Comment by Mr. Valery Novoselsky on March 6, 2011 at 15:11

Dear colleagues,

 

I think that Jewish ADL had already set an example for us to follow.

Let`s simply take a good look and then elaborate in a Roma format the statements on http://www.adl.org/about.asp?s=topmenu

Regards,

Valery Novoselsky.

Comment by Els de Groen (Archive) on March 6, 2011 at 16:11

Quote of Pavel Louda, mayor of Novy Bydzov, member of the ruling Civic Democratic Party (ODS) in the Czech Republic: "The number of Romani has increased to 5 percent in the last five years, they spread around the city, bother people, steal, rape. The time when the honest citizen is in work, Gypsies sit on the benches in the square and chat happily."

 

Silence means consent here! We need this IRADL!

Els

 

 

 

Comment by Els de Groen (Archive) on March 6, 2011 at 16:44

It's even worse: there are over 60 mayors from Czech Republic now who want their own policy towards inadaptable citizens...

Els

Comment by Els de Groen (Archive) on March 8, 2011 at 15:35

Imagine... you are portrayed as belonging to a race that bothers people, steal and rape and that passes time on park benches when honest citizens are at work. Imagine this is officially stated by a mayor in a EU country, a mayor who unites with some 60 colleagues who make a joint declaration on the so-called "socially inadaptable". Imagine this is your race, your nation, the group of European EU citizens you belong to...

Officially you are told to be a thief, a rapist, lazybones, dishonoust and socially inadaptable. What would you do? Speed up your integration?

 

The President of the Council of Europe Congress of Local and National Authorities thinks that "qualifying a whole category of the population as "socially inadaptable" runs counter to integration efforts..." (QUOTE)

 

We, artists from the Artists' Initiative, strongly believe that it runs counter to the European Charter of Fundamental Rights, is a collective defamation of the Romani people and therefore punishable as a serious violation of universal and fundamental rights.

Location: Czech Republic, core community Novy Bydzov, main initiator Mr Pavel Louda, mayor, February, March, 2011.

 

Comment by Els de Groen (Archive) on March 8, 2011 at 16:03

Okay, the text can be drafted in a wiser way. We should be superior to those who commit racism, we should feel pity on those poor souls, but simultaneously we should make them clear that they are guilty. It is like raising a child: you give a good example, but when the child does not behalve well and hurts other people or worse, you cannot keep on smiling. Your anger with the child is not a matter of useless emotion, it is no hate. I should say: on the contrary. You teach the child as love it. But I suppose that you and maybe Ciuin (she is very good in drafting texts!) make a text yourself. You can use mine just for quotes (see also the RVN bulletin).

Els

Comment by Els de Groen (Archive) on March 8, 2011 at 16:15

Casimire,

Sorry for all my typing errors. I need a break, I guess.

What I just wanted to say is, that the mayors in Czech Republic are dangerous. They turn Roma into inferior people and extremists might have the idea that it is allowed to do to Roma whatever they want. Teaching takes time. This did not start yesterday, but decades ago. Ages ago, but in the nineties it became more and more fierce, due to the end of communism and later the economical crises. Again people are ready to find a scapegoat in order to get rid of their frustrations. These mayors do not pay contributions to a solution by creating jobs or healthier surroundings. They stay in power by accusing others. It happened before. It is a déjà vu! Of course we should teach, give good examples... And we should not panic. But we should also keep in mind that certain circumstances derive emergency measures. For the 12 March, day of demonstrations by Nazis and anti-Nazis, lessons come too late.

Els

Comment by Els de Groen (Archive) on March 8, 2011 at 17:41

Okay, Casimire, ket me think a bit. Somehow I like your idea of a present. It will confuse and ambarrase them, but there is little time left in this special occasion: only 4 days.

All power deals with fear! Plant a seed of fear and then offer your help and security. It is a way of controlling people; in fact it is manipulation. I just saw that Ciuin entered the site. I am eager to know her opinion.

Best wishes, Els

P.S.: the tabs had to bechanged; there were too many. Now there are subtabs. You will find for example Members combined with Groups and ARTillery. Rajan is our first Supporter; more will follow!

Comment by Ciuin Ferrin on March 8, 2011 at 17:44

Dear all,

 

One thing I've noticed is that the people in the US are blissfully unaware of what is going on in Europe. When I speak about events there, people here are shocked and usually disgusted. Most want to do something, but they have no idea what they can do about something happening in Europe.

 

I am wondering about a press release to the major media here in the states. This release would explain who the IRADL is and our misson, then make a statement about the goings on in Europe. If we can also come up with actions US citizens can take, such as letters to the European mayors, signing an online petition that could be sent to the EU, the mayors, and Obama, that will also help. In the petition, we could state that the statements are racist and unacceptable from a civilized nation, that education is required on both sides, and so on.

 

A piece of art can also be sent, but, it is my opinion that people who say such things have little value for art from artists they condemn. I offer Hitler, Goering, Himmler, and Mussolini as prime examples. Beautiful works of art were destroyed by all these men on the basis of race. How can such a low race possibly produce a decent work of art? Rather than see such works as beautiful, they had them destroyed so no one else could see the error of their ways.

Just my ideas.

 

Baxt,

C

Comment by Viola Hinz-Hassan Pour Razavi on March 8, 2011 at 21:22

Dear Ciuin,

this is quite normal as far as I can see, that the people in the US are unaware of the things happening in Europe - you see it at the news - there are only very few news from outside USA. But your suggestion are really good and I think this would be impressiv to the people in question here in Europe.

Viola

Comment by Ciuin Ferrin on March 8, 2011 at 22:41

Unfortunately, it is normal. The press is not interested in human rights in Europe unless some country blows up another. Now they will care a little bit about human rights involving something that will sell papers, but a human rights violation against a minority that the average US citizen doesn't think really exists or doesn't live in the US means nothing to them.

 

The people of the US need to understand that not every Hispanic or Native American IS Hispanic or Native American. For most Rromani in the States, it is easier to pass themselves off as Native American or someone else because of the pathetic stereotypes. When I tell people I am Rromani, I have to explain what it means. I am often corrected in my definition: "Oh, you mean you like spiritual music, so you call yourself a Gypsy." or "Oh, you mean you are into spiritualism (paganism/witchcraft/fortune telling) so you call yourself a Gypsy." One of my favorites was a doctor who, when I told her I was Rromani, informed me that she was as well. "Oh? Where is your family from?" "Oh no," she said. "I mean that if I could spend the day running through a field playing a tamborine, I would love that. I like hippies, so that makes me a Gypsy." This came from an educated woman. When I explained the true defininition of a Gypsy, she smiled and shook her head. "Anyone can be a Gypsy if they love nature."

 

I was introduced to a woman who had requested to meet me after learning I was Rromani. She had a lot of questions to ask about the "Gypsy ways."  She kept referring to me as a Gypsy and when I informed her that I preferered the word Rromani to the racial slur of "Gypsy" as she was using it, she smiled at me and shook her head. "I could never call you a Rromani. Gypsy is such a beautiful word. It means wagons rolling down the road, flowers in spring, peace and joy, and music every night. When I told her the real meaning of the word, I was informed that the word really DIDN'T mean anything at all negative and that we, as Gypsies, should embrace such a beautiful word that embraces our true nature.

 

Americans are clueless as to what the word means, what the lifestyle is, or the conditions and penalties for being born Rromani. Education is critical.

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