Persecution+of+Roma+Gypsies+2011

=** Persecution of Roma Gypsies ** =

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** Brief Overview: **


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The Roma Gypsies first migrated from northern India settling in Europe in about the 14th and 15th centuries. They are often called Roma because of the Gypsies settling in Romania for a period of time but did not originate from there. They are traveling people without a home, roaming around to locate the best place to live, ethnically isolated and disconnected from the community. They use to travel around on horse and carriage, living in tents. Now they travel in camping trailers. They are a part one of the poorest and fastest growing minority groups in the world and because of that they are one of the largest minority groups in Europe. In the family, the roles of the male are to provide and maintain their clan order; they may or may not work. The role of the woman is to tend to the home and the children. The gypsies have had a long line of persecution dating back to when they first immigrated to Europe. Often when one hears the name gypsy, the thought of wandering free spirits, fortune tellers, caravans, and beggars are brought to mind. They are stereotyped as people who lie, steal, and cheat but who play the violin beautify. Throughout the years Gypsies have been persecuted leading to them becoming placed under attack and leading to some being murdered. During WW2 and Hitler’s rise to power the Gypsies were severely persecuted. They were identified as non-Aryan and put in the category of minorities with “alien blood”. During that time they were deprived of their civil rights and were sent to concentration camps were many were murdered. Today issues with gypsies are still arising. In many countries the governments have issues with the illegal immigrant. In some countries people have been destroying gypsy camps and kicking out their residents while the governments deport the Gypsies out. No other minority group has been dispersed as well as persecuted to the extent that the Roma Gypsies have been. =====

**Proof of Persecution:**
Persecution is seen baring its ugly head throughout history and is particularly evident in regards to the gypsies of eastern Europe, or the Roma people as they now prefer to be called. When you think of persecution an image of a guillotine or hanging tree most likely comes to mind, and although these people were likely persecuted in this way also, it was discrimination they mainly faced and continue to do so in their everyday lives. In many a society the Roma people are seen as inferior, unclean and untrustworthy. Beginning in the 14th century gypsies were caught and sold as slaves which endured until the 19th century and they were also treated unfairly because of their reputation; when suspected of a criminal offense, male Roma were hung without a trial and women and children would be flogged and banished forever. They are a people cast as societal outsiders unwelcome in towns and villages since they are seen as potentially sick and illiterate. Still today in the 21st century the Roma people face hardships and are denied their rights as civilians. They are without a nation, only allowed to remain in one area legally for three months due to visa restrictions and are considered a nuance and termed the “Gypsy problem” by certain governments. In Italy and France, gypsy camps are being destroyed and the inhabitants kicked out, it is because of this as well as refused employment and even service in stores that the Roma people have been forced to resort to thievery in order to survive. The unjust treatment of Gypsies is often reasoned by referring to their stereotypes. In reality, not all Gypsies are thieves, beggars, and dirty nor do they deserve to be treated as such by anyone. **Case Studies:**

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Ossi was a boy born to a Roman Catholic Gypsy family in Austria in 1936. His family earned its living as horse traders and they lived in a wagon. When Germany annexed Austria, the Gypsies were ordered to settle down and stop traveling. Once rendered immobile, they were forced to register as a different race. Gypsies were considered inhuman, simply because they weren’t Aryan. Soon, Ossi’s entire family, parents and 5 siblings, were deported to concentration camps. After several months of a diet consisting of a few turnips and no medical treatment against infections, Ossi died of malnutrition at the age of 7. =====

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Jake Bowers was born in Surrey to Gypsy family with 17 children in 1972. He has lived with the stereotypes of being called lazy, a thief, a liar, dirty, uneducated, and even a kidnapper. He is by no means any of those things. However he is associated with all those names because he is a Gypsy. He is also a journalist who's biggest aim is to fight for the rights and freedoms of the Gypsy people. He is tired of the discrimination he faces when looking for work. Often, he has encountered many people who refused to have his work published because, as a Gypsy, he is seen as untrustworthy. Fortunately, he has been able to work with BBC and he has produced a radio show called Rokker Radio that broadcasts all over the United Kingdom. He speaks a message of truth, trying to clear the misrepresented name of the Gypsies that have been discriminated against for so long. He is proud of his heritage and is willing to voice it to the world and encourage and support his fellow Gypsies that are able to tune into his show. **Historical Relevance:**

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As a result of persecution over the years the Roma people have either retreated into small segregated communities or have been forced to assimilate. Those who have opted to assimilate in order to receive acceptance have begun to lose the ties to their culture and the Romani language is deteriorating. =====



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A sort of black mark has been place on the Roma people, so much so that even today when all should be in the past, they are treated unfairly and are still unwelcome in most places. Because of their constant travel, an emphasis is not placed on education and illiteracy is a reality of many. The illiteracy problem as well as poor health has led to continued poverty for the people. Although these people are told by a majority of European Union nations to continue moving, Romani activists have been making positive changes for the people and are working towards improving the Roma situation =====

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The Gypsies passed on their culture and their traditions orally and often excluded themselves out of fear of persecution. =====

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<span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">There are no other people in Europe that have been so heavily persecuted as well as romanticized and admired for their music, =====

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<span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;"> =====

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<span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">The book __Bury Me Standing: The Gypsies and Their Journey__ by Isabel Fonseca was inspired by the lives and the hardships faced by the Gypsies in Eastern Europe. The author traveled to Europe to live among the Roma to observe their lifestyle in order to do research. In the book, Fonseca notes how much of a challenge was put before the Gypsies. She goes into details about their history of displacement, genocide, poverty, persecution, and the diaspora of this group. =====

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<span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;"> =====

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<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: center;">The translation of the Romani words - =====

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<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: center;">**Shonuto** (Shion) **nevo ankliste,** =====

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<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: center;">//The "washing" Moon is on its way.// =====

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<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: center;">//The truth will be expressed in Romani.// =====

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<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: center;">**Wi ame sam Romtshatshe,** =====

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<span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">The artist Jacob Kleyn was raised in poverty. He lived in a wooden caravan near a zoo in Russia. He began to feel like an outsider, similar to the Gypsies. Their culture and lifestyle inspired him. He began to study the Roma culture and learn their true language. =====

media type="youtube" key="2HAUmII_hcg" height="311" width="554" align="left" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">A more modern example of Gypsies influencing our culture is the modern television show My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding on TLC. This series focuses mainly on the lavish wedding celebrations associated with the Roma people living in Britain. In many episodes, it is made difficult for a Gypsy to reserve a place to hold their wedding reception. Often, they deny being a Gypsy, or traveler, in order not to be discriminated against. It’s not the focal point of the series, but there is a lot of mistreatment that continues to follow the Gypsies.

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<span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">Elements of their traditions continue to be made known in the series, for example family is a very important thing in their culture. Relatives all join together (aunts, sisters, grandmothers, etc.) to arrange and plan the wedding then everyone joins in to celebrate at the reception. Gypsies intend to only marry once, so they want to make it memorable. The celebrations are extravagant and the culture is unique which makes it fascinating enough to turn into a television show. Perhaps the series does ridicule the flamboyant extremes these Roma women seek, but it also exposes the discrimination they face even now in modern times. With such a long history of trials and persecution, the Roma people place a high value on spending time with each other and taking advantage <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">of every opportunity to celebrate and relish great aspects of life, such as marriage. =====



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<span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">@http://www.religioustolerance.org/roma.htm =====

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<span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">@http://people.howstuffworks.com/gypsy.htm =====

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<span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">http://people.howstuffworks.com/gypsy2.htm# =====

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<span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">@http://fcit.usf.edu/holocaust/people/victroma.htm =====

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