What will YOU do?

Recently I took a course in Human Rights Advocacy in which the instructor had a guest lecturer almost every week explaining their own particular causes in detail. Sometimes the speaker had achieved victory, but usually they were still in the process of educating, fighting, petitioning, lobbying, writing, labeling, etc, for their particular causes. After one such speaker who had fired up the class for her case left the room, one of the students asked this question:

"There are so many causes out there. So many things that need fixed. As a human rights advocate, where do you start?"

The instructor smiled and stated that you had to follow your heart.

I found that answer to be quite refreshing. The student was left to find her own answer to that question and I found justification in mine.

There are many good fights out there and to my mind, equal rights for Romanies is one of those critical issues. We demand our equal rights. We demand justice. We demand respect. We do a lot of demanding. We shouldn't have to.

The reason I bring this up is because I heard about a conversation between two Romanies that startled me. The conversation took place just days ago and involved an older Rom speaking to his son about education. In short, the father explained to his son that education was not important since it is a 'gadji' education.

I thought hard on that, and in a sense it is true. Education is a gadji education. The victors write the history and, let's face it, it is rare the Romanies are the victors. We've been written out of the history books. We've become a footnote in Holocaust texts and, in one of my human rights text books, a parenthetical notation. Why? But more importantly, what can we do?

We must become the educators. There is a statement made in The Memorial Book: The Gypsies at Auschwitz that has always astounded me. It refers to the relationship between the Germans and the Romanies, "it has been left to the minority to document the history of their persecution and to remind others of it" (emphasis mine).

That is a profound statement. It really is. We shouldn't have to. I know this. The evidence is clear, for all the world to see. We were equally persecuted by the Nazis and were persecuted centuries before the Third Reich came into existence. We know this from the gadji's own history. Look at the law books. It's hidden in plain sight. We shouldn't have to. But we do. Get over it.

It is time we claimed our history, claimed our rights, and then we may begin to go about the task of reminding the world of what really happened and what is currently happening. We are on the verge of genocide in Europe with no help from Canada or the United States. We don't get much help from governments now a days. We KNOW that.

So, we know the problem. We have been written off by the gadji and we have few allies. What is the solution?

It has been left to the minority (Romanies) to document the history of their persecution and to remind others of it.

Education. Pure and simple. We need that gadji education so we know how to teach them the truth. We can't rely on them to wake up one day and realize what has been going on in the world. It just isn't going to happen. We need to learn what they are teaching the next generation so that we can learn how to re-insert our history into theirs, because they have forgotten how history is not just one story, but many stories of many nations. Some win, some lose. But all of these stories contain one single element, a single thread that is true in every story. It is the thread of humanity.

Each one of us, Romani and non-Romani, share that. We are ALL human beings and we deserve equal treatment in life and within the history books. Only when the world realizes this fact will we see equality in everyone.

Get that education and then teach. When you tell one person, they will tell someone else, who will tell someone else. Yes, if we have to, we will fight this war one person at a time. One person at a time is better than no one at all.

We do a lot of shouting. We do a lot of complaining. But few listen. Time to put action to words and do something. Learn your own history. Good or bad, claim it proudly. Then show what you know. Write letters. Volunteer to teach in your local classrooms. Speak at clubs and organizations. Write your local paper. Talk to anyone who will listen.

Don't like the world? Complaining about it won't help much. Get over it. Then get on with it. It's time to fight the good fight.

 

Why do the gadji define us?

Really? I mean, REALLY? I had always considered this woman to be an educated professional. Seems I may have been gravely mistaken. 


The book is the latest in the Regan Reilly series with titles like Decked, Popped, and Fleeced. Yesterday I stopped in at my local Barnes and Noble and found this book on a huge display when I first walked in the door. Since I had intended to find the book, the display made it easy, but I was dismayed at just how easy. When I found the manager and pointed to the book, he cringed before I even said anything. "I knew we were going to have trouble with that the moment I saw the cover." Kudos, Mr. Manager, for recognizing the problem. He was sympathetic, but of course has no authority to remove the book.


Today's blog is not about the book itself, but more it is a call to action. As a persecuted minority, we have been forced to accept the definitions others put on us.


Is this really what we are?
I got this from a Google definition: 

A member of a traveling people with dark skin and hair who speak Romany and traditionally live by seasonal work, itinerant trade, and fortune-telling. Gypsies are now found mostly in Europe, parts of North Africa, and North America, but are believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent

A nomadic or free-spirited person  


Wiktionary says:   An itinerant person or any person or group with qualities traditionally ascribed to Romani people, including suspected of making a living from dishonest practices or theft etc.; one of a vagabond race, not necessarily Romani.


Well, at least it's good to know that not every Gypsy is a Gypsy. Just the bad ones.

This one comes from wordnetweb.princeton.edu: a member of a people with dark skin and hair who speak Romany and who traditionally live by seasonal work and fortunetelling; they are believed to have originated in northern India but now are living on all continents (but mostly in Europe, North Africa, and North America)


There are pages and pages more from all sorts of 'experts' and not one of them are Romanies. 

Time to Act

We must have control of our own identity. We can not allow non-Romani academics, law enforcement, or 'Gypsiologists' to identify us. We can not allow authors to use such titles or characters without consequences. We can not allow Hollywood to portray us as magical villains who curse people to hell or other such drivel. 


It is time to act. We are being run over by the media who is eager for a good story. Politicians set us up as scapegoats for their own mismanagement of government or to gain votes. I seem to recall Hitler using this same tactic. Racists are using violence to intimidate our people.


The time has come to stand up for what you are and what you believe in and there are so many ways you can do this. Write letters. Educate the outsiders by volunteering to speak in classrooms or at community events. Create events that show your community the truth about us. 


Dr. Ian Hancock told me to never give up. "Do nothing and nothing will change." We need change. We need to help those who can not help themselves. We can not sit back idly as our brothers and sisters in Europe suffer because of ignorance.


If the book "Gypped" offends you, let the author know here


Tired of seeing Criminal Minds "Bloodlines"? Let the network know here


And everyone's favorite, 'My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding'. There are two links. Go here  or here 


Click on the links. Take a stand.

Inauguration date for the memorial to the murdered Sinti and Roma

This comes to us via the Roma Virtual Network.

Inauguration date for the memorial to the murdered Sinti and Roma
Europe on Thursday, 25 October 2012
Central Council of German Sinti and Roma welcomes imminent completion of the memorial

The Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media announced today by the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, the inauguration of the memorial to the murdered Sinti and Roma in Europe, in consultation with all stakeholders is set for  25 October,  2012.

It is planned to celebrate the inauguration in the immediate vicinity of the Reichstag, memorial, attended by survivors of the Nazi Holocaust from all over Germany and representatives of European Roma and Sinti organization be. In addition, the representatives from European governments and the U.S. government and public figures are invited.

The Central Council of German Sinti and Roma also has asked to be able to show the exhibition on the Nazi genocide of Sinti and Roma in Paul-Loebe-Haus of the German Bundestag.

'We are very glad that this monument is now completed. The survivors had to wait very long, "said Romani Rose, chairman of the Central Council.

_______

We at O Porrajmos Education Society are delighted that this memorial is finally happening. One of the many shames of Europe is that she has never recognized all of the victims of the Holocaust and has continued to dehumanize those minorities who have already been victims of the Nazis. While it is only a symbol, only a band aid on a gaping wound, it is a small step forward. Brava to those who have worked so hard and so long on this project.

8th of April: A Call for Unity!

8th of April: A Call for Unity!

  

Roma around the world celebrate this day in tribute of the first World Romani Congress held in Orphingon, near London in 1971.

Since 1971, decisions of the World Roma Congress largely shaped our struggle for dignity. Ever since, a moral high ground enshrined in those decisions elevates our determination to the cause. They present a transnational political code for future generations of the Roma people.

Since 1971, we are resolved to be called Roma. We stand up beneath the green and blue flag embellished with the red, sixteen-spoked chakra wheel. We sing a common anthem that echoes our history of determination to peace and unity. We speak Romanes, the language whose endurance is a living source of connection with our brothers and sisters all around the world. We are citizens. We are proud to be a Roma Nation. We commit to live together with other people and Nations in peace and mutual respect.

With these words in our hearts and minds, Roma world-wide could celebrate International Roma Day together in unity under the motto: United in Peace, Prosperity and Solidarity!

On 8th of April 2012, at 12:00 noon all the Roma around the world can unite through the flow of the rivers, seas and oceans. Let us gather at noon to cast flowers into our nearest river, sea, ocean. Let the spirit of the International Roma Day unite us!

A large group of Roma activists in Budapest will gather and cast flowers into the Danube. We call on all Roma to organize celebrations, cast flowers and share this information with others in order to initiate the unity of Roma in the world.

Organizing Committee, Budapest 8th of April