ROMANY

 

ROMA "GYPSIES" IN HUNGARY - A LOOK AT WHAT THE CONTROVERSAIL SITUATION IN HUNGARY IS WITH THIS ETHNIC MINORITY

It's not easy to separate Roma society and culture from Hungarian society and culture.  Especially not in the mind of certain ignorant Americans who do not know the differences.  I've mentioned this stereotype of Hungarians in the past and I've posted in an inclusive way.  However, what I want to look at this month is what the present-day situation in Hungary is for the Roma people.

I want to mention that "Gypsies" are not all alike and that there are a number of ways to refer to this population.  Rom, Roma, Romany are just some variations. 

I'm providing these links that I've found and read for you to also read: 

HUNGARIAN CONSERVATIVE : BOOK LAUNCH ABOUT SUCCESSFUL ROMA MEN

In this article the book focuses on the positive.  

The book launch event for Sorsformálók – Sikeres roma férfiak történetei (Fate Shapers – Stories of Successful Roma Men) ‘Our Roma compatriots are valuable and indispensable members of society, and we view them as a valuable resource. The new book serves as a tribute to successful Roma men and honours all Roma individuals who have managed to progress, demonstrate their capabilities, seize opportunities, and enhance their circumstances in recent years.’

In this article the plight of the Romany people is exposed:

PH MUSEUM - VOLENCE AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION OF ROMANY PEOPLE   PH Museum is dedicated to Photography.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban's attitude and Jobbik Party is blamed.

FACEBOOK EUROPEAN ROMA RIGHTS CENTER Lots of posts include legal actions to ensure that Roma people have equal opportunities to education and medical care.

If this subject interests you, please continue to research for yourself.  You may also wish to respectfully give your opinion using Comments!

GYPSY SONGS FROM HUNGARY

Gypsy or Gipsie - Romany - Romani - or Rom

I enjoyed listening to this video while I cooked...

It's from Traditional Music Channel

WITCHCRAFT IN ROMANIA (GYPSY WITCHES FOR HIRE)

 This YouTube video is quite interesting.  In Romania this Gypsy witch family makes a lot of business but if you're wondering why the politicians don't make their workings illegal, well, the politicians are afraid of the witches.

At this point I think I can say that the witchcraft of Romanian Gypsy witches is not based in ancient Magyar or Hungarian tribal paganism, that what they do is of their own culture.

Does it work?  It certainly has an effect on the mind of the believer...

HUNGARY AS A CHRISTIAN COUNTRY ACCEPTS CHRISTIAN REFUGEES

In recent times Hungary has been criticized for an anti-immigrant stance, a build the fence (if not the wall) policy.  While I'm not in favor of building a physical wall as a boundary between the United States and Mexico, I'm for a strong defense of our country. 

I'm sympathetic to this in Hungary because I understand that Hungary is first of all a small country (which would fit in the state of Indiana) and cannot economically or physically absorb millions of people from anywhere.  It was once three times as large.  Secondly because Hungary struggles or refuses to help it's own impoverished population, which includes Roma (gypsies) and the homeless (who are stereotyped as alcoholic loosers) which I personally do not think of Christianity in action and thus feel should be helped first as native Hungarians. Founded as a Christian country and with a Constitution which states it is a Christian country, Hungary became so after hundreds of years of the most horrendous experience with Moslem Turk invaders who killed off most of the population and destroyed towns, infrastructure, churches. Heroics in battles against the Turks resulted in the formation of a new nobility.  In recent times Hungary has decided that the country WILL TAKE IN CHRISTIAN REFUGEES. 

HERE ARE SOME ARTICLES TO CONSIDER:

THE GUARDIAN : VICTOR ORBAN DEPLOYS CHRISTIANITY

EXCERPT: Only 15% of Hungarians say they attend church on a weekly basis,but 80% identify as Christian. Orban, who started out in politics in the late 1980's as an anti-Communist activist with little time for religion, found God in the 1990's, and even remarried his wife in a religious ceremony.

IRISH TIME : REFUGEE HOSTILE HUNGARY URGES....

EXCERPT: Addressing a Budapest conference on threats facing Christian communities, Mr. Orban warned that "the fate of Christians in the Middle East should bring home to Europe that what is happening over there may also happen to us."

"Europe, however, is forcefully pursuing an immigration policy which results in letting extremists, dangerous extremists, into the territory of the European Union," he told an audience that included church leaders from the Middle East.

STEREOTYPE OF HUNGARIANS : WE ARE GYPSIES

 Here in the United States we often hear the words Hungarian and Gypsies together ("Hungarian Gypsy") as in Hungarian Gypsy music, as if there were not Gypsy (or is that Rom or Romany) music in other countries and as if the music of the Gypsies were identical to Hungarian music or as if there are not people of one of the many tribes or clans of gypsies in other countries.

Now, I admit to you that I'm just learning about Hungarian music and don't know enough about Hungarian music or Gypsy music. Maybe this is all about the violin as a preferred musical instrument? But as I understand it, one of the accepted roles of Gypsy musicians was and is to play at Hungarian events, including weddings. Could it be that in Hungary, Gypsy music was more appreciated than in other European countries? Would that be because it's closer to traditional Hungarian music?

I simply have never heard the words "Polish Gypsy Music," or "British Gypsy Music," or "French Gypsy Music."

C2012  Magyar-American BlogSpot