Comment by Casimire Williamsii on March 21, 2011 at 13:39

Evolution not Revolution is a credo that I have been thinking about for quite a while. Revolutions seldom work out (the way they are planned) and it just seems way out of character for us anyway. Besides they a soooo bourgeois and early 21st century. But vision I have is to base IRADL on showing what beautiful products of evolution we are, just like all humanity. The arts are an excellent way for this concept to be communicated for the benefit of all.     

Comment by Casimire Williamsii on March 21, 2011 at 13:52

Els, Day or night? Does not matter much in Portland, don't see sun nine months out of the year.

Comment by Casimire Williamsii on March 21, 2011 at 13:54

@ Els, Encourage some artists to do IRADL related works perhaps?

Comment by Glenda Bailey-Mershon on March 21, 2011 at 20:21

Hello, All,

I am new here, but thrilled greater than anything I can express about the idea of the IRADL. So many of us have been writing letters, sending notes to each other, trying to influence authorities, feeling ineffective because we could not get together a critical mass to act more decisively and irrepressibly. We need this coordinated group desperately. If one is kicked, all should kick back, absolutely, Casimire!

 

I am a writer who happens to have grown up in the U.S. through the civil rights movement and others, and have worked on the history of that movement through grant projects marrying journalism, history, and the arts. So often I think of lessons from that time that we can use in our own cause. 

 

One suggestion: If we can put together a committee who is willing to travel (at their own expense, now) to speak directly with leaders in the news and entertainment industry (starting with the Criminal Minds and BBC folks, perhaps!) so we can educate them and also demand better access for Romani actors, directors, and writers, so that our stories will be told from within our community. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) did that for African Americans in the U.S. in the 1960s, to great effect. The face-to-face contact with actors, writers, directors, producers, and editors is what seems to have worked best. That group can have both short term (stop the assinine stereotypes now!) and longer term (employ our people to tell our stories from within) goals. Any news or entertainment producer should be shamed for telling a story with Romani characters without input from our community.

 

But there are so many good ideas here, and I am happy to help where I can on whatever is deemed a priority.

 

I can write press releases, and have a considerable experience with politicians through past work in government. I also write grants, Els, starting years ago when I was a university administrator. I will help you wherever I can.

 

I work now as a past leader and now advisory board member with a foundation for women writers, but whatever time I have, I will devote to helping make us a bigger voice that cannot be ignored. 

 

Nais tuke thaj baxtale!

 

Glenda

 

Comment by Glenda Bailey-Mershon on March 21, 2011 at 22:39

Dear Els, 

Of course, we will have to have official structure, otherwise there is no accountability, or too many chefs and not enough choppers. Perhaps an international coordinating committee with current access info for all national and local coordinators? I like horizontal structure, rather than hierarchy, because we have to be able to respond to local needs, while at the same time having some overarching structure to call us all to action when we have an emergency, such as we have now in Hungary and perhaps in Czechslovakia.

Is there a way to link national groups now on the site? For the IRADL, I mean.

I like the idea of a caravan, by the way, that we can raise money to bring locally for festivals, or other venues, or send on university circuits. We should have enough university contacts for a tour in the U.S.

Also, having artists donate arts and crafts to a central store would be a quick way to raise money. Fat Cow (terrible name, I know) has a quick store feature, as do some other web providers. Logos show up well on some of the ready-made merchandise that can be found now on Cafe Press. With our various Facebook sites, we may be able to raise money quickly for the first event.

Let me know what I can do.

 

Glenda

Comment by Casimire Williamsii on March 21, 2011 at 22:48

Hi Glenda, Thanks for you're message and positive input. I have also toyed with the idea of a press pack to present to people. Also it just so happens that I am a builder of Caravans. Also jeweler/metal smith so can make jewelry too. Keep me in low positition because I get too carried away sometimes...sorry to all!

Casimire X 

Comment by Glenda Bailey-Mershon on March 22, 2011 at 15:01

Casimire,

A press pack, yes. That would help enormously. What a lot of talent you bring. I'm sure we all understand passion for our cause. Without it, the work would be a chore.

Comment by Glenda Bailey-Mershon on March 22, 2011 at 15:15

Dear Els,

I don't think that anyone could possibly think you immodest. You have been most welcoming to us all. Leadership that emerges naturally, from taking action, as you did in calling so many of us together, cannot and should not remain hidden. We need a "switchboard" to keep our wires untangled.

 

I do appreciate that you want to keep our structure flexible and as simple as possible. It will all work out, I'm sure. Our need is so great.

 

Glenda

Comment by Casimire Williamsii on March 22, 2011 at 15:57

Well to tell you the truth I have allowed myself (at times) to get carried away here. I'm posititive that I have put a couple of people off and for that I apologize. I know this is not a valid excuse, but I have been stove up pretty bad this last 13 months with trouble with my heart. So saying I have been pretty short tempered with a lot of people. For that I'm really Sorry. I've withdrawn from this site twice now (because of this) and Els keeps bringing me back.

I got this IRADL thing going and sincerely hope that that it takes off and becomes a huge Civil Rights Movement. I absolutely have no answers, I merely observe and report what I've seen that has been effective. You know what they do to people who have answers don't you? My Grandfather was named Casimir, and I did a little history of the name and it was King Casimir of Poland that gave Jews and Roma legal protection after the Black Plague. This held until around 1938 when Poland invaded. That legal protection is what we need today, to reinstste those civil rights. And will only be possible by being organized and to have solidarity. The time is right for this Evolution of Civil Rights. There is a huge shift in consciousness happening in the world today, this is not something mystic, but a reality. All IRADL needs is some momentum. There is a good core of Artists, Intellectuals, Activists and Regular Folks on this site. That is the biggest threat to fascists, to show them what beautiful products of evolution we really are. I saw a Spike Lee movie a while back and I can't quote the dialog exactly. There was a white guy and he was expressing that he didn't like blacks. The response was you don't like the comedy of Eddie Murphy or the music of Stevie Wonder? Took the wind out of his arguement. That is what I call holding up the mirror. The same holds true here, you don't like Roma but you like (for example) comedy or Charlie Chaplin or works by Picasso? I advocate that peaceful protest and decisive action are important, but also show the world that they need us and that we have a lot to offer. All it takes is a minor shift in our Consensus of Reality and nothing is impossible. Not even a tract of land called Romanistan. 

Evolution not Revolution

Peace Love Hope and Chaitity

Casimire X   

 

 

   

Comment by Glenda Bailey-Mershon on March 22, 2011 at 16:35

Dear Els,

 

Ha! So much we worry about we do to ourselves. Yes, I am loving the energy from everyone here. It gives me hope we will move forward.

 

What are our priorities for now? Is it the Roma for Roma event? What else is needed there? Will we work toward some good educational material and anti-stereotyping media for that event?

 

May I say that the A& E letter is beautifully done? It provides a great template for us all. Is it all right to spread it on Facebook and our own blogs and websites (with a link back to here, of course!) so that we can get more letters off to them? Nothing but a flood will work. Also, American entertainment companies only respond when they think their revenue will be affected. Targeting their advertisers is what they fear. I will try to catch an episode and see whom they might be. We should be able to get that episode pulled. Then--a new episode with a bit of truth behind it?

 

Glenda

 

Glenda

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