Comment by roxana marin on March 11, 2011 at 5:19

ah, romanistan!.... what a beautiful dream, casimire!
much is to be accomplished until that dream becomes even remotely possible...

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 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 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 Ciuin Ferrin on March 14, 2011 at 4:46

Sorry this is so late, but I had an unexpected and personal issue arise. Here is the final draft of the letter, unless of course, you find an error I may have missed.

 

 

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, age ten, wanting to make one of them the bride of their son. The Gypsies slice the throats of parents, and we learn through the investigation that the boy was forced to kill one of the parents while his father gave him instructions. This is considered a ‘rite of passage’ from boyhood to manhood. Later, the boy is being taught by his parents how to steal from a dummy that has bells hanging from it and the audience is informed by the “expert detectives” that this is the test of the seven bells, a method Gypsies use to teach their children to pick pockets. While the boy is practicing, the first girl kidnapped has a seizure. The father decides to murder her. His wife reminds him that they do not kill little girls. As the show continues, the “expert detectives” explain that “a lot of Romani make their living as petty thieves” as well as other statements based off racist and stereotypical beliefs. In the end, it is revealed that there are numerous Gypsy families living in the United States, murdering parents and kidnapping their daughters. The final scene in the show depicts yet another ten year old boy and his parents preparing to murder yet another set of parents and kidnap their daughter.

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.

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.

Many 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.

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, that is how they are portrayed on TV.

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 children are not ‘born to steal’ nor do parents teach their children to do so. The bell man is a creation of author Victor Hugo for his novel “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.”

Romani children in Europe are denied an education to help themselves out of poverty. Parents do not steal brides for their sons and they do not kidnap children. The show claims that the Gypsies in the US have gotten away with murder and kidnapping because they are nomadic, yet 85 – 90% of the world Romani population are settled. But more importantly, the crime of murder is considered not only heinous to the Romani, but a crime of such evil that those who commit it are put out from the society.

European politicians villianize and scapegoat the Romani, claiming they are to blame for high crime rates, poor economic conditions, and most social ills. Yet they refuse to follow through with the European Union’s plan for Romani inclusion and ignore the EU’s regulations regarding the treatment of minorities within the EU’s borders. By using such tactics, the politicians in Europe guaranty the continued persecution, discrimination, and murder of the Romani for years to come.

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.

 

_____

Please let me know if you wish to sign this.

I do feel a larger and more detailed text must be written and sent to United Artists as well as various studios who have created films where Gypsies have been portrayed as sub-human villians. I am asking anyone who has seen Damn Me to Hell and Thinner to assist me. I've not seen the films, nor do I intend to. I don't do horror films.

Thank you for your patience.

 

Baxt,

C

Comment by maurizio cimino on March 14, 2011 at 13:11

I support

of course

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