The \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\theated discussion about the immigration from Romania and Bulgaria to Germany \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tcontinues. Opinions are still divided and range between of gloomy forecasts of \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\toverburdened social security system and increasing shadow economy to call for \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tmoderation and a rationalisation of the debate and arguments. That the forecasted \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsequences of such an immigration are political constructs is only emphasised \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tby some of the German media, others simply see them as given and as an inevitable \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfact.<\/p>\n
Duisburg’s \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMayor S\u00f6ren Link speaks of 15 million additional costs to social welfare. He \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tcalls on the EU to improve the situation in Romania and Bulgaria quickly so \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tthat the people affected – from the perspective of many politicians and \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tjournalists primarily Rroma \u2013 do not even come to Germany. Link\u2019s concern is based \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ton the upcoming enactment of the freedom of establishment between Germany, Romania \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tand Bulgaria from early 2014 onward. By then, the citizens of the countries \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tconcerned will be allowed to stay longer than the current 90 days without work \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpermit in Germany. Link is in line with the gloomy predictions of the German \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCities Association and does not really critically questions the issue (Schmidt \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2013).<\/p>\n
According \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tto a survey by the weekly newspaper Focus, a majority of German citizens is in \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfavour of a restriction of immigration from all EU countries. The Federal Interior \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMinister Hans-Peter Friedrich is quoted as saying that the cities should strive \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfor their own good is a strict compliance with existing legislation. He is \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\talluding specifically to the unfair abuse of social aid funds and calls for \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttougher controls and fines. Migration researcher Klaus J. Bade is presented as the \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tantipode to Friedrich. Bade criticizes the hysterical reactions to migration \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfrom South Eastern Europe and identifies the dire predictions on the \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsequences of mass immigration as a political construct. Statistics on the \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tmassive increase in welfare costs due to immigrants from Romania and Bulgaria \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tare presented at the end of the article. How accurate these statistics from the \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFederal Labour Office are or how they were constructed is not presented nor \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdiscussed (Focus 2013, Berliner Zeitung 2013).<\/p>\n
Frigelj \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t(2013) reports on what he calls a \u201cclash of two worlds\u201d. The article focuses on \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tvisible Rroma with a negative image living in social housing in Duisburg. As a \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tstarting point the journalist chooses a well-established couple living in that \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\testatge since a long time who, since the influx of Southeastern Europeans, \u201cincluding \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tmany Rroma\u201d, no longer feels safe. The majority of the article focuses on the \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tnegative issues resulting from the arrival of migrants from Eastern Europe and \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpropagates the image of a drastic disruption of social peace. That there are \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tindeed negative consequences and issues will not be denied, but the one-sided \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfocus on negative stereotypes on Rroma and South-eastern Europeans needs to be \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdecidedly criticized. Sections as the one that follows bring no contribution to \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tthe rationalisation of the debate: \u201cThe couple Halle and neighbours tell about \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tcatastrophes \u00a0on other side of the \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tstreet: loud music, shouting, and barbecue feast till late in the night, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tgarbage thrown out of the windows, human excrement on the premises, no manners, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tno decency.\u201d As a counterpoint in this debate, the article portrays a resident \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpriest, who is campaigning for a more differentiated and objective debate. According \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tto Frigelj very few of the involved parties want to achieve this. <\/p>\n
Joachim \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBrenner (Voigts 2013) from the association F\u00f6rderverein Roma \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\te.v. in Frankfurt criticizes what in his view constitutes the \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\texaggerated figures of the immigration from Eastern Europe. He notes: \u201cThe \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\texcitement is constructed. With the slogan \u201cThe boat is full\u201d votes can be \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tgotten. That more people are coming than ten years ago may be true, but still: \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWe are moving into an area where, for a society like ours, what is socially \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfeasible is not significant. It’s a shame if this is so hyped.\u201d <\/p>\n
Thorpe \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t(2013) enriches the debate by post from a Rroma village in Bulgaria. The local \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsituation is portrayed as most German politicians and journalists present it: a \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tlife of misery, poverty, without future. The food is often bought on credit. A \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tuniversity degree often doesn\u2019t even help Rroma to find work because of the \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdiscrimination. Migration seems the only way towards a better future in more \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdignity. Prostitution of Rroma girls in Western Europe is presented as a \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tvoluntary decision that had nothing to do with human trafficking, but is made out \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tof economic considerations. The social reality displayed in this article cannot \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tbe denied, but once again the focus is solely on \u00a0marginalized Rroma living in misery. At more thorough \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tresearch would have unearthed better-off Rroma can that do not conform to these \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tstereotypes. These Rroma who are not written about in the newspapers, are an \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tintegral part of the Rroma reality, and even though they represent the \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tmajority, they are almost unknown to the general public. The article finally \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttouches that topic when the Rroma representative Rumyan Russinow is quoted. It \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tstates that those Rroma who work abroad and do not take any social state \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tbenefits are invisible because they operate outside the public stereotype of \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRroma, stereotypes which are constructed also by the media: \u201cStereotype are \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tcreated by the media, who blow the behaviour of a tiny minority out of \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tproportion.\u201d<\/p>\n
Romani \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRose, chairman of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma calls for a more \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tconcrete intervention of the federal government in cities affected by the \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\timmigration and for a solution to the problem of poverty and exclusion in the \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tcountries concerned (Frasch 2013). Efforts to improve the situation of Rroma often \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tbear no fruits because of lack of political will to improve the Rroma situation. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOne often would prefer if they did not exist. He also sees a problematic blanket \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tcriminalization of immigrants especially for those who left their countries of \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\torigin because of poverty and a lack of perspectives. Such presentation of the \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfacts plays right in the hand of right-wing parties, which so successfully \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpoliticized this theme.<\/p>\n
In an \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tinterview with the Schwabian newspaper (Kling 2013), he also provides fixed \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpoint: \u201cThe dispute on the free movement within the EU will be held in Germany \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ton the back of a minority. We are confronted here with immigrant fleeing poverty, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\twhich are then criminalized solely as Roma: they exploit social care systems, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tthey throw dirt and grime in front of the door, and so on and so forth.\u201c<\/p>\n
Michael \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMartens (2013) of the FAZ writes about the status quo in the Bulgarian society. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe resignation of Prime Minister Simeon Djankov, and the protests were \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsymptomatic of the poverty and underdevelopment of the Bulgarian state. For \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tthis reason, the Bulgarians are leaving their country in droves. According to \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tstatistics of the European Statistical Office, the number of Bulgarians shrank \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfrom 2001 to 2011 from 8.15 to 7.33 million. Martens criticized the position \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpaper of the German Association of Cities for an ambiguous naming of the \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tproblem.\u201c While the integration of ethnic Bulgarian (and Romanian) immigrants \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tusually proceeds without significant difficulties, the migration of Roma creates \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsignificant problems.\u201d This statement is not acceptable from an RCP\u2019s \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tperspective. Although it may not have been intentionally aiming at a blanket \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tcondemnation of all Rroma, as a principle an ethnic representation of an issue \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tis always decidedly to be questioned. Representing the problematic immigrants \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tas Rroma may, in Martens\u2019 view help finding a solution, but ethnic \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\trepresentation and categorisation is always dangerous. This is why, on the other \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\thand, the careful wording of the German Association of Cities is clearly welcomed.<\/p>\n
On \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tneeds to criticise the Articles of Staat (2013), which reproduces the \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tstereotype of rich Rroma kings who live on the exploitation of Rroma children. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAs a source, a social worker Norbert Ceipeck is named. He tells of his \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\texperiences in Romania, an expertise which is not in doubt. In particular, he \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdetails the estate of a Rroma King whose wealth solely stems from the exploitation \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tof Rroma under him. Children were taken away from their parents and taught to \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsteal or even forced into prostitution. The existence of such Rroma chiefs is \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tactually not that clear, as noted by Martens (2013). There are indeed \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\thierarchical relationships and dependencies, but professionally organized \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\texploitation systems, organised by Rroma exploiting other Rroma highly doubtful. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThese are more an exception to the rule rather than the norm. Speaking of Rroma \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tkings facilitiates the clich\u00e9 of exploited underlings at the mercy of a chief, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\texploiting each others, and as such also partly responsible for their own \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tmisery:<\/p>\n
The children take the long-distance \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tbus to Western Europe und groups of three to five. Each group is accompanied by \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ta woman. Ceipek calls these women \u201cwardens\u201d. Before the groups depart, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tmiddlemen organize the accommodations at the destination. The middlemen are \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\talso Roma and as the couriers and wardens belong to the inner circle of clan chiefs. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t[…] The clan chief finds ways to entrap the parents of children in ever more \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdebt. When the girls are older, 15 or 16, they are sold to another clan. The \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tnew clan pays a large sum, but he expects the girls that they give birth to \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tmany children. \u201cThe girls literally have to produce children\u201d says Ceipek. Just \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tso does the business model keep \u00a0running (Staat 2013).<\/em><\/p>\n Such \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tstatements are, even if they want to denounce poverty, are simply as racist towards \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tthe Rroma as the repetition of the standard stereotypes.<\/p>\n The \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\treport by Weuster (2013) is satisfied with the context-free playback of crimes \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tthat were committed by Slovak Rroma on a house in M\u00fclheim. She notes: \u201cWithin \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdays, seven Roma refugees ravaged an empty house in M\u00fclheim. burnt wooden \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tbanister, ripped conduits from the walls, used rooms as a toilets and garbage \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdump.\u201d That she might raise ethnic hatred and xenophobia appears unbeknownst to \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tthe author.<\/p>\n The \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsame can be said of the article by Br\u00fccher \/ Xanthopoulos (2013). Titles such \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tas \u201cIn 7 out of 10 thefts and burglaries, Roma are the perpetrators\u201d can only \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tbe described as racist and amateurish. Every journalist should be aware that that \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tmaking a connection between ethnicity and delinquent behaviour is inherently racist. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThis should be obvious, even without studying sociology or anthropology.<\/p>\n Kiewels \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t(2013) article, \u201cI am Rom – and did it\u201d gives the impression that most of the \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRroma are hostile to education and illiterate. The success story of Jane Simon, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\twho managed to make he baccalaureate (A-levels) by studying in evening classes \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tis to be welcomed especially since currently there are many negative messages on \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRroma in the press, but the contextualization of the article is unfortunate. Ex \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tnegativo, the article reinforces the negative stereotypes against Rroma.<\/p>\n The Bild \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tnewpaters continued its series with an article called \u201cThe Truth about the \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRoma,\u201d (Bild 2013). In this recent article it identifies six so-called truths \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tabout the Rroma in Germany: 1. There was no mass immigration. This finding must \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tbe greeted, as statistics did not consider seasonal workers and leavers. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMoreover, the term \u201cmass immigration\u201d is a question of definition. From what \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tnumber onwards does one o speak of mass immigration? 2. Many cities are \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\toverwhelmed and have to prevent extortion and excesses. This should not be \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdenied, but it must be stressed that these events have nothing to do with Rroma \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tper se. 3. Crime is increasing: 2011 crime statistics listed 26,348 Romanians \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tand 10,960 Bulgarians criminals. How many of them are Rroma is not recorded. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe importance of the last statement should be emphasized. Wilfully making \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tconnection between ethnicity and criminal activities is unnecessary and racist. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t4. The countries of origin are the problem, because Romanians and Bulgarians \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tare disproportionately at risk of poverty and Rroma are often marginalized. 5. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEurope is failing in helping Rroma in South Eastern and Eastern Europe, with \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tmany unsuccessful programs. We clearly agree on points 4. and 5. 6. About half \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tof the Rroma cannot read or write. This number, coming out of an EU statistics, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tstating that only 42% of Rroma are likely to finish the elementary school, may \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tbe true, but begs the question on how the overall number of Rroma (i.e. the \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttotal was determined, as this number in itself is subject to discussion). It is \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tnevertheless very questionable to reaffirm in this way the stereotype that \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRroma are illiterate. We cannot agree with this statement.<\/p>\n The \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRroma debate in Germany is also misused by far-right parties in Germany to fuel \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\thatred, as the K\u00f6lner Stadt-Anzeiger reports. The faction Pro NRW (North Rhine \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWestphalia) is planning to march in front of several refugee camps to protest what \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tthey deem to be an abuse of asylum. This rightist party uses the heated debate \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tto stir up their racist views (Schmalenberg 2013).<\/p>\n The \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTAZ (Jacob 2013) reports on the problem of invisible Rroma in Germany. The article \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdescribes the life of the Rroma interpreter Diana S., who, in spite of professional \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsuccess conceals her origins. She talks about the open rejection she \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\texperienced in Romania, where she was ostracized at school, despite excellent \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tperformance and where she was discriminated against. Also in Hamburg, where she \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tnow lives, she keeps her Rroma origin for herself. Too negative was the \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\texperience when she revealed her Rroma identity to some friends.<\/p>\n The newspaper \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u201cDie Zeit\u201d reported on the work of the Hungarian Rroma activist Istv\u00e1n Forg\u00e1cs \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t(Bota 2013). Forg\u00e1cs grew up in a Hungarian town near the border with Austria. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHis family benefited from the financial skill of his father during the collapse \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tof the socialist system. He went to the university and worked for renowned \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\torganizations. Today he runs his own counselling centre for Rroma issues. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tForg\u00e1cs calls for greater commitment on both sides: both the Gadje (non-Rroma) \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tand the Rroma have to do more for a successful coexistence. Exactly as in the \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tcurrent debate in Germany. Contrary to may other experts, he sees the problem \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tnot as poverty issue but renames clearly as a Rroma one: on \u201cStop to call it poverty. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWe do not need more money for social inclusion, but for Roma projects. Roma \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFund. Best a Roma Bank, which lends money to the states for 20 years for their \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tlocal Roma projects.\u201d He sees the necessity for Rroma to change their image, so \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tthat the rooted hatred they suffer from finally abates. This is why Roma \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tprojects are so important.<\/p>\n According \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tto the report of Soldt (2013) of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, the \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\timmigrants in Mannheim they examined, contrary to what many German media and \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpoliticians state are not just Rroma, but are members of the Turkish minority from \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBulgaria. The Rroma, which in Neckarstadt-West represented from seven to nine per \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tcent rather came from France, from where they left due to Sarkozy’s policies \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tagainst Rroma. Mannheim wants to use language courses and \u201clow-key integration proposals\u201d \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfor the integration of migrants. 20% of immigrants hold a university degree, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t40% have a vocational qualification, and most Bulgarian immigrants are highly \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tmotivated to work. It is very important to keep them away from the shadow \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\teconomy.<\/p>\n Sternberg \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t(2013) from the M\u00e4rkischen Allgemeine paper writes about the so-called \u201cRroma \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\thouses\u201d in Neuk\u00f6lln. In most of these, Rroma are exploited by corrupt \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tlandlords, and only in a few did charities provide decent conditions. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSternberg’s article is in line with the general hysteria over mass immigration: \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMafia-like structures are the rule, Rroma are systematically exploited and \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tstill come in droves to Germany because they here for take advantage of social care. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe article provides no real new views to the debate, but confirms the \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tconservative fears about the negative impact of immigration.<\/p>\n J\u00fcrgs \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t(2013) provides a summary discussion of the talk show Maischberger on poverty \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\timmigration. He reports a strong clash between the CDU politician Wilfried \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tScharnagl and Rroma activists Hamze Bytyci. Scharnagl demands a visa regime and \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tlaments at the lack of EU intervention. The Integration Minister Guntram \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSchneider criticizes the in his view incompetent federal action regarding \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\timmigration. The activist Michael Will Hard criticized politicians for \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\trejecting responsibility and for putting the blame on EU and on the Federal \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tgovernment. Concrete concepts are in demand. This is also request by the author \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00d6zlem Gezer of the Spiegel, who proposed intensive years in education and \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tlanguage for immigrants. The show was more of a political slugfest rather than \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ta forum for concrete and fruitful proposals.\u00a0<\/p>\n Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n The heated discussion about the immigration from Romania and Bulgaria to Germany continues. Opinions are still divided and range between […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[601,596,597,14,15,605],"tags":[92,35,9,63,24,640,23,649,53,133],"class_list":["post-1435","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bulgaria","category-france","category-germany","category-news-eastern-europe","category-news-western-europe","category-romania","tag-discrimination","tag-education","tag-music","tag-racism","tag-roma","tag-romani-rose","tag-rroma","tag-schools","tag-sinti","tag-stereotypes"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rroma.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1435","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rroma.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rroma.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rroma.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rroma.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1435"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/rroma.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1435\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2237,"href":"https:\/\/rroma.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1435\/revisions\/2237"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rroma.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1435"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rroma.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1435"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rroma.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1435"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n