“Big Fat Gypsy Weddings” TV show“damaging” to Gypsies

Press release from Rajan Zed, President of the Universal Society of Hinduism.

“Big Fat Gypsy Weddings” TV show“damaging” to Gypsies

New series of smash hit documentary “Big Fat Gypsy Weddings”is opening at Channel 4 of United Kingdom on February 14 and Hindu statesman Rajan Zed says that these actually harm the already maltreated European Gypsy (Roma) community.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, and who frequently takes up European Roma causes, argues that instead of tackling more serious issues facing Roma community, it appears to be laughing at them. It does not seem to be an accurate portrayal of Roma and instead it appears to be simply sensationalism, exaggeration and misrepresentation.

Rajan Zed pointed out that television was a powerful medium and it could have been used in a more positive and educative way voicing European Roma apartheid.

Zed stated that apartheid conditions faced by Roma people were a social blight for Europe and the rest of the world as they reportedly regularly faced social exclusion, racism, substandard education, hostility, joblessness, rampant illness, inadequate housing, lower life expectancy, unrest, living on desperate margins, language barriers, stereotypes, mistrust, rights violations, discrimination, marginalization, appalling living conditions, prejudice, human rights abuse, racist slogans on Internet, etc.

Rajan Zed noted that it was shocking to see how inhumanely Europe had been treating its about 15-million Roma brothers-sisters for such a long period.

Public service broadcaster Channel 4 calls this highly rated show “a window into the secretive, extravagant and surprising world of gypsies”. In USA, the show airs on specialty cable channel TLC.

Appalled Hindus want Slovakia billboards humiliating Gypsies removed

Press release issued by the Universal Society of Hinduism:

"How long are we going to lose on the gypsies? Let's change it!" - Slovak National Party advertising for the 2012 elections.

Appalled Hindus want Slovakia billboards humiliating Gypsies removed

Hindus are dismayed at upcoming parliamentary election billboards in Slovakia reportedly labeling Gypsies (Roma) as “parasites” and belittling them, and want their immediate removal.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that these racist and anti-Roma billboards should not be acceptable in 21^st century Europe which boasted of its human rights record.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, argued that Roma maltreatment incidents had been reportedly frequently popping-up in Slovakia; like erection of a wall in Ostrovany to segregate Roma, attempts of turning Roma settlement in Veľká Lomnica into a tourist destination,reported continual segregation of Roma children in Slovakia schools, involuntary sterilization of Roma women in the past, etc.

Slovakia and Europe needed to improve the conditions of Roma who lived in medieval squalor in mud houses without running water, gas and sewage in 21^st century. Was this a part of the vision of post-Berlin Wall European Union, Rajan Zed asked.

Zed pointed out that it was shocking to see how inhumanely Europe was treating its about 15-million Roma brothers-sisters. It was clearly reprehensible, hazardous and immoral and a brazen failure of Europe to meet its international obligations. When it came to Roma, Europe frequently failed to implement its own laws distinctly mentioned in its own books.

Rajan Zed stated that apartheid conditions faced by Roma people were a social blight for Europe and the rest of the world as they reportedly regularly faced social exclusion, racism, substandard education, hostility, joblessness, rampant illness, inadequate housing, lower life expectancy, unrest, living on desperate margins, language barriers, stereotypes, mistrust, rights violations, discrimination, marginalization, appalling living conditions, prejudice, human rights abuse, racist slogans on Internet, etc.

Besides the absence of any serious efforts at their inclusion, Roma were being used as “punch bag” and blamed for the social ills of Europe and many politicians even exploited segregation to their political advantage. European neglect was trapping Roma in cycles of persecution and poverty. Roma issue should be one of the highest priorities of human rights agenda of Europe and world, thus reversing the history of persecution, Zed stressed.

Rajan Zed said that “Tatra Tiger”, one of the fastest growing economies and country of Juraj Jánošík; Slovakia should not continue staying apathetic and silent spectator ignoring Roma apartheid. It was moral obligation of Slovakia to take care of its most disadvantaged Roma population and stop human rights violations reportedly suffered by them. There are reportedly about 350,000 Roma in Slovakia. Ivan Gasparovic is President and Iveta Radicova is Prime Minister of Slovakia.

References to Roma people in Europe, who are believed to have their roots in the Indian subcontinent,reportedly went as far back as ninth century CE.

The Right of Education

I've been watching the chatter on various Internet based Romani networks about the US's recent decision to participate in the Decade of Roma Inclusion as an observer state, signed on February 6.

There are those who feel this is a crucial step for the US, a step that recognizes the state of the Romanies in Europe and the need for their protection, education, and inclusion. There are also those who feel this is just another piece of paper, more ink on a page, that will go no where.

We have had our share of paper, that is certain. We've had more conferences, symposiums, meetings, summits, round tables, discussion groups, and think tanks than can possibly do any good. And now we have the Decade of Roma Inclusion. Several meetings that scribbled a lot of words on paper and countries started to sign it.

And, alas, I feel that is where the good part ended.

Those countries signed on have been some of the worst violators of our human rights in recent years. If the Decade has done any good, it has brought to light the obscenities in Europe. It has not stopped them.

I feel it is time for us, the Romani people, to take a stand for ourselves. It is time for us to mobilize, to act in our own best interests, and to deal with these issues. But what are the issues and what are their priorities? I feel there is but one key issue that will help a man with his other problems.

 Education. Education is power. It is that simple. Without it, you are at the mercy of the educated and they can dictate your life to you. They can stamp you with an identity, create their own version of your history, and force you and your children into a cycle of poverty. But what subjects do you really need to know? This is a question faced by educators around the world. A basic education should be the ability to read, to perform basic mathematics, and to know your rights. If you can read and do the math, you can work. If you know your human rights, you can protect yourself. You can defend yourself.

Why should we bother to learn about our human rights? Because these rights are recognized by the same countries who violate them and the UN and other signing nations have a duty to make sure these are enforced. These rights are valid because everyone is born to them. They are not earned, as some politicians would have us think. They are not given to one 'race' and denied to another as the Nazis would have us think. They belong to everyone.

The history of human rights can be traced back a few hundred years to the abolitionists. They began a true movement against the disgusting practice of the slave trade. The first step for them was to recognize the suffering of their fellow human beings and then they had to take the step to ensure change. It wasn't easy.

Think on this a moment. Who were the owners of the slaves? In some countries, where Romanies were slaves, it was the crown and the church who owned slaves. The people in the highest realms of power in both the temporal and spiritual world. In the United States, it was the wealthy plantation owners, the leaders of industry, that owned the slaves. They were the economic captains who needed cheap labor to make their money. The same in Britain. Abolitionists were fighting an uphill battle against the powers that be.

They began a campaign that started small. They wrote essays and pamphlets and gave speeches and sermons to sway public opinion. When the people, the average citizen, started to understand the principle that freedom is a right to be given to everyone, then the ball started rolling and there was no way to stop it. Laws forbidding the trade of slaves were passed, though this did not end slavery altogether. We know that in the States, it took a war to end slavery, though slavery was NOT the only reason why we went to war with our fellow citizens.

When slavery was abolished, several things happened all at once. The freed slave discovered that, while he was no longer a slave, he had few, if any rights. He also became a second-class citizen, subjected to hatred and violence. Racism and segregation replaced slavery and blacks in the United States still fight to this day to be called equals.

Something else came out of the Abolitionist movement: women's rights. Many women had fought the good fight to free the slaves and realized they were little better off than the newly freed slave. Women began to fight for the right to vote, to have status in the courts against abusive husbands, and to have the right to own property, among other demands. Women's rights have come along way, but, just like the black man, women have a long road ahead.

World War I began, the War to End all Wars. If only. In this war, mankind found new ways to kill the enemy, ways that were far more grotesque than ever before. We managed to create a whole new world of nightmares, of ways to suffer and die, forcing medicine to make up the balance. Advances in medicine grew from the violence of a new way of warfare. But from this, there came a desire to protect the rights of the soldier. Activists discovered that for every 1,000 horses, there were 4 veterinarians, yet only 1 doctor for the same number of soldiers. From this, came the rights of the soldier and the Red Cross.

We know that the peace between WWI and WWII was more of a ceasefire. The Nazis had to put the blame somewhere, so they pointed to the Jew and the Gypsy for bringing foreign blood to Europe, blamed the Jews for the economic conditions, and taught their children to hate. We know the results. The Holocaust. Over 6 million Jews and about 1-2 million Romanies died side by side in the gas chambers for the crime of being born.

The atrocities committed by the Nazis set the stage for the creation of the UN in hopes that differences between countries could be solved by more peaceful debate. And the UN created the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to protect the citizens of the world in our vow of "Never Again." These rights became subject to law through ratification by the signing countries.

So what are they? This has been taken directly from the UN. Please note the emphasis are mine.

PREAMBLE

Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,
Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,
Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,
Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,
Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,
Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,
Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,
Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

Article 1.

• All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 2.

• Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Article 3.

• Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Article 4.

• No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

Article 5.

• No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Article 6.

• Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

Article 7.

• All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

Article 8.

• Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

Article 9.

• No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

Article 10.

• Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

Article 11.

• (1) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.
• (2) No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.

Article 12.

• No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

Article 13.

• (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.
• (2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.

Article 14.

• (1) Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.
• (2) This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 15.

• (1) Everyone has the right to a nationality.
• (2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.

Article 16.

• (1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
• (2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
• (3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.

Article 17.

• (1) Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
• (2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.

Article 18.

• Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 19.

• Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article 20.

• (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
• (2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

Article 21.

• (1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
• (2) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.
• (3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

Article 22.

• Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.

Article 23.

• (1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
• (2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
• (3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
• (4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

Article 24.

• Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

Article 25.

• (1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
• (2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

Article 26.

• (1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
• (2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
• (3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

Article 27.

• (1) Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.
• (2) Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.

Article 28.

• Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.

Article 29.

• (1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.
• (2) In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.
• (3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 30.

• Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

Consider these carefully. Have you noticed that these are not being taken into consideration by all countries? The Czech Republic is a perfect example. Not only are they breaking multiple articles when it comes to the Romani people, but it is the Czech Republic who is on the committee for writing human rights policy for the UN!

All Romanies need to know their rights and how to exercise them. We, as world citizens, must help those who cannot help themselves. We must find a way to create educational programs that can assist Romanies in all countries to defend their rights.

It can be done. Like the first activists, we have to take that step from just thinking that something is unjust and act upon it. Find a way to help. Be a part of our own solution.

United States of America Joins the Decade of Roma Inclusion 2005-2015

Press Release

United States of America Joins the Decade of Roma Inclusion 2005-2015

Budapest, February 6, 2012: The Decade of Roma Inclusion Secretariat Foundation congratulates the Government of the United States for its decision to join the Decade of Roma Inclusion 2005-2015 Initiative as an observer.

Announcing the decision in Sofia, Bulgaria, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said: “For too long, Roma citizens have been marginalized and isolated, prevented from contributing their talents and participating in their societies. This is a critical matter of human rights, and it affects millions of men, women, and children across the continent.” The U.S. move highlighted the international community’s interest in Roma inclusion and gave new impetus to the political commitment of the European countries to improve the socio-economic status of the Roma.

The Decade of Roma Inclusion is a unique forum that brings together governments, international organizations and civil society to address exclusion of Romani communities. Seven years into the initiative, it is time for intensifying cooperation and synergies between Decade partners and transforming the commitment into results.

We urge the Western European countries to join the initiative and jointly reinforce the core mission of the Decade of Roma Inclusion: to eliminate discrimination and close the unacceptable gaps between Roma and the rest of society!

The Decade Secretariat warmly welcomes the United States of America into the Decade of Roma Inclusion 2005-2015 family.

Decade of Roma Inclusion 2005 -2015 is an international initiative of 12 European governments: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, Czech Republic, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Slovakia, Serbia and Spain. Slovenia has an observer status. Partners of the initiative are the non-governmental organization from mentioned countries and following international and intergovernmental organizations: World Bank, the Open Society Institute (OSI), the Roma Education Fund (REF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Council of Europe, the Council of Europe Development Bank, the Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE ODHIR), the European Roma Information Office (ERIO), the European Roma and Travellers Forum (ERTF), the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC), the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), European Network Against Racism (ENAR), the World Health Organization (WHO).

The initiative was launched on February 2, 2005 in Sofia – Bulgaria.

Service for the Victims of O Baro Porrajmos

Service for the Victims of O Baro Porrajmos

by Ciuin Ferrin on Sunday, January 29, 2012

Last night The People's Church in Cedar Rapids held a wonderful candle lighting ceremony for Rromani victims of the Holocaust. I wanted to share with you some of the beauty we shared.

Reverend Tom Capo opened with a call to join us. Here is his text.

"Good evening and welcome to People's Church Unitarian Universalist. I an the Reverend Tom Capo, minister here at People's. Last week I heard about the Romani people. I held certain misconceptions and prejudices that I was not even completely aware of. Much of what I knew of the Romani people was based on movies or television shows- broad strokes about a people I really knew little about. Generalizations that painted a picture of a people who stole and cheated anyone they could and put curses on others. But as we all know, prejudices and oppressions are based on these generalizations. I did not know that the United Nations had excluded the Romani people from the annual Holocaust Memorial services. I did not know how many Romani were killed during the Holocaust. I did not know that the Romani people were being oppressed throughout Europe. I did not know that some Romani in the United States were afraid to embrace and express their Romani heritage because they would be oppressed here or their business would lose customers if they expressed their heritage. I did not know, but now I do. I am awakened to this injustice, and I feel a need to support this community and to open this church to a remembrance for this people. I have learned that there are some Romani people believe that when they die, their soul will remain alive so long as they are remembered. As we worship tonight, let us keep the souls of the Romani people who suffered during the Holocaust and who are suffering throughout the world in our thoughts and prayers. Let us remember them."

This statement from Els de Groen, President of the World Artist Initiative Khetanes, was read aloud.

"Imagine a world with plenty of jobs, proper housing, health care, clean water, and proper nutrition for every human being. It would be a world without discrimination; a world where human diversity would be a source of inspiration for arts and education; a world where mankind would appreciate one another for their beauty and uniqueness as we do flora and fauna of the world. Now, take a look around our world: unemployment, homelessness, disease, and hunger. It's a world of booms and slumps, and of wealth and suffering. In this world, human variety is not perceived as richness but as a threat or potential for corruption.

Seventy years ago, Hitler's racial doctrines convinced people that once Jews and Roma were removed from existence, the Third Reich would be a paradise for the Aryan race. Approximately 6 million Jews and 1-3 million Roma perished in the darkest period in Europe's history. Though over seven decades have passed, survivors of the Holocaust must be shocked at how many of today's social attitudes parallel with those of the 1930s. Once again, in the face of many ills plaguing the world, the human race is resorting to populism, calling for scapegoats. Once more, Europe leads the way in this modern day witch hunt, and once more, the Romani people are being victimized. Fingerprinted and registered like common criminals, murdered in arson attacks, collectively deported, and defamed by the social media, the Romani people once again face the crimes they endured in the Holocaust and the situation worsens with each passing day.

Using our imagination and intellect is not a luxury only to be engaged in during times of prosperity, but more so as an absolute necessity in times of recession. We must use our ability to reason to keep racism from spreading. After all, history does not repeat itself. It is us that repeats history. We are once more allowing the senseless deaths of the Nazi victims, and only the sense to be had is in the words "Never Again". "Never Again" should these crimes be endured by the human race. Use your imagination! Imagine that we are capable of creating a world that exposes the fairy tale lies of racial superiority. This one act of mental power won't alone create the ideal, prosperous world, but it will be a far better one and the best memorial for millions murdered in the Porrajmos and the Shoah."

This was the call to meditation and prayer.

"Let us join together in prayer or meditation.
Spirit of love, God of many names, be with us and honor the Romani people.
A human life is sacred.
It is sacred in its living and it is sacred in its dying. We grieve at the loss of so many Romani people; people who lost their lives for no other reason than the culture they were born in and that they cherished in their hearts. We also grieve for those Romani people who are oppressed; oppressed for no other reason than the culture they were born in and that they cherish in their hearts. We will remember those who have passed on, but we know in our hearts there is more that needs to be done for those alive today. We must reach out with our hands to help those in need, we must let them know that they are not alone, and there are those of us who will walk with them, who see them as people who deserve the universal human rights that all people deserve, who see them not as caricatures or as objects, or as the "Other", but as real people, with feelings of love, and hope, and sorrow, just like we have, with the same human frailties and pain that we all carry. They are no different than us, but they need us because there are some people in this world who treat them as the "Other" - to be shunned and banished and oppressed. Let is remember that nothing can take the place of outstretched hands of human sympathy and understanding, the spoken and silent assurance given by friends - let us remember we have all walked the way of sorrow, of pain, of hopelessness in times past and felt loss. Let us assure them that when they find themselves feeling sorrow or loss, pain or oppression, that they do not walk alone."

And Dr. Ian Hancock sent these words to be read as the votive candles, placed on the circle of our flag, were being lit.

"For us in the United States, the horror of the Holocaust resonates so harshly in our memory because of the enormity of the loss of life it caused, because it occurred in the West and because it happened in living memory. Hitler's attempt to create his Master Race and to dominate all the lands around him, involved both military action and genocide. The two populations targeted for annihilation following the directive of the Final Solution were the Jews and the Roma, both people's losing between a half and three-quarters of their respective populations in Nazi-occupied Europe. We commemorate those tragic losses each year in ceremonies such as the one we are attending today. But we must also be fiercely aware that unless we continue to remember and examine such genocides, history can repeat itself. There have been other genocides since 1945. The Romani people have been subjected to the very same treatment in post Holocaust Europe that Hitler imposed upon them in his Third Reich: there have been forced arrests and incarcerations; there have been sterilizations, there have been neo-Nazi murders, all recorded in this the twenty-first century. We must be ever vigilant, ever alert to the early warning signs of another impending genocide. God bless the memories of those lost in the past, and God protect those who are being targeted in the present time."

O Porrajmos Education Society would like to thank the People's Church for their kindness and generosity in this beautiful ceremony, a ceremony the UN was unwilling to give us.

Holocaust Remembrance Day

In 1935, Hitler issued the Nuremburg Laws, declaring both Jew and Gypsy were ineligible citizens in the Reich because of impure bloodlines. Himmler organized the death camps and killing squads and Jews and Gypsies died side by side in the gas chambers.  6 million Jews and 3 to 5 million Gypsies were murdered due to race. The atrocities the Russians discovered at Auschwitz laid the foundation for the definition of genocide adopted by the UN in 1948.

Since then, Holocaust scholars have forgotten about the Rromanies, known as “Gypsies,” allowing history to repeat itself. European politicians blame them for a poor economy and crime. In the Czech Republic, Rromani children aren’t allowed to attend public schools and over 90,000 Rromani women have been sterilized since 1980. Italy fingerprinted and photographed the Rromani in 2008. Neo-Nazis in Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, and Italy murder Rromani with near impunity. Germany, France, and Italy deport the Rromani, and England practices illegal evictions.

In October of 2011, Thomas Hammarberg, Commissioner for Human Right for the Council of Europe declared “The importance of teaching about Roma history cannot be overemphasized. [r]aising awareness of the Roma genocide and building … memorial sites are the least states could do to honor Roma victims.”

The UN declared January 27 ‘International Holocaust Remembrance Day’ to “[c]ondemn ‘without reserve’ all manifestations of religious intolerance, incitement, harassment or violence against persons or communities based on ethnic origin or religious belief, whenever they occur." Yet Rromanies will not be allowed to participate in the UN’s ceremony.

Rromanies aren’t usually allowed inside the gates of Auschwitz for their ceremonies either. The Rromani have been told their participation would “dishonor the memory of the true victims.”

The Holocaust didn’t happen in a bubble. Please remember all victims on January 27 and reject intolerance.

In response to a call to action

We at O Porrajmos Education Society do agree with the principle called upon by activists to create a universal platform assembled by a united leadership of Rromani. We would support such a venture, though the logistics would be a nightmare.

It would require an international conference with delegates from every nation and organization. These delegates would need to determine the issues we face and create an action plan to tackle each one.

Sounds simple. It isn't.

Every country in Europe is dealing with a variety of issues. These issues, ranging from poverty to murder, must be considered with respect to their relevance in each country they exist in, not just as a universal problem. Each country has different laws, different avenues of redress. Yes, there are the courts of the EU, but not every case can/will/should be determined there. Some issues need a more immediate course of action than a law suit and we've seen just how European governments respect their own high court system. Consider the current status of D.H. and Others v the Czech Republic.

Each issue must be recognized and tactically mapped to determine a course of action. What issues are the most important?

The issues
First issue:
Most human rights organizations see any issue of life and death as a top priority. I know, it's obvious, but you may be surprised who would argue the point. Based on this, the main issue in my mind would be the attacks and lack of attention by law enforcement of these attacks as seen across Eastern Europe.

We know the causes for these crimes. We know that skin heads and neo-Nazis are running amok in their unbridled hatred and frustration, blaming Rromani for their lot in life. These people are usually poor themselves, uneducated as well, with little hope of getting and keeping a job. Rather than face the truth of their situation, they must find a scapegoat. Blame the guy who got the job, who applied for the job, who wants the job, who needs the job.

These people feel that opposition to an issue such as poverty or other social ills is to eliminate the obstacle. Reasonable, rational people understand that this is stupidity unleashed, but we must face the fact that the racists, the skin heads, and the neo-Nazis aren't going anywhere. They will continue to use their rage to encourage others to unite with them. We've seen this in history, very recent history, and we can't ignore it. When the neo-Nazis are involved, we have no choice but to learn from history and stop them now.

How?

A task force. Created through dedication and education, to take every case of violence and death and push the issues through the courts. Other duties of this task force would be to educate Rromani citizens of their rights, both human and civil, and teach them how to act upon them, how to exercise them, and how to use them to defend themselves.

In order to be effective, this task force would need to establish itself with strong NGOs such as Amnesty International as well as local, national, and international governments. Learn their strategies, strengths, and weaknesses so they can work together to create a safer world for our people.

A part of this task force would also need to work with local educators to create a curriculum dedicated to instructing outsiders on the real people called Rromani. They need to understand our ways so they can see that the problems they blame us for will not go away if we do.

Second issue:
Education.

Many would disagree with me here. Yes, poverty is a large problem and is critical, but I state that without education there will be little if any opportunities for advancement for any Rromani. Our children are born into poverty and will continue the cycle if not given the opportunity to advance and the doorway to such advancement is education. We must get our children into schools and given them the tools they need to succeed. A short term solution is jobs for Rromani now, but a long term solution starts with our children.

I believe our young people have lost hope. I believe they are turning to violence because they see no way out and they are frustrated. Drug addiction, alcoholism, and crime will only add to the problem. We have to show these kids that there is a way out and it is education. When our children succeed, so then shall we.

How?
Another task force, this one of educators. We need to create the curriculum that will help our children. A nation cannot move forward if it has no idea where it has been. We need to teach our children our history and allow them to claim their heritage. From there, it is all academic. Mathematics, reading, social studies, civics, and a practicum for finding a job.

Third issue:
Poverty

We need to help our people find a way out, not a hand out. Yeah, cliche, but it is very true. And I wish I had a solution here. I really don't. Funding that has been designated for the Rromani has been pocketed by gadji. Money for schools has gone to giving teachers raises.

It may be possible to create yet another watchdog group to demand an accounting of the money and where it goes and then make those figures public. Perhaps if the public sees where their money is really going, it may force a change in the system and get rid of a few corrupt officials.

Fourth issue:
And this is where I know I am going to be criticized. Persecution, discrimination, and other acts fall below this line. I hate the very idea of clustering the rest together, but I feel it is necessary. The reason being that everything else must be reviewed and categorized.  Often we may discover that a problem may be solved from one of the above mentioned groups.

Finally, we must declare war on the media. The irresponsible 'news' reports that blame 'those dirty Gypsies' for everything. I find it hard to believe that only the 'Gypsies' commit crimes. I read a news story while doing research for this blog that stated a Gypsy robed and raped a woman.

 I am not condoning the criminal act in any way, and if anyone believes I am, then you don't know me. When you know me, you can judge me. But let us take a careful look at the words used just in the title of the article.

The man's race was used to identify him. This often doesn't happen in States with a white man. If a white man commits a crime, he is often just referred to as 'A man'. The press will more likely state his name and age and then describe the crime. But when a black man, a Rom, or any other man of another race commits a crime, his race is usually brought up, if not in the title then in the text.

Also, when it comes to the description of the crimes, most reporters will use active voice rather than passive. Again, when you report a crime in a paper, you must, as a responsible journalist, report all crime as equal. If you are going to use active voice, do so for all crime, and not just the ones that will cause a sensation. Sensational journalism is often little more than racist reporting.

The media needs to be called out for their approaches. We need to establish a rapport with the press with liaisons who can help reporters keep to the facts and steer away from racist language. We need to support those Romani news agencies that exist and help them advance. We also need, though education, to create and support the future Rromani journalists.

In summary, I support a global network of leaders who would step forward and determine the issues and solutions to our problems and who could find a way to implement those solutions. Such leaders must be dedicated and also be supported by our people 100%. If we want the world to take us seriously, we must declare the world to be our country and stand up for our rights.