I was just curious, the other day, to browse the web and see what kind of people spread the excessive defamatory blame toward Romanians, for their so-called discrimination against Gypsies. It comes as a surprise that most these accusation come from simple and ignorant people, who are usually associated with Christian charities. Or lonely persons who get in touch over chats, in good faith and tones of naivety, with whoever else happen to be at the other end, a potential Gypsy friend or - why not - a pedophile or serial killer.

This article is not against Gypsies, it’s not even about them. But rather about those ignorant, irresponsible and ultimately stupid people from rich countries who, pretending they care and help the oppressed, under the cover of a charitable association or “innocent” blog, are rather spreading their negative prejudices against other groups of people they know nothing about.

While their irresponsible messages and lobbies brought to Romanians a huge and unjust negative image, I will no longer watch my language and harsh words, and point my finger to what they do and say. I’ll introduce here only two of the numerous texts so discriminatory toward Romanians as people and nation.

Brittany’s Romania

A nice little blog of a very sensible and sweet young lady, you would say, watching the photos and reading some lines of her site. “My name is Brittany. I like chocolate. Call me.” - this is what her profile says. How can I have something bad to say about her - you may ask. She’s innocent, she loves Gypsies - it looks like she got in touch with such a friend, maybe over the web - or maybe she had a school project assigned about Gypsies, and this is how all her love for their culture started.

Nothing wrong with that, I also simply admire any person with such good intentions (I also wrote her a nice message). But read her notes: it seems that she selectively collected from the web those texts that do not only praise the Gypsy culture, but also blame and accuse Romanians as a whole for their oppression toward this race. And when you’re already biased by how sweet, sincere and innocent such person seems to be, how can you not believe whatever she says? It comes from good faith, isn’t it?

Just take a look at some phrases from her articles:

“Gypsies are recognized for having darker skin than the Romanians. [...] Romania has the largest portion of Gypsy people - about 2 million. The communist regime in Romania used to offer the Gypsies protection, but is now gone. [...] Gypsies face terrible discrimination. They are a people laden with many difficulties. [...] The Gypsies have lived in Romania for hundreds of years but have not become socially excepted by the rest of the Romanians. They are a people who have always, and still are, greatly discriminated against. [...] It’s amazing to me how these beautiful and culturally rich people are discriminated so greatly in their own country. [...] The Romanians are generally thought to be very hospitable people.”

How comes? If you’re not already biased against Romanians, you can easily read confusing and very contradictory information. So the communist regime used to offer them protection - and by the way, this is the reason why they become so numerous in Romania, because they enjoyed privileges nowhere else they could find - but “They are a people who have always [...] greatly discriminated against“.

“The Romanians are generally thought to be very hospitable people“. Oh, thank you. So we should be really crazy when we tell the rest of the world our own stories. The obsessive repetition of “discrimination” and pointing fingers to the Romanians when you don’t have enough information make such a blog suspect.

Yes, Brittany, you may be well a nice young lady and it’s good you have such education, to get in touch and try to help other people in difficulty. But your parents should also teach you that you must think twice, collect information, get well documented, before spreading on the web such abject accusations over another nation you know nothing about.

Mission possible - Gypsy adventure in Romania

I’ll look now at an article posted in The Decatur Daily newspaper from Tennessee in 2005. It’s signed by Ashley Pentecost, a member of a Christian charitable association, at her first time she “really ventured from her safehaven back home“.

Well, nice and really charitable to volunteer and help poor people in a country other then yours. But once again, why blaming Romanians just-like-that for their discrimination against Gypsies? The only information you present there - and you seem to agree with this! - is many of country’s church members “do not believe gypsies’ lack of education, cleanliness, jobs and proper speaking allows them to be an effective witness for Christ“. If Gypsies you met there were poor, this doesn’t necessarily means there have been no efforts over the years to help them, both socially and financially.

How comes you figured out by yourself their lifestyle, but you also quickly jump to point fingers:

“I was shocked to see the extent of the Romanians’ prejudice against the gypsies. They are limited to menial jobs, and aren’t allowed to go to school past eighth grade. If they can’t find a job, they farm, shepherd, beg or steal.”

Romanians all over the world are shocked about the prejudice YOU people have not just about our country, but also about other nations. How can you pretend you really understood the problems there and the reality, in your very short stay? Beside the mentalities of some Romanians, what FACTS have you witnessed to justify your affirmations?

And take it from someone who lived there for years: I’m shocked to hear such statement, that “they aren’t allowed to go to school past eighth grade“. In fact, the government was forcing them to send their kids to school, because they didn’t want to! They didn’t go to colleges or universities because this is not mandatory and they think they didn’t need it! It’s easier to steal, to take someone else’s assets. It’s unbelievable how wrong you can be and what stupid things you spread over the world, when for 20 years I lived and grew up there, and a “charitable visitor” like you arrogantly pretends she knows better!

“Instead, I saw impoverished families and children forced to beg and steal. I witnessed the hatred for these people, who live in shacks in a country used to winter temperatures 30 degrees below zero.”

“Forced to beg and steal“! You people don’t realize how stupid and mean you look when you say things like this! How can Romanians “force” Gypsies to steal, when people out there still have to watch their pockets and wallets every morning they go to work?! They are still afraid they get beaten by Gypsies if they venture in some areas… And let me say this, because I’m not like you (to go against anyone called Romanian): I don’t blame Gypsies as a whole, I blame only those with unethical and criminal activities, it doesn’t matter if they are Romanians, Gypsies or Americans!

“As for me, I’m much more grateful for my countless freedoms and opportunities.”

Yes, you should be grateful you’re born in a rich country. Maybe some day a Gypsy or Romanian “import” will clean up the house for you and wash your dishes, for a few bucks. I’m happy such trip to Romania made you feel better about yourself and got you a nice newspaper album, with photos you can show your friends. My only wish is God watches indeed over us and looks at what you wrote in that article. If he must hug you for your charitable work with Gypsies, I’m not so sure what He thinks about your irresponsible comments and disinformation you spread about the “oppressors“.

Shame on you!

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