Ahh if only the stealing of children had been true then maybe I could have gotten stolen by a traveller and been brought up in what I have recently found to be a dynamic and vibrant culture! It was hell being brought up in post-war Milwaukee, I'll tell you. I managed to escape at seventeen and have been "escaping" ever since. On the run, so to speak.

I was ignorant of (but not bigotted about) the travellers in the USA. My ONLY awareness of them was a recording of the song, The Travelling People.

I remember the incident of the parking lot video and being non-plussed when it was brought out that the mom and daughter were travellers! At the time I wasn't aware of any of the "issues" surrounding the incident or the lives and culture of these people.

My learning of them and my coming to appreciate them as well I attribute to InOBU's postings on the subject.

Thank you InOBU!

Perhaps Alaska Mike will take thoughtful consideration of your information into his heart and by doing change it. I imagine he is not truly klan but probably more affected by the long winters of his homeplace.

CB