Comment by Viola Hinz-Hassan Pour Razavi on August 26, 2011 at 20:56

Dear all,

at fb roma contacts I was informed about a link on which a reaction seems to be urgendly necessary. I was asked by Mona Nicoara to inform the IRADL, as she is at Seoul at the moment. I post the link here and would ask you to check and to do something - I am a bit busy at the moment as I do the translation of the press pack into german. So please have a look at 

The New Nomads

www.huffingtonpost.com

 

where they report about Roma in a disrespectful and discriminating way.

Thank you all.

Viola

Comment by Glenda Bailey-Mershon on August 28, 2011 at 17:54

Viola, thanks for the link. It would be great if we could get them to give us an equal-time opinion piece on Huffington Post. Anyone feel like helping to write one?

 

Comment by Ciuin Ferrin on August 28, 2011 at 21:03

If I am understanding this correctly, the article in HP is talking about a non-Romani group of political protesters who bought themselves some wagons and went out into the country to live a simple lifestyle and call themselves "Gypsies" due to the romanticism of the word? If this is correct, this is nothing more than what romanticist writers did during the Industrial Revolution. They created the world of Gypsies most of us are familiar with, using the "simple" lifestyle they invented FOR the Gypsies as a protest against the industrialization of the country. The Romani lifestyle, in my humble opinion, is far from simplistic. Our culture and beliefs are quite complex and to be reduced to such terms as used in the article is rather insulting. Before I begin any reponse, I want to clarify the facts. Do you agree with my understanding that these people are merely protestors living a lifestyle they have labeled as Gypsy?

 

Baxt,

C

Comment by Glenda Bailey-Mershon on August 28, 2011 at 22:11

Ciuin, I believer at Ian MacKell's book, to which the author makes reference, is about pretenders. But the article begins with offensive stereotypes about ethnic Gypsies-- referring to our origins in India, then drawing on anecdotes about thieves and "living off the grid." No where does she acknowledge there are real people who are now mostly settled and of many occupations--no real "Gypsies." I think many people will be confused by it, and most will accept the stereotypes.

Comment by Ciuin Ferrin on August 29, 2011 at 0:57

Ah, I see. After what you said, I looked up the article again. What I had read was the book review, not the article. My bad. I will read it (though from the first paragraph I saw I know I'm going to hate it) and then post my reply in here. Still working on homework stuff though. I'll get to it soon.

 

Baxt,

C

Comment by Glenda Bailey-Mershon on August 29, 2011 at 2:23

Okay, Ciuin. Maybe we can piece something together.

Comment by Viola Hinz-Hassan Pour Razavi on August 29, 2011 at 22:51

They mix it all up, real Roma, mostly - as far as I saw - with the link to criminality and those things and so-called new gipsies (what ever that is) and it serves all the cliches, coulerful but dirty and so on. May be ist is possible to use parts of a letter, which had already be made and send in that case of this TV-seria.

Viola

(Sorry, I hope it is understandable - I am terribly tired, it is late and I can´t concentrate anymore)

 

Comment by Glenda Bailey-Mershon on August 30, 2011 at 1:17

If I understand correctly, Viola, I think you have a great idea. It would be good if we had some "ready-made" letters available that speak to the issues of countering stereotypes, use of "Gypsy", etc. We could then use parts of the letters for other responses. Ciuin, I know you wrote a great letter to A&E that's here somewhere. Maybe we could start there, if you don't object?

Comment by Viola Hinz-Hassan Pour Razavi on August 30, 2011 at 20:20

Yes, Glenda, that was what I meant, if we refer to stereotyping or wrong images, often happening discrimination, we could always use the same parts, if necessary with little changes - that would make it much easier for us and it was Ciuin´s letter I thought of. This will help to react much faster on things like that. 

Comment by Kristina Burbank on September 9, 2011 at 3:01

It has been a while since I have been active in IRADL and I have been catching up with reading the conversation posts of late. I must admit that I have complex thoughts about treatment of the word, Gypsy, and I am a linguist, a lover of words, on top of being a sociologist and a language and social studies teacher. Please take what my words with a lump of salt, as always, and know that it comes from a place of good intent, wanting to raise up people in general, like the Rromani ... and from thinking outside of the box...

 

Let's revisit some old conversation here to the effect that in the United States of America, from the educated to the uninformed, the word "Gypsy" generally makes many people smile at first, bringing to mind freedom from the establishment, perhaps, and that the people of the U.S. want to hold onto this word...

 

I've been there, done that from a place of discord, but really, to slam those that think differently alienates rather than brings together...

 

There's got to be another way to communicate our message, because, from a family system to a school system to a governmental system, to push people through guilt and shame to behave a certain way defeats the purpose of freedom of thought and expression.

 

I honestly think we need to find another way to express the plight of Rromani, rather than protest use of a word that so many outside of Europe have happier attachments to. There are so many people outside of Europe that want to help out, but they must be asked in a way that they can hear.

 

Can we please step back for a few moments and view MBFGW and the likes from the perspective that this media exposure is a chance to get all the Rromani stories out there heard?

 

Not only would it flow easier to working together, instead of fighting against - we could more fully channel our creative energy to do happily what we do as artists, offering more stories to round out the view of the Rromani people.

 

Media broadcasts are some of the current historical textbook of the 21st century. Much of what is taught in the traditional texts of schools students sadly know is obsolete. They turn to media...

 

As global citizens in democratic nations, we get some say in what gets broadcasted.

 

Why not focus instead on an effort to highlight our members stories?

 

While maybe the new gypsy story or MBFGW offend some senses, the truth is all of humanity offends the senses every now and again.

 

Maybe what the people need is see MORE Rromani stories for a more accurate full bodied representation of who we really are! I have a feeling what that would look like is that people are people, no matter where you go, with short skirts and big weddings...

 

We can be sure to mention views on the word Gypsy vs. Rromani if we decide to cooperate with the media rather than protest. So many more people are listening eagerly from the comfort of their homes, waiting to be informed of something important and relevant to their lives. Why not give that to the people instead of the protest letters to the studios?

 

Raise our voices in joy, rather than in fight...We've been struggling too long and its time to enjoy the moment and live.

 

I like to give people credit - people have been living with technology long enough to realize to filter what is seen and follow up with our own investigations...People want the stories -from the good the bad and the ugly - and, as far as breaking it down, people honestly can do that on their own, we must respect their intelligence, that if given all the info, they will make informed positive life decisions.

 

But if you force people talk about the politics of a people or a word, most will shut down with a yawn, or flip the channel...

 

just a few thoughts to marinate upon, respectfully from this American Finnish Rromani...

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