Well said GeorgeH:
One of the only dissagreements I ever had with Burnadette McCaulsky, happened one evening over protectining the right to travel, for Irish Pavees. Your comment on blame ascribed to the victem cuts close to our disagreement. I felt at the time, and still do, that one must protect the right of nomadic communities to be nomadic, while removing the cultural barriers against them emergeing from the margins of society, so if they so choose, they may singly, or as a colective join the greater community - or not, but that their fate should not be governed by prejudice. Burnadette had an equally good point, that nomadism was a reaction to prejudice and did not need protections, but should be erradicated as soon as possible.
I would be interested to hear her responce, now many years latter- as I know as much as I do about the harm done by forced assimilation under communism.
As to your observation re: Brother Bridges comments about the Kosovar violence, I agree that one incident does a trend make, and there is a great danger in ascribing crime to a particular group. I go simple and throw things at the TV when I hear commentators refer to Gypsy Crime, for example. However, I would not go as far as to refer to his comments as racialization, in light of the very real concern when the members of a community are so in conflict that we all fear a flash point incident. I think this is much more his concern, (Sorry Richard, if I overstep, speaking on your behalf!)
Well, on the overall message of the thread, I sang the Amadu Dialo song publicly last night for the first time, and it recieved a good responce. I hope it was for more than the pretty tune!
Best to all
Larry