Songs of Gypsies Past

We Romanies lead a frustrating existence.  Rarely are we allowed to mark our own identity; instead it is marked for us by society, the same society who labeled us incorrectly as Egyptians. Who are we? We are con artists, thieves, even murderers and sexual predators according to shows like Criminal Minds, The Riches, The Finder, and Law and Order:SVU and NCIS:LA.  We are violent and aggressive according to the latest batch of reprehensible shows like My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding, and American Gypsies.  Our music is wild and uncultured and our female performers are exotic and sexual according to bands like Fishtank and Caravan of Thieves, just to name a few. 

How can a Romani be a Romani and celebrate his real heritage and culture and be accepted within society? By taking the initiative and putting something real before the eyes of the public. Nais tuke, Nick Wildwood. Brava.

Mr Wildwood has collected recordings from the past, performed by real Romanies who remained true to their heritage. This collection has been beautifully remastered in Pennsylvania for release with Volume 1 of Songs of Gypsies Past. This CD contains traditional music performed in the Romani language.

When speaking to Mr. Wildwood over the phone about this ambitious project, I was touched to the point of tears by his enthusiasm and love for the music of his people."Most of the artists are no longer with us; recordings that were handed down from my grandfather to my father and then to me. Many of these musicians had no formal training. They learned by ear and are beyond our imagination." 

 "You'll find six baso songs (traditional Romani dancing) that you might see at a party or a wedding. One of the "basos," labeled The Happy Dance, is performed by an accordion player known throughout the United States, Meeska, and that recording is at least 100 years old," he continues. "And there are 15 tracks of a "taw-cheve" performances with one special track called Autumn Leaves and in this track, the woman sings half in English and half in Romani. My grandmother used to sing this song when she was a 'boryee', or a young bride."

Even the cover art, shown above, was painstaking selected. "Two of the photographs are from the Romani Archive and Documentation Center and the other two are of an authentic bow top Gypsy wagon. The gorgeous horse on the back cover is a Gypsy vanner, bred by Romani in Europe. When the horse would run, they (the Romanies) would say the horse "whorrall" which means the horse could fly. The reason is that the fluffiness of the hair of the hooves, tail, and the mane would be blowing in the wind, giving the horse the appearance of lifting off the ground. That's our horse!" he says with great pride in his voice. "They wanted a strong horse like a Clydsdale but they didn't want the burden of feeding a horse as big a Clydesdale or the difficulty of caring for a horse as big as a Clydesdale, so they bred a smaller version."

Even the CD inside bears the stamp of Romani pride. "The CD itself is encrypted with the cover art," states Mr. Wildwood. "So this is indeed a collector's piece, a thing of beauty for the eyes as well as the ears." 

This CD collection has an even greater significance to the Romani people than just music, however. Mr Wildwood has formed a unique and special agreement with Europe's Children, the children's ministry branch of the Assembly of God Church. This agreement means Romani children will benefit from the sale of this CD. 

"We are working with the Assembly of God Church, and they represent the European people as far as children are concerned. But because of our people, the Romani people, they have made an exclusion that the funds will go to support Romani children in orphanages throughout Europe," explained Mr. Wildwood, and his voice cracked in his emotion while speaking of the children. "They (Europe's Children) also help Romani girls to get off the streets and into a home.They have missionaries in each of these countries that actually deliver food, clothes, medicine, and the most very important thing that they are teaching them is the word of God."

One way to support our brothers and sisters in Europe is to purchase Songs of Gypsies Past. It is available on Amazon.com for 14.95 and you may purchase it by following the link above. 

Another way to support our children in Europe is to donate to Europe's Children. It doesn't take much to help these children. Simply click on the link above and when you send in your donation, note that you would like your donation to assist Romani children. Help our Romani families overseas and purchase the CD or donate today. If you are Romani, claim your heritage and purchase the CD. If you are not Romani and want to experience the real deal, purchase the CD and help make a difference. 

And a closing message from Mr. Wildwood: 

"Paw-cheave-po-menga - to your happiness!"

ROMA COMMUNITY CENTRE DISTANCES ITSELF FROM REMARKS OF CANADIAN GOVERNMENT OBSERVER AT COUNCIL OF EUROPE MEETING, June 28, 2012

ROMA COMMUNITY CENTRE DISTANCES ITSELF FROM REMARKS OF CANADIAN GOVERNMENT OBSERVER AT COUNCIL OF EUROPE MEETING, June 28, 2012

The Roma Community Centre  (RCC) in Toronto declares openly that it has never had any contact with Mr. Chisu, envoy of the Canadian government present as an observer during the 26th ordinary session of the Council of Europe regular session on June 28, 2012 nor does the RCC condone, support or agree with any of Mr. Chisu's remarks during the session.  

Instead of working to protect refugees in accordance with internationally established standards in operation among western nations since 1951, Mr. Chisu and the government of Canada are criminalizing the victims of persecution.  Mr. Chisu’s statements do more damage than simply denying the right of every human being to flee persecution as recognized in the Geneva conventions. The outright justification to deny Roma victims of persecution refugee status due to accusations that individuals of Romani ethnicity may be involved in human trafficking of Romani victims is absurd. It promotes stereotypical racial prejudice against the Romani people. That anyone can declare an entire people criminals and therefore unworthy of asylum is unthinkable.  

If investigations can lead to criminal charges and successful prosecution of such criminal activity, the Roma Community Centre as well as most Romani citizens worldwide would welcome and support such actions. The very lack of equal access to police protection is what in fact is causing Roma refugees to come to Canada.  We want justice! That includes criminal prosecution of Roma criminals.  Canadians do not tolerate criminal behaviour from other Canadians, so why would we be different?

The existence of criminal activity such as human trafficking in situations where people are in need of fleeing is not unique to the Roma.  Cubans, Cambodians, Sri Lankans, and other nations have been suffering persecution and in some cases in their desperation have allowed themselves to become further victims of human trafficking.  The existence of such activity does not deny, refute, negate or excuse the activity of nations such as the Czech Republic and Hungary from protecting their citizens from racial discrimination as it applies to receiving police protection.  Armed neo-Nazi militias have increased the frequency and severity of their attacks against Roma people, which has been well documented since the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989. The tolerance that the majority populations of these countries demonstrate towards the behaviour of these organized thugs are causing Roma to flee. 

Contrary to Mr. Chisu’s remarks, no further analysis on the possible contributing factors to the Roma’s difficulties is necessary beyond that which already has been analyzed in the past 23 years.  It is time for action. Enforcement of existing laws and reforms in education policies need to be addressed. Police corruption must be rooted out.  Member states must be committed to fighting racism and protect minority rights.  

The RCC does not support the criminalization of refugees.  The RCC supports the claims of Roma who have legitimate claims for asylum in Canada. 

We wish that Mr. Chisu and the Canadian government would actually ask us what we think, and what our recommendations are before making misleading statements about our position to the Council of Europe. The efforts of volunteers in the Roma community for the past decade have been precisely this point: don’t talk about us without talking to us. 

Another Day, another Denier

Yesterday I began a conversation with a Denier. I actually felt sorry for this man, and even somewhat impressed. He could quote 'chapter and verse' from hate sites, as if he's read them repeatedly to memorize the material in case he needs to 'educate' people like me.

What he hasn't done, as is the case of most deniers, is to look behind the hate sites. Using facts claimed to be hidden, when in actuality they are well documented, this young man is doomed to spout a false history in order to feel better about the color of his skin.

His argument hinges on two facts: 1. A door to one of the gas chambers that has a peephole without a cover and 2. no traces of Zyklon-B on walls in a gas chamber.

He stands proudly on these two facts. His beliefs demand it.

The door he refers to, and even the walls themselves, are recreations. The chamber Deniers often offer up as evidence as proof that there were no go gas chambers is a re-construction of a gas chamber because the originals were destroyed by the Nazis to cover their crimes. This re-creation is a matter of public record. It was built to allow visitors to understand the feeling of the now destroyed chambers.

I asked him about the real chambers, currently in ruins after the Nazis attempted to destroy them when the Russians were at their door. He didn't have an exact answer, though others have explained to me that they were destroyed to make it look bad for the Nazis. The Jews did it to make it look like the Nazis were covering up war crimes.

I'm sorry, but the Nazis looked bad long before those few buildings were blown up. And it was the Nazis who destroyed them. We have that in records.

The Nazis are once again coming to power. Other supremest groups are on the rise. Deniers are becoming more and more vocal. We have to be diligent. We have to be ready to expose racism when we see it. Learn the truth and educate others.

Take back "Gypsy?"

Recently someone suggested to me that we 'take back' the word "Gypsy" by giving it a positive meaning, by showing the world what it really means to be Rromani. Perhaps the logic behind it is that since people are already using the word, if we 'step up' and give people a reason to realize that Gypsies really are decent people, then everything will be fine. We can live happily together as a global people.

There are some difficult obstacles to overcome to do this. In order to reclaim this word, we have to define it.

What exactly IS a "Gypsy" according to 'reliable' sources?

Google Dictionary: 1. 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.
3. A nomadic or free-spirited person.

That leaves me out but includes every hippie I know.

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/gypsy:  (sometimes pejorative) 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.

In this case, Gypsies aren't even Romanies, though Romanies making a dishonest living. Again, most Romanies I know are left out of the Gypsy portion of this definition, yet are included in the second portion as Romani and, by default, are dishonest. So I am not Gypsy because I am Romani, but because I am Romani I am dishonest.

http://www.northdorsetlocalplan.co.uk (Gypsies) Persons who wander or travel for the purpose of making or seeking their livelihood. New Age Travellers do not normally fall under this definition.

Again, Romanies who are settled with jobs are not Gypsies. This also doesn't include me or most Romanies I know.

Other sources down the list on the Google search were blog sites describing Gypsies as "born with mystic powers", "diviners", and the like.

How do people use the word "Gypsy"?

Like this:

 

 



And they shout slogans like "Leave, Gypsy!" or "Die Gypsy!" or "Gypsies into glue!"

How do people react to the word "Gypsy?"

like this....







Why would we want to 'reclaim' this word?

The word has negative connotations and doesn't even represent who and what we are. It is a name placed upon us by outsiders. We didn't even come up with this ourselves. The word came from "Egyptian", used when people didn't understand who we were. Yes, we applied this to ourselves as well, but now the word has once again taken on a violent meaning with genocidal proportions.

The Answer

"Gypsy" isn't who we are. It is the definition and the image the world has projected upon us. 'Taking back' the word is not the answer. The answer is education, both for outsiders and for Romanies. We need to teach the world what ROMANI means and in that process, we need to protect and preserve who we are. Teach the next generation the old ways and understand the new; remaining separate but equal as is our right as human beings.

Golden Dawn in Greece: Hold on Tight

Golden Dawn: Sunset of Humanity

compiled by František Kostlán, translated by Gwendolyn Albert
Nikos Michaloliákos, the leader of the Greek party Golden Dawn, now seated in parliament, believes the information about the gas chambers and ovens of the Nazi concentration camps is all lies. He denied the Holocaust last Sunday during an interview with the Greek private television station Mega. On Tuesday, the Greek Government sharply condemned his statement. Many police officers reportedly voted for Golden Dawn in the last parliamentary elections.

"There were no gas chambers or ovens, I consider that a lie. Auschwitz, what Auschwitz? I wasn't there, what happened there? Were you there?" asked the leader of the neo-Nazi movement which just made it into the Greek parliament for the first time in 40 years.

A Greek Government spokesperson in Athens called Michaloliákos' statements an "enormous insult to the memory of the victims" and an "attempt to revise" the historical events which victimized "tens of thousands of Greek Jews". News server Česká pozice reports that Golden Dawn's electoral slogan, aimed against immigrants, was "We must rid the country of filth". The party's logo includes a swastika-like symbol and the Nazi salute is given at its rallies.

The neo-Nazis' campaign recipe for addressing the country's economic crisis was simple: Deport hundreds of thousands of immigrants and install landmines on the borders with the neighboring states from which immigrants most often arrive. "We want to drive out all illegal immigrants. We want to get their stench out of here," Reuters quoted party representative Frangiskos Porichis as saying.
"The hour of fear for the traitors of the homeland has arrived," Michaloliakos thundered at the party's press conference. The online news server of the daily To Vima reported that he had several journalists ejected from the conference because they did not stand up when he entered the room. Agence-France Presse reported him as ominously saying, "This is just the beginning" to the foreign correspondents whom his movement has charged with spreading lies about his ideology.

News server Česká pozice also mentions a disturbing analysis published by the Greek daily To Vima, which has also been reported on by the Russian news server RT.com. According to To Vima, a large portion of the votes cast for the neo-Nazis in the 6 May elections came from police officers.

Journalists researched the electoral results in several districts of Athens, where 5 000 active-duty police officers are registered to vote. In some districts, Golden Dawn won a surprising 19 - 24 % of the vote. The newspaper reports that in the 11 districts (numbers 806 - 816) near the Ellas police station, the party even received a majority of votes! In four districts near the MAT police station the party won 13 - 19 % of the vote.

According to the electoral lists, roughly 550 - 700 people voted in each of the districts researched. Between 20 -30 % of the registered voters in those districts are police officers. To Vima says this analysis shows that 45 - 59 % of them voted for Golden Dawn.

News server Česká pozice has analyzed the reason police officers have voted for the extremists as more pragmatic than ideological. Security services would have an advantage should Golden Dawn participate in governing, or to be more precise, they definitely would not lose their existing advantages, but would increase in importance. In the current situation, on the other hand, budget cuts and savings measures must necessarily affect police officers as well.
Golden Dawn has just been guaranteed 21 parliamentary seats with 7 % of the overall vote. However, those results have made it impossible for a new government to be formed, so new elections are expected.

Gypsyland

Every once in a while you simply must enjoy life around you. I had the most interesting discussion with a young lady approximately nine years of age over the course of a twenty-four hour camp out at a local park where I volunteer.

The evening was not intended to be anything "Gypsy" at all. I was in charge of teaching a group of Girl Scouts how to bake bread on a stick over a camp fire. I had sixteen girls total, all around 9 years old. From out of the blue comes the question "Do Gypsies wear swimsuits?" The question was not directed at me, but at one of the child's friends. The friend responded in that 'all-knowing' voice that Gypsies were from Egypt and they don't swim in Egypt because it is a desert, that everyone wears 'dresses' that go to the ground, even the men, so no, Gypsies do not wear swimsuits, they were dresses and lots and lots of jewelry, especially really big ear rings.

I asked where the question had come from and why the child had asked. She 'saw on TV where Gypsy girls don't wear the right clothes all the time," and I can only assume she'd seen My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding. We began to have a short conversation about real Gypsies and their origins. It took me awhile to convince them, but I managed to get the idea that Gypsies are from Egypt out of their heads.

This must have sat in this little girl's mind and percolated throughout story time at the bonfire. She came to the Visitor's Center, which was where I was spending the night, and asked me about 'Gypsyland.' I had my laptop set up, but was unable to connect to the Internet, so we had a nice little talk.

Where was Gypsyland?

I had to explain once more the idea that Gypsies (I gave up on the word Romanies by then) came from India, but there was no one place in the world that was 'Gypsyland.' She grew very quiet and I could see this idea had just blew apart her concept of the universe and required more thought. She thanked me for the information and went on her way.

The next morning, she approached me and asked if my laptop was the type of computers we use in Gypsyland.  This time I tried a different approach. I told her that there really wasn't a Gypsyland, that I was from her hometown, and that my laptop could be purchased by anyone at Best Buy. "Gypsies are just like you. We don't own anything special that makes us Gypsies."

"Oh," and with such a look of disappointment!

The girls asked if I had any Gypsy music on my laptop, so I pulled up VIA Romen and let that play awhile. And she was back.

"Is that the kind of music they have in Gypsyland?"

"We have many different musicians who play many types of music, but, please understand, my dear, there is no Gypsyland."

About 20 minutes later we were on a hay rack ride touring the park and my little Gypsy girl was still contemplating the universe. Again, she looked at me and asked if Gypsyland was as big as the park or smaller. And after a similar conversation to those mentioned above, she still had that look of confusion on her face.

At breakfast, she asked if the foods were the same in Gypsyland.

"I eat the same things you do, sweetheart. I had donuts and orange juice like you did. There isn't any special food Gypsies eat because Gypsies live everywhere. There is no one place we can call our own."

She still wasn't satisfied, but then, neither was I. As she walked away to go home with her mom, I couldn't help but think about those days a thousand years ago, when the long road began, just what it may have been like in Gypsyland.

URGENT: An Appeal to Roma Friends and Allies

This is a post from http://golden-zephyr.tumblr.com/post/22840789472/urgent-an-appeal-to-roma-friends-and-allies. Please take the time in the next 24 - 48 hours to copy this letter, sign it, and mail it. This is an urgent cause and your letters will help. If you read this today, I urge you to take action.

 

URGENT: An Appeal to Roma Friends and Allies

I recently posted information about a Roma rights activist, Toma Nikolaev, who is facing extradition from the UK back to Bulgaria, where his life is in danger. There is a petition (here), but it is well documented that LETTERS, actual physical letters written by MANY people are a better source of providing justice. So, I ask you, no I humbly BEG you to help Toma (and ALL Roma rights activists, myself included) by writing a letter to the addresses below.
I have included the blurb from the petition website as an inspiration to form a letter. I will probably include the text as it stands, along with some more personal information about why it’s important not just for Toma.

Toma Nikolaev is a well-respected Roma rights activist and former candidate MP. Persecuted in Bulgaria due to his criticism of the apartheid that excludes most of Bulgaria’s 700,000 Roma, he was directing editor of the bilingual newspaper DeFacto until its closure.

Fearing for his life after a bomb was placed near his home, Mr. Nikolaev sought asylum in the UK. A long, uncompleted process followed during which Nikolaev continued to help fellow Roma. He joined the campaign to save the Dale Farm community, which was broken up by the riot police assault on the estate on 19 October 2011.

On April 8, 2012 Toma Nikolaev attended a sit-in front of the Bulgarian Embassy in London to mark Roma Nation Day. Shortly after he was arrested under a European warrant and he spent three days in custody before being released on bail. He is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court at 9:30am on 22nd May.

This is the first time a prominent Roma political activist has been brought before this court, which is reserved for extradition and terrorism cases.

Mr. Nikolaev faces extradition back to Bulgaria, where he would have to continue a prison sentence imposed for his criticism of the government .

The Roma in Bulgaria make up 8% of the population, live mostly in segregated neighbourhoods and are suffering 70% unemployment. In this condition of social exclusion, Roma activists are subject to judicial and police persecution, as well as violence from nationalist and racist movements, in particular the Atak Party. That is why we believe it is unsafe for Mr Nikoleav, his wife and children, to return to Bulgaria
and appeal to the Westminster Magistrates’ Court to dismiss the extradition proceedings brought by the Bulgarian state and allow Toma Nikolaev to remain in the UK, where he wishes to apply for political asylum.

Our appeal is also addressed to Queen Elizabeth II, and the Government and Parliament of the United Kingdom. We are asking them to intervene in the case of Toma Nikolaev, thus offering the European Union and the world an example of civility and respect for human rights. We also urge the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres; the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Navi Pillay; the European Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muiznieks; the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, and all civil society not to remain indifferent to a paradigmatic case of the current conditions of the Roma people and those who defend their rights.

We hope there will be a just and humanitarian verdict in the case of Toma Nikolaev, and extend to all recipients of this appeal our best regards.

Addresses to send letters:
Westminster Magistrate’s Court:Postal address - 181 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5QJ.


Navanethem Pillay United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Email addressinfodesk@ohchr.org
Palais Wilson
52 rue des Pâquis
CH-1201 Geneva, Switzerland.
or
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

Antonio GuterresUnited Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Case Postale 2500
CH-1211 Genève 2 Dépôt
Suisse.

Nils MuiznieksEuropean Commissioner for Human Rights

Council of EuropeF-67075 Strasbourg Cedex, FRANCE

Martin SchulzPresident of the European Parliament

Rue Wiertz 60
1047 Bruxelles
Belgique