Anti-gypsy view cruel
The coverage of the protests about the proposed gypsy sites makes very disturbing reading and I would appeal to everyone involved in this process to think very carefully and sincerely about what they are saying.
While I understand the worries of the protesters, I am very upset by the sentiments some have expressed. While it is entirely appropriate to say: "I am worried that having a site near my home/school might lead to problems with noise, I am afraid it will appear unsightly, and I am concerned the comings and goings might cause problems and disturbance" it is another matter entirely to say, as one Calne mother you quoted did: "I want the councillors to look into my baby's eyes and tell her she will be growing up next to gypsies."
The gypsies are an ethnic and cultural group. They are human beings and this attitude towards them is racist and very cruel. How would this quote read if the word Jews' or Somalis' replaced the word gypsy?
Half a million gypsies were slaughtered by Hitler during the Holocaust. We think it is appalling how one group of people could dehumanise another group in such a way that it extends to genocide - but consider how dehumanising this comment is? How would a gypsy child feel, reading that a mother wouldn't want her child to grow up alongside him or her? Are gypsies worth less than non-gypsies?
I trust the Gazette, as a bastion of fairness and a promoter of racial equality and human rights, will not let such views and expressions go unchallenged.
Sarah Singleton, Patterdown, Chippenham
While I understand the worries of the protesters, I am very upset by the sentiments some have expressed. While it is entirely appropriate to say: "I am worried that having a site near my home/school might lead to problems with noise, I am afraid it will appear unsightly, and I am concerned the comings and goings might cause problems and disturbance" it is another matter entirely to say, as one Calne mother you quoted did: "I want the councillors to look into my baby's eyes and tell her she will be growing up next to gypsies."
The gypsies are an ethnic and cultural group. They are human beings and this attitude towards them is racist and very cruel. How would this quote read if the word Jews' or Somalis' replaced the word gypsy?
Half a million gypsies were slaughtered by Hitler during the Holocaust. We think it is appalling how one group of people could dehumanise another group in such a way that it extends to genocide - but consider how dehumanising this comment is? How would a gypsy child feel, reading that a mother wouldn't want her child to grow up alongside him or her? Are gypsies worth less than non-gypsies?
I trust the Gazette, as a bastion of fairness and a promoter of racial equality and human rights, will not let such views and expressions go unchallenged.
Sarah Singleton, Patterdown, Chippenham
Labels: Gypsy, Gypsy Prejudice, Racism, UK
posted by Allie @ 12:32 PM
2 Comments:
At June 29, 2008 8:15 AM ,
eu4hell said...
Any decent human being is appalled over the example of racism and xenophobia that you have listed.
I am in a relationship with a young woman who is a Roma. She is no different than any other Brit, besides that I see in her unmatched beauty, style and class, and a justifiable pride in her Roma roots and traditions. I found it an enormous enrichment of MY life to be with her.
Concerns about the influx of Gypsies in British townships should be dealt with in a consensual way with BOTH sides equally involved. And the practice of virtually chasing Gypsies from one area to the next has to stop. Legal, viable and attractive sites should be chosen for campsites and dwellings, with easy access to infrastructure, schools and medical provisions top concerns.
At July 10, 2008 2:23 PM ,
Alison Mackie said...
While I lived in England the flames of hatred toward Romani people were fanned on a regular basis by Tabloid Press. Headlines condemning Gypsy people were often on the front page and served to inflame the population ~ the animosity of the masses I found, was deeprooted, unthinking and absolutely appalling.
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