European shame over the Roma question

[homasse]

European shame over the Roma question
European strategies to 'integrate' Roma populations have failed due to lack due to a lack of inclusiveness.London, United Kingdom - Earlier this year, the European Commission published one of those beautiful documents called a "Communication" under the title "An EU Framework for National Roma Integration

Comments

[replyhazy]

The persecution of the Rom is based on deep-seated discrimination and racism that most Europeans seem to be totally oblivious to.

[alketaire]

Most North Americans as well. "Gypped", anyone?

[replyhazy]

Agreed. I am also tired of gypsy stereotyped costumes with fortune teller crystal balls and dancing with banging tambourines. If people were doing the same kind of thing with Native American stereotypes, the outrage would be felt quickly, but the Rom are stuck in a state of disrespect.

[homasse]

....Can we not do the Oppression Olympics thing, comparing two oppressed groups? Please? Can we just not?

[13chapters]

I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in rural Bulgaria, and I have a lot of feelings about this issue. The open, completely socially acceptable racism is fucking everywhere, and it is appalling. Nothing gets done because no one in power really wants to integrate with the Roma. They make occasional gestures, but they're so weak and empty and pointless. Like, at one point the government sent out these little flyers (I took pictures of them; not sure if this will be visible, since it's on my Facebook) explaining that the Roma are OPTIMISTIC and Bulgarians are HAPPY and together we will move forward into a better life! These flyers sat around on the table in my teacher's lounge for days until they eventually disappeared. No one did anything, no one said anything about them, no one paid them any attention (except me, I guess, because I was so startled that the education ministry was even acknowledging that it's not okay to be totally racist). Ugh I am going to fall into a well of anecdata. Stopping now because of incoherency and lack of caffeine.

[deathchibi]

From what I've read, I didn't think that the Roma wanted to integrate into other cultures and that was part of the difficulty? People would get upset the Roma would claim benefits and not follow the country's traditional lifestyle. Granted, people get upset over people claiming benefits from the state period...

[mingemonster]

there's no need for them to "integrate" (i.e. assimilate) into the dominant culture. that's just people being racist, it's not the fault of the Gypsies

[deathchibi]

I didn't say they needed to integrate. Someone just commented that no one in power wanted to integrate with the Roma and I figured the Roma didn't want to integrate either since they're an insular community. At least, that's what I'd seen. I imagine it can't be easy trying to live a mobile lifestyle with so much land being privately owned these days. :/

Edit: And I feel kinda bad that Roma's not really a correct or acceptable term for the group, but I'm not sure what is and google's not helping. On top of that, the fact that no one seems to be asking the Roma is baffling.

[tabaqui]

I'm wondering if anyone has asked the 'Roma' - the author suggests that names is problematical but doesn't offer a better word - exactly what it is *they* want. Do they *want* to be integrated? Do they care?

Seems like the *first* step is finding some representatives of the 'Roma' population and talking to them about just what it is they want.

[mingemonster]

he's not saying that it's problematic, he's saying that "Gypsy" isn't politically incorrect. which it isn't, it's how a ton of people identify

[tabaqui]

Hrmmmmmm.... 'Gypsy' has become a slur, at least here in the US - at least to some people. Interesting.

[13chapters]

A lot of non-Romani people use it as a slur, which is why I personally avoid it. Just how I roll.

[benihime99]

"Europe has specifically targeted the Romani people."
I don't know if the target is Romani/Gypsi/Bohemian or immigration itself tbh.

And from a non Romani/Gypsi/Bohemian, it is difficult to fully grasp the situation.
You have one side mixing Romani and immigration issue (politics, gov...) and one side who mostly remain silent (so far I have yet to hear from the Romani pov).

[benihime99]

Thing is one has to actively search for those online resources, while stupid show like "My big fat gypsi wedding" are easily accessible on tv. Most people wouldn't "waste" their energy.

Plus, 2012 is an election year (at least in France) and the immigation issue is always right in the middle of it and we both know how politicians love to surf that wave.
And when it comes to immigration Maghrebi talk louder.

I agree with one of the previous comment which said that we need a Romani representative.

[myrana]

Last year, a Welsh mayor said that Hitler had the "right idea about how to deal with Gypsies". At least he showed some knowledge about the history of Roma persecution.

Urg. The level of ignorance about the Porajmos during WW2 is astounding - it's never covered in schools, there are so few memorials, it's never touched on in films... so many people literally don't know it even happened.

[kazekageshad]

I believe in my high school either our teacher of are textbook mentioned it, but it was a passing sentence of "oh Hitler persecuted Jews, Gypsies, the disabled, and so on".