Comment by Ciuin Ferrin on March 12, 2011 at 4:18

On a different note, I am angry tonight. Criminal Minds, bloodlines, was broadcast yet again tonight. I've decided I'm sick of it. I wrote this letter to Abbe Raven, CEO of A&E network who runs the re-runs. I am signing it with my own organization. If anyone would like to sign from the IRADL or the Initiative, please let me know. I will be sending out a final version in 24 hours. Here is the text:

 

Last night, Friday, March 11, 2011, the repeat episode of Criminal Minds titled Bloodlines ran on A&E network. The story of this episode tells how a family of Gypsies kidnaps two young girls, wanting to make one of them the bride of their son. In the process, the audience is told by “expert detectives” that “a lot of Romani make their living as petty thieves” as well as other statements based off racist and stereotypical beliefs.

As this episode aired, a demonstration by white supremists began in Novy Bydzov in the Czech Republic. This demonstration was prompted by a Czech mayor who claims "They (the Romani) are roaming the town, being a nuisance, stealing and raping. During the time a decent citizen works, gypsies lazily sit on park benches in the square, happily chatting.”- Prague Daily Monitor, November 26, 2010.

Some Romani are probably going to die in Novy Bydzov tomorrow and the news won’t even cover it. Their homes will be burned to the ground and the fire department will make sure the flames don’t spread to neighboring buildings.

The conditions of the Roma in the Czech Republic are appalling. Forced sterilizations have been in place from the 1970s until as late as 2007. Romani children are placed in schools for the mentally handicapped, even if they score well on tests. The Romani have sued and won the right to be educated in the public school system in the Czech Republic, yet they have yet to be allowed to set foot inside a regular classroom. Elsewhere in European Union, the Romani are being fingerprinted and photographed in Italy, a direct violation of the human rights regulations set down by the UN. The last time this happened, Hitler was in power and the Romani were sent to the gas chambers. Romani are being deported from France, Italy, Germany, with England soon to follow, even though these people have been living in these countries for over ten years. And in Romania, a bill is being prepared to force the Romani to refer to themselves as “tigan” instead of Romani, because the Romanians don’t want the world confusing them with Gypsies. The word tigan means “slave”, in reference to when the Romani were slaves in Romania for over 500 years, their emancipation coming two years after Lincoln freed the slaves here in the States.

Forced sterilizations, the denial of education, the denial of work, being fingerprinted and photographed, and now, being told what they may or may not call themselves. These actions are obscene to the American way of thinking, and yet, we don’t mind, because Gypsies really are dirt, after all, at least that is how they are portrayed on TV, with A&E promoting the racism.

Contrary to the comments made on the show, most Romani do not steal. I will not deny that some Romani do steal, but can you name a race whose members have never committed a crime? Romani in Europe are denied an education to help themselves out of poverty. They do not steal brides outside the tribe. They do not kidnap children. 85 – 90% of the world Romani population are settled. Very few are nomadic.

I am a Romani woman. I am proud of who and what I am. I am a Romani rights activist currently getting a degree in Romani Studies with a certificate in human rights at the University of Iowa. I am not what Criminal Minds says I am and I, along with the three million Romani in the United States are offended by the claims of this episode.

Your mission statement for your company makes the following claims to your work environment.

 We believe that our programs, products and services are only as good as the people who create them. Because of this, we have a commitment to high ethical values and to creating a workplace where employees are encouraged to strive for professional excellence. The diversity of our workforce plays an increasingly important role in meeting this commitment. Diversity extends beyond race, color, creed or sexual orientation. Diversity is that combination of traits and characteristics that makes each of us unique individuals and what brings us together to achieve our goals. Diversity is about respect, openness, innovation, and knowledge. It's what we practice in our business.

I ask you now to uphold that which you claim to embrace. I am not asking you to cancel the show, only to pull that episode. It promotes racism and the stereotypes that keep the Romani in both the United States and Europe in perpetual poverty and persecution.

Do the right thing, A&E.

 

 

Ciuin Ferrin

Lead Researcher and Educational Coordinator

O Porrajmos Education Society

Comment by Viola Hinz-Hassan Pour Razavi on March 12, 2011 at 11:04

Dear Ciuin,

congratulations to your excellent letter. May be it is due to my not so excellent english that I got confused by two things. In the forth interval of the letter, fifth line you wrote ... yet they have yet to be allowed ... - is there one yet to much? The other thing difficult for me to understand is in the seventh interval ... I am not what CM says I am and I, along with three million Romani in the US   a r e   offended by ...

In german it would be am instead of are, but may be it is different in english, as I said my english is not that good. I hope you will not be bothered by me.

Viola

Comment by Ciuin Ferrin on March 12, 2011 at 11:20

Please keep in mind this is a first draft. I will have at least three further versions before I send it out. I wrote it in anger and I am still angry, therefore I will go over it when I am calm. I never send out anything in a rage. I will look into your suggestions, and thank you.

 

Baxt,

C

Comment by Viola Hinz-Hassan Pour Razavi on March 12, 2011 at 12:04

Yes, I can understand that, you are welcome.

Baht

Viola

Comment by Els de Groen (Archive) on March 12, 2011 at 12:16

Dear Ciuin,

An excellent letter indeed! You can also put my name, if you want. Sometimes anger helps, so don't change too much. I don't know what role plays murder in the episode, but I know that in American series quite some people are killed. Maybe it is worth adding what Casimire suggested, about Romani culture where murder is almost unheard of. I also have a suggestion: in the sixth interval, 4th line, "do not steal brides outside the tribe". I would skip: outside the tribe.

Otherwise you may suggest (and I am sure you don't) that stealing brides is a tradition. I know that looking for partners and preparing weddings is a serious business. It should be absolutely clear that there are no family relations. It happens that young couples run away to be married when they get back, but this cannot be called kidnapping, as they both agree.

I hope that more Members are going to sign your letter. If you want we can broadcast a message and invite all 230 people to have look at the text. When will you finish the final draft?

X, Els

Comment by roxana marin on March 12, 2011 at 13:02

im with els on "sometimes anger helps" and i think you've written a very good letter. casimire's point about murder making one an outcast in our culture is a good point to include, indeed.
im an english teacher and translator, and i would like to say your english is flawless, congrats.
pls put my name too, and list me as united states international visitors program alumna and president of the centre for action and responsibility in education, bucharest, romania.
devlesa,
r.

Comment by Els de Groen (Archive) on March 12, 2011 at 17:01

Dear friends,

I hope that you, Ciuin, can finish the letter in all necessary concentration. I cannot advise you what to add, as I have not seen the episode, but from what Casimire writes it is absolute shit.

As soon as you have the final draft, tell me whether you want to have it broadcasted to all Members. This broadcasting system does not allow long texts, but I could in vite everyone on this site to have a look at your letter. Maybe Bennie can make a translation into Romanes! We should invite him to join this Group. We could also ask Valery to publish it on his RVN, over 20.000 addresses. What do you think? I will be off for a couple of hours, but later tonight I will be back again. Ten o'clock here, so let's say 3 PM with you, 1 PM with Casimire? I get puzzled with all these time zones.

@ I know, Casimire, that anger is bad for the heart, for all hearts. But as human beings we cannot always control our moods. The best way to cope with anger is to turn it into positive action. That is exactly what Ciuin is doing!

Baxt, X, Els

Comment by Ciuin Ferrin on March 12, 2011 at 20:16

Very good comments, all. That is why I never send anything out when I am angry. When I am calm, the crafting comes much easier. Your suggestions will assist me very much. I'll finish it later this afternoon and repost it. I will replace "I" with "we" so that everyone's names may be included.

 

I do feel there are others we can 'go after' with the same letter and I will do some research to find out where to send these letters so that the author, if he decides to use Romani as a villain again, he may reconsider. I don't have my hopes too high though, as Hollywood has no interest in promoting the truth about anything.

 

I did have an idea though about "Hollywood" and the event in Rome. Why not invite The History Channel or Nat Geo Channel to film? Invite them to send a team early to get in on the planning sessions, the set up, the festival itself, then interview someone about what we feel the conference has accomplished.

 

Someone suggested to me that I contact Bill O'Reilley to see if he would do something about the situation in Europe. I am not a fan of his personal life and I am not sure I want him to "represent " us, but a story isn't bad. Any thoughts?

 

Again, I will post the revised text written by a cool head and a steady hand later today.

 

Baxt,

C

Comment by Mr. Valery Novoselsky on March 12, 2011 at 20:40

Casimire!

 

I am willing to support IRADL in my capacity of an Executive Editor of Roma Virtual Network. It means that IRADL`s and Artists Initiative`s communication would be brought to the attention of thousands of Roma and pro-Roma.

 

And I hope that this is okay for my professional and personal contribution into new initiatives.

 

Best regards,

Valery

Comment by Els de Groen (Archive) on March 12, 2011 at 22:52

Thanks Valery!

It is close to 12 PM with you, but still early in the States. Ciuin, please, inform me about the final draft. Lukas and I have possibilities to address all Members through the broadcasting service. The text is limited, but I can ask everyone to have a look at this Forum discussion. If everybody agrees we can distribute the letter on behalf of all.

You are strong in drafting texts, as you already proved in the "Commemorating the Future text", so I suppose that the others will support the final draft. But they should have an opportunity to see it.

@ I am sorry, Casimire, I cannot follow the suggestions about these Hollywood stars, for the simple reason that I don't know them. It is fully up to you to decide about this.

So, I wait for the final text now!

X, Els

Add a Comment

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• …
• 43
• Next ›
• Page