Comment by Ciuin Ferrin on May 7, 2012 at 16:42

Glenda and I are a part of a network who seems interested in this, so AFTER finals are over this week, perhaps we can start this ball rolling.

Comment by Qristina Zavačková Cummings on May 7, 2012 at 16:44

but but baxt !!! my finals were over last week. and I will help however I can...

Comment by Ciuin Ferrin on May 7, 2012 at 16:49

Wonderful. Check your email, my dear.

Comment by William Bila on May 16, 2012 at 11:42

I THINK THE FIRST THING the Rromani anti defamation league should do is to demand the local leaders in the Breclav area of the Czech Republic to issue a statement, apologizing for promoting such an event "demonstrations agaist Rromani crime" when they have found out after the fact, that the victim of the beating that took place was a drug dealer and he was not beat up by three Rromani people as first alleged. 

 

When local leaders do not admit to their mistakes, and do not act in advance of such demonstrations to prevent them, especially before any evidence has been confirmed, then they are doing a disservice to all their constituents.  They cannot keep letting this happen. Let,s demand some statements from the leaders of this demonstration against Roma crime to apologize, for demonstrating against what was clearly a misinformed public.

Comment by Stoimen on May 16, 2012 at 12:55

Dear Bill,

If you are willing to draft a good letter, it can be sent with the letterhead of Khetanes and it may be published and spread with the help of media.

See for possible supporters from Czech Republic under Who is Who (tab main page) under Reporters and under Human Rights Activists.

Kind regards,

Els

Comment by Mona Nicoara on July 29, 2012 at 15:12

Viola suggested I post my rant in the Gudardiab here. Hope it helps, a little: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jul/28/american-gypsie...

Comment by Glenda Bailey-Mershon on July 29, 2012 at 16:00

Brilliant, Mona!

Comment by Mona Nicoara on July 29, 2012 at 16:02

Read you comment too - posted in on Twitter and our FB page, already getting circulated. Passionate and dead right!

Comment by Glenda Bailey-Mershon on July 29, 2012 at 18:28

http://rromanizor.com/groups/take-action/letters-writing-and-litera...

Comment by Glenda Bailey-Mershon on July 29, 2012 at 18:30

Dear National Geographic,

 

So you think you know Gypsies? Or rather, you think Ralph Macchio does?

 

What I see when I watch "American Gypsies" is another scripted reality show that focuses on fights and conflicts to raise ratings. Sure, you put brief articles about Romani history and culture on your web page for the hardiest explorers to find. You even quoted Dr. Ian Hancock, one of our own scholars. But then you overshadowed that more factual—but by no means complete—information with a big brazen exhortation to "Solve your dispute in Gypsy Court" by taking "your case to your Facebook peers." Now, there are some wise elders for you.

 

This is exploitation! All the more so because you bypassed scores of accomplished, serious Roma filmmakers for the likes of the "Karate Kid." And perhaps the most hateful thing about all this is how, although you mention that the Johns are one American Gypsy family, your articles and much of your advertising implies that viewers will know the Gypsy people once they have seen Ralph's outsider vision of them. And what does Ralph do? Well, in interview after interview last week, he compared us to the Mafia!

 

So, let's add this up: You know, because you consulted experts like Dr. Hancock, that most Gypsies are not fortunetellers or any other one profession, or criminals, or any of the stereotypes that have dogged our people and led to our persecution over centuries; still, when push comes to shove, you represent us with a commercialized fortune-telling family and compare us to the criminal Mafia. Furthermore, if you and Ralph used the word "secretive" to refer to us once, you used it a thousand times. Is that secretive, like "Orientals" are "inscrutable"? Or perhaps you’d like to bring back Birth of a Nation so we can see the Ku Klux Klan as heroes?

 

Do you really not see the racism in all this? Well, I'd like to open your eyes. I challenge you, National Geographic, to air films by Romani filmmakers who show the diversity of our culture. Enclosed is a list of filmmakers who have a much greater clue than Mr. Macchio to who we are.

 

National Geographic, I challenge you. If you really want to know Gypsies, redeem your reputation as worthy explorers and scholars by airing work made within our community. Let our people truly speak for ourselves.

 

 

Glenda Bailey-Mershon

Board Member, Romani Zor

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