. I just say that probably part of the problem is rooted in our discriminatory behaviour and attitude towards them. At least it has started that way, and now it is a vicious circle, as I have stated in my diary.