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Saturday, August 28, 2010

GYPSY

Do you know any gypsies? Every mention I've ever heard throughout my life seems to be dipped in bias, from "Babes in Toyland" where Tom is sold to the gypsies to Bizet's sensual and adulterous Carmen to Shakira's new song that I heard the other day on the radio...The refrain keeps up the stereotype that gypsies are swindlers who may "steal your clothes" and back down from "agreements." (Have you ever wanted to throw bricks at your radio? Happens to me all the time.)

And yet, each person - regardless of their culture or national group is - above all, an individual with personal hopes and dreams.

When we forget that, and begin to create stereotypes, things can get dangerous...

CLICK HERE TO SEE HOW DANGEROUS....DO THESE DEPORTATIONS REMIND YOU OF SOMETHING? HITLER, PERHAPS.  (I guess, when things get tough economically its always convenient to mislead the population by finding a scapegoat to blame)

In a European Union that claims to encourage workers' mobility, Roma gypsies - one of the most mobile groups - are being sent "home" when "home" isn't even a gypsy concept.

NOTE: Last year, Germany, Denmark, Italy and Sweden pursued similar policies against the Roma gypsies.

3 comments:

Veronica Lee said...

I've never met one. Every book and movie (even cartoon) I've watched shows them in a negative light. This is so sad. I hate people who stereotype others.

That was an impactive post, purple cow.
Thanks for sharing this.

Anonymous said...

I actually happen to know quite a few real Roma gypsies, the actual Romani people. They moved into my town when I was a kid and I went to primary school (which in Poland is 8 yrs) with two of their kids. I have to say that all these stereotypes are fuelled by "Gypsies" themselves, and I mean here mostly older generation. They have this really weird sort of LAW for them and it's really not something that at least my nation is used to. For example, they often don't send girls to school because it's against their law for girls to be seen without long skirt on PE lessons. Also, it is STILL quite common for Romani men to marry teenagers (and I mean 14-year-old girls). There are more modern Gypsies amongst them who try to change these laws but the power of tradition is quite formidable here. Romani kids are often forced to theft and beggary by their parents. Both of my "Gypsy" friends wound up with jail-sentences, you know. And it's such a pity because they're both SO funny and intelligent. And even without jail-sentence in your papers it's almost impossible for a Romani person to get a job in Poland...

Purple Cow said...

How do your friends feel about Romani codes? Is this a way of life that they wish to continue? What did they get a jail sentence for? Oh, I wish you would do a post about this.