Why is it ok to be racist about "gypsies"?

Question

I'm aware that the correct term is "Roma" but if I had put that in the title I think most people would not know what I meant.

Anyway, I've been wondering, does it seem like this is the last acceptable form of racism? I've seen a lot of offensive jokes and just outright hatred towards this ethnic group on yahoo answers, and just in general. The U.N. has called the plight of the Roma "The most pressing Human rights issue" we have to deal with. So does anyone else feel a little queasy about the almost lighthearted racism?

5quid: If you mean they are not a different race because they are of Indian origin, and therefore part of that rae and not a race unto themselves, you may be correct. If you mean they do not have a unique ethnic background and are people who have chosen that lifestyle, you're incorrect.

Answer 1

The word "Gypsy" actually is incorrect. The word "Gypsy" is used to incorporate many ethnicities that include Rromanis. In America there are many Gadje (non-Rromani) who say "I am free wheeling look at me I am a Gypsy!" or who use the word "gypsy" to define a disturbing criminal trend on the ruse.

Roma, Romani, Romany, Rromani, Rroma and various other spellings are correct.

Rromanis (how I spell it... another acceptable way) have been the outsiders, have been the travellers, have been the "exotic ones" (Look at THAT one s/he is a Gypsy!), have had more misinformation piled upon them (us... I am one) over only-the-gods know how many years. The word "Gypsy" has been stigmatized all along. I have an atlas from the 1850's that was used for instruction: its instruction about "gipsies" are as an infestation and a pestilance. It has always been "us" and "them" on both sides of the fence. Regarding the "us" as the Rromani... can anyone really blame us?

We are underrepresented in every nation. The Rromani tend to not have money, as a group, and have been persecuted for so long that most do not even consider making their lot better possible. Rromani rights is a new concept. I am not even going into the hell a Rromani goes through in Eastern Europe. That would take a long, long time.

In America, Rromani activisim is still relatively new and the population of Rromani versus Gadje (non Rromani) is stark and staggering. If I remember correctly, there is an estimated 1 million Rromani in the US versus 300 million Gadje. This is not verifiable because Rromani are not in any census.

Rromani have been shunted under the carpet for ages, including the Holocaust. A very very low estimate is 500,000 exterminated, the reality is most likely well over a million (5 million is the current guestimate and with good reason). Does anyone care? No.

One of the reasons we get such a "raw deal" in America is the definition of Romani - Romany - Gypsy. They are all equated one and the same. Concurrently the word "Gypsy" is considered to be equated to "criminal".

I am certain the problem is obvious.

I am providing some good resources about Rromani persecution. The Stanford study goes into great depth about it. Should anyone wish to see more, this is the tip of the proverbial iceberg of my links.

Answer 2

You bring up an issue that it is global, but I hadn't heard of this (I'm an ostrich, really).
How horrible- and yet, this is life.
This is the way it goes.
Even the most peaceful primate groups will war with each other when there is economic pressure. That is all their is:
Us, and Them.
And if, as the one article I read states
(http://www.geocities.com/Paris/5121/plight.htm)
if these people are visibly discernable from others, all the easier to target them.
A whole political war will have to be fought on their behalf, and be won, before they will join the ranks of those groups that are respected enough to be considered too taboo to discriminate against.
We are all primates.
We keep having to fight our own inner natures, with every new crisis.
We know better,
but that may never change the way we feel.
Sad, really.
But maybe a few hundred years from now, the rhetoric of anti-discrimination will be changed from color to economic groups. Maybe we will all be Americans, on this land that we've divided, roughly in the same shape, and maybe we will honestly be in competition with other lands, not based on race, etc.
And other lands would follow roughly the same principle.
But, there will ALWAYS be hatred, where there is survival at stake.
Or, we would all starve trying to be socialist and fair.

Answer 3

Okay, first of all, Gypsies aren't a part of a race. They're a group of different people.

A long time ago, back in High school, I was GENTLY teasing a very close friend of mine. He placed a large backpack upon his back, and I said he looked like a Gypsy. A teacher came by and told me it was oh so terribly wrong to call him that; it wasn't politically correct. I despise political correctness, and for a teacher to be going around trying to place that kind of thing on students is, well, kind of biased in its own way.
Sorry, I don't have anything against Gypsies, I just hate it when people tell me I'm not being politically correct.

Edit: The primary statement would be my point.

Answer 4

I wasn't aware that is was ok to be racist about any ethnic group. Because you see it here or other places does not mean it is ok. Just means that people are still being bigoted.

Answer 5

Gypsies have a bad reputation because they travel from town to town stealing things.

Here's a true story...

My Grandpa lived in Montana and one day the Gypsies came to town...He hired them to paint his house. He knew well and kept a watch over them, and he found out that they were diluting his paint! The cheapskates! They were rightfully chased off of the property.

Answer 6

It is not 'OK' to be racist about anyone. God does the judging, not you or I. God Bless.

Answer 7

Racism *period * is wrong.