Ah TY, now we are getting to that common ground. Yes, civil rights in a enlightened society IS a process. But it is a bilateral conversation. So, in hoping that the "Travellers" can learn as well, let us add the hopes that the Gadjen or Country Folk (non- Romani's - litterally "civilians" in Hindi, non-Travellers in US Travellers parlience) can learn as well. The expectation that the same mechanisms of social inclution work for all is a flaw in your approach common in many if not most complex societies. Acceptence of "other" is more found in non-western and non-comodity societies, though such acceptence is not a universal among these societies. Among many Algonquin origional nations in the US, this acceptence takes the form of creation of new communities when consensus breaks down in a community. It is this kind of respect for bounderies which can put you in respectful enough a possition to be a valuble intermediary in creating understanding between two communities, such as the Travellers and settled communities.
If you stop approaching the difference between you and your neighbors with terms like Yuk, or even why? But, with the degree of... well, let's see. When you take a person who has grown up in the ordered "clean" life of the city, and have that person spend a while on a farm, up to the ankles in mud and fertalizer, Yuk would be understandable, but the farm family, who have a sence of place would think, "spoiled city brat." THen take that same farm family and have them visit New York in July, or Cardiff when they are toasting the hops at the brewery, and well, Yuk! and the city folks say, "Look at the hicks." There is a wonderful mosaic of human life, geneticly remarkably alike and culturaly fantasticly different. Now, when there is conflicts of cultures, new cultural forms emerge. Being a part of it is a wonderful thing, enriching, enlightening, (not financaly enrichinging I should add woefully...)
But, let me give you an example of acceptence. I hope my retelling of Richard's story does justice to my origional hearing. I was working with a maritime blacksmyth from England named Richard Futrel. One day he related a story about getting his first motorbike. "When I was a boy, seasonaly, the margins of the road whould always have a line of horse drawn wagons, and you just took it for granted. I don't even remember when it became rare then ended. Then, one summer I had my first bike. You know that freedom you feel, off on your own over the roads for the first time. Well, one day I was passing a small lane, and started up it. I noticed wheal ruts and thought to my self, Ah, I know what I will find up this path, and I got off and walked the bike. After a while I came to a circle of wagons with their owners cooking their dinner around an open fire. I took in the sceene for a little bit and then backed out, without anouncing my presence, you see Larryboy, that was their time, and it was wonderful just to see them."
Richard over the years picked up fiddle tunes from Travellers, and I am sure it was the respect shown above that opened him to that. Travelling people have enriched both our lives to a degree I can't explain, you have to live it. Next time you find your self repulsed or in conflict with Travellers, try an unexpected act of kindness, bring some food over, don't pry, just be present. They may open up to you about their feelings towards your community some day, and in that dialogue you can find common ground enough to reach an understanding of what you need to feel comfortable, cleaner sites etc. But, don't expect part of it will be an immidiate or ever acceptance of what you concider needed for civil living.
One thing that comes to mind is begging. On this board, posts about busking show that to some, this kind of entertainment is concidered begging by some. I have seen Pavee children in Ireland create a theater of begging with is absoultly the equal of the best busking. There was a wee girl in Limerick back in the seventies I saw, in a Galway shawl, with a German Shepard (Alsatian for Europeans) puppy wraped in her shawl and being fed with a baby bottle. She was crying unconsolably. Ten pound notes where fluttering into her box. Once she had too big a crowd, she would beam at them, as though in heaven, and the crowd would melt away and she'd start wailing again. To barrow the approach (not at all methodically with my appologies to you Ruth) of Dr. Ruth Andersen, in asking is this behavior paracitic or symbiotic, as she did with fortune telling in her doctoral thesis... in what way is this symbiotic. Well, on one level, anyone dropping a ten pound note - and these were not many tourests I should add, is feeling very good about himself, for "all he is doing for the 'problem' of Travellers in Limerick". Many are rewarding a great performance in the same way one feels good in appaulding at the opera. Much of the interaction between Travelling communities and settled communities is performance - these are folkloric communities which exist by providing small services which settled buiness would go broke providing, or providing theater of one kind or another.
So, finaly, I have to say, remember, those who are the most adaptable survive, so don't get put off by Travellers or others of the great "otherness". Roll up your sleaves and get into the life around you. One of these days your Travellers Yuk may become a Travellers, Yes!
Cheers
Larry