Sarkozy and the Romani

The fight is just beginning.

Sarkozy's reception at the EU was less than cordial over the mass expulsion and forced eviction of entire communities (tent villages) of Romani-an ethnic group originating it is believed in India that nomadically floating around eastern europe (romania) for a time before venturing in to the heart of europe. It is reported that Sarkozy got his french cuffs in a twist when declaring that he is the leader of france and all of france will not be insulted by the criticism that this was the best way to deal with crime- just evict an entire ethnic group without actual data or evidence of any criminal act of each or any individual- just to romania with all of them. I hate to tell Sarkozy that I know a few French folk who think the whole plot outrageous (even reminiscent of the Mass expulsion/forced eviction of Jews during and before WWII).

Merkel of Germany it is reported is following suit- we don't want any of them either. They generally have a bad rap- they embody all the stereotypes of pick pocketing thieving beggars who assault you in the train stations with beggarly tricks including borrowed babies drooling and ill clad huddled in corners of jackets. You cannot miss the stereotype any more than you can miss "their" cardboard signs, outstretched soiled hands and eyes that seem to smirk as try to look hungry and probably are.

We in this country of course recognize this as just plainly racist- just because someone is of any ethnic group, it doesn't justify the mass stereotype of the entire ethnicity and certainly not justifying deportation. What would be of our Irish and Italian immigrants were that the case? Where would we be if we sent back all those dirty puritan pilgrims from England stealing the land from us native Americans- the native Americans might think----We are a nation of immigrants and when people arrive hungry and destitute sometimes they steal the bread until they acculturate assimilate and establish their communities. Is it that France and Germany don't want them assimilated or aren't they trying?

There is a UN office of forced evictions/deportations- they visited New Orleans not too long ago looking at the government dictates to abolish all public housing in NOLA as the local housing authority was absorbed into HUD. Perhaps the UN should investigate what really is going on with the ROMA communities in Western Europe. Is every family really running a chop shop? Are none of their kids in French schools doing well? Are they all pick pocketing thieving beggars? I suspect the answer is a resounding NO. They all however apparently seem to be victim to the same racial stereotyping we are far too familiar with in this country.

Do not oppress the stranger or the Alien- you yourselves were alien's in the Land of Egypt.