Who are we?

[Ciuin Ferrin]

This is in response to a young lady among us who is hurting after being told who and what she is (or isn't) and after being sent some hate speech.

There are those in the US who don't believe there are Romanies in the US. There are those around the world who don't believe we can make a choice, make a difference, make a stand.

We are Romanies. We may decide to call ourselves Gypsies, but that is a word that was placed upon us, dictated to us if you will. It is not a word of our choosing. Who decides what we are? We do.

Every one of us must decide what Romanesa means to them. You decide what makes you Romani and you fight with it.  Claim  your heritage, claim your history, and never let go. Never let anyone tell you what you are or aren't. Don't let the idiots, the ignorant, the fools, dictate your emotions, your feelings, and your thoughts. 

I have a book I keep that I ask those who inspire me to write in. On bad days, when I am ready to quit, I get that book out. I start reading. I also write things in my book, quotes from people I have never met. I want to share some of the things in my book.

"What I do, you cannot do; but what you do, I cannot do. The needs are great, and none of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful." ~ Mother Teresa.

"In your life's journey, there will be excitement and fulfillment, boredom and routine, and even the occasional train wreck....But when you have picked a dream that is bigger than you personally, that truly reflects the ideals that you cherish, and that can positively affect others, then you will always have a reason to carry on." Pamela Melroy.

then

"Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark, in the hopeless swamps of the approximate, the not-quite, the not-yet, the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish, in lonely frustration for the life you deserved, but have never been able to reach. Check your road and the nature of your battle. The world you desire can be won, it exists, it is real, it is possible, it is yours."  Ayn Rand.

and lastly, 

"Never give up. Do nothing and nothing changes." ~ Ian Hancock.

We know what we are. Hold fast. Stay on the Road.