-i don't want any more gypsies getting into colleges around my country just because they are gypsies, while romanians have to study to get a good grade (when i entered college, i did it with 7.40. a gypsy got in with 5. i had to pay tax and he didn't. )
-i don't want gypsies who never worked 1 day in their life to get access to health services or get money from the goverment. i work and i pay taxes. my wage is about 1/4 of the wage of a man/woman of my profession in france/germany/italy. and i work almost everyday for gypsies(i'm a doctor).
-i don't want gypsies to live in homes they never owned, and don't pay any rent.
why aren't THESE facts considered as discrimination??? discrimination against romanians???
what madonna said that night wasn't madonna. she's watching the news? lol. who the hell believes that???
logh765
August 28th, 2009 2:37 PM
"Our country , our principles , our thinking.Dont like them?Don't bother coming next time and keep your ass in your American penthouse."
WRONG. Human Rights are everyone's business. You don't get to treat human beings like dogs and then hide under cover of it being "your country". You will be exposed by more progressive, passionate and educated people and you will deserve it. Don't like it? Then try living with an open, educated mind and things will change.
sadsad
August 28th, 2009 10:52 AM
Our country , our principles , our thinking.Dont like them?Don't bother coming next time and keep your ass in your American penthouse.
madonu
August 28th, 2009 10:18 AM
Madona committed a huge mistake by her speach because the gypsies are really terrorizing the population in any place where they are living. I would like to see the following experiment: madona to live for one week having some gypsies as neighbours and I can bet 100% that she will change her thoughts. On the other hand...if she is such a fighter for freedom why is she not lobbying for Romanians to not need a US visa to travel to US. This is a real discrimination made by US since Romania is an EU and NATO country and since the Romanian soldiers are still bleeding in Irak and Afganistan. SHAME ON YOU, madona!
maria
August 28th, 2009 9:57 AM
I have not heard Madonna saying anything about human rights in Ireland, where gypsies were beaten and burned alive. Very patronizing behavior on her part. Shows total disrespect for her audience. Audience which paid to be there.
Totally proud of how the people have reacted. Showed some spine.
ioana
August 28th, 2009 8:41 AM
dear peta, why don't u tru comong and living in romania for one month.. and only then will u be able to speak about us "hateful romanians" . we have many other ethinical minoritiel whom we live peacefully with ( we have turkish people, arabs egyptians morrocans nigerians hungarian jewish german people and many many other nation) we, as a nation are quite fond of foreigners and diversity, just not of gypsies in general because they give us a really hard time living in our own country
wstern europe got a bit of taste of them and they are not accusing us of being hateful anymore... that should be a sign for u
Peta
August 28th, 2009 8:31 AM
it's shocking and suprising at some of the comments being left here, obviously we are'nt living in the year 2009. i think madonna did a good job at highlighting whats really happening. not just in Romania but in Europe overall, no one can deny that its happening, but no one wants to admit or address whats happening. i'm sure she's not the first celebrity to speak out against dicrimination, and she won't be last. The crowds reaction confirms that she is right,it's a shame that it took an American pop star to finally address whats happening. I say shame on romanians and shame on Europeans, bare in mind only the uncivilized will habour feelings of hatred based on one's race, colour, background, or lifestyle.
Darius
August 28th, 2009 5:04 AM
It doesn't matter what the Romanian or other European people think about the Gypsy minority, it's not a matter to be discussed at a pop concert. You don't shout "bomb!" on a plane, the same way you don't criticize 60.000 people regarding a matter that you're totally unaware of. Although they can be sometimes stubborn and intolerant towards some things, Romanians are by no means racists. Just learn about the way ethnic and religious minorities have lived in Romania for hundreds of years and you’ll see what I mean. The western part of Romania – Transylvania (yes, it’s a real country) is the birth place of European religious tolerance not just of Dracula. Plus, Romanians love Madonna, hence the number of people that attended this rather expensive concert. They should have been treated with respect. Madonna did what the Eastern Europeans hate the most: being patronized by someone from a different culture, in total disregard of their national and cultural values. They should ask for a
Patricia
August 28th, 2009 4:31 AM
Calin thank you for the amazing post. I can't believe Vortex called Eastern Europe primitive. We don't discriminate people for the colour of their skin, it's not something we are brought up with. Our fear is something that is taught because of the countless negative experiencies we have with gypsies. I have been spat on on the street by gypsies, beaten up, had my things stolen, for absolutely no reason. If Madonna reads the news she should do a little bit more reasearch. We have nothing against gypsies as a race, but the way they behave towards us. And some articles say the crowd booed when she mentioned homesexuals. It's not true, we didn't boo at homesexuals, we have albolutely nothing agains that, I just thing it is rude of her to give us life lessons, when all she does is travel in private jets, rents penthouses and has an army of nannies.
Nora
August 28th, 2009 3:22 AM
Calin, I so appreciate your comment. I could not have said it any better. Madonna should be left alone, with a bunch of gypsies, for as little as three days. And then she should get three days with a bunch of Romanians. Then, perhaps, she would see the evident difference between the two. It's not about racism, it's about cultural differences. Thank you all for letting your voice be heard!
Vortex
August 28th, 2009 2:45 AM
Way to go Madonna. I've lived in Eastern Europe and it's pretty primitive with regards to peoples feelings and opinions about race and sexual orientation (with exception of course, to the anti-fascist groups that actively strive to make positive changes). Madonna has just as much right to say something about this terrible state of affairs as anyone else. You don't have to be Romanian to be angered by the Romanian attitudes toward various minorities and groups. It's interesting how all the Romanians on here who say they have no problems with Gypsies then go on to say things that prove absolutely otherwise. I myself grew up in a very racist place and whenever one would challenge racist people on their beliefs, they would lash out with the same sense of thinly veiled indignation as the posters on this message board have displayed. Change your attitudes, realize that you're living in the 21st century and maybe performers like Madonna will get down to actually performing rather than c
Maryna
August 27th, 2009 11:38 PM
Madonna needs to keep her mouth shut except for what she calls singing. She's in another country where people there could care less about her opinion. Shut up!!
Dan
August 27th, 2009 10:40 PM
She was booed for hypocrisy, not for defending gypsies.
Gypsies are discriminated all over Europe, not only in Eastern Europe. In fact, in Western Europe they are subject to laws that directly targets them (see Italy), or are their rights to stay and/or work is denied, and are subject to deportations like in ww2, against any EU laws (gypsies are EU citizens). Read about what happened a couple a months ago in Belfast - where was Madonna then? She should keep these speaches for her public at home.
mircea
August 27th, 2009 10:00 PM
I saw images of the freak show on TV ...personally I don't feel any pleasure to see freaks live (not even doing their playback). It's sad that people give a damn to monkey's opinion. Romania has a very old history and the bond between people belonging to different nationalities (as we called them before globalism reinvented us and started to tell as who we are) were strong, plain and natural. Harmony relays on solving problems locally. But nomadic, migratory, chameleonic people running away from their shameful nothingness, instead of being aware of their own natural weaknesses keep on suppressing us with political correctness tolerance and many other perverse political concepts.
Guardian
August 27th, 2009 8:23 PM
Imagine that being booed for making polittical comments. Does anyone else think a Forign National that is there to perform should do that instead of being a nusiance? The US has freedom of speech but, the Bill of Rights does not extend to Americans in a Forign Country, their country, their laws. Before you jump on a soapbox and become indiginant put it in perspective that she was outside the US making inappropiate comments, no matter what you think or believe it is their country.
Calin
August 27th, 2009 8:09 PM
Madonna should take a lesson through this public reaction. Not everything is in black and white. She offended the romanian audience that aspires to the European values, to the western civilization principles. I totaly agree with what happened and I just hope that so widely apreciated artists as Madonna, won't make this kind of errors in the future.
To not fullfill the regular social duties, imperative for anybody in a society, yet to expect to be treated equaly it's a nonsense and is dangerous for the self existence of a state of justice. Also, ranking a statisticly delimitated group, on performance criteria doesn't seem to be an act of racism. The romanians fight to be separated from the image of the gypsy ethnic group and the term confusion (rrom, roma-in english, for gypsy) because of the reason mentioned above. It's not a question of race here, it's a question of culture. I know that the poetry of the nomad way of life attracts anybody. Also the "free from the system" life it is
Janine
August 27th, 2009 7:09 PM
I think its important to also correct something commonly misleading. The children being adopted are not poor by choice, they as well as their parents or relatives live in countries which are under developed and don't have the resources that countries like ours the USA have and provide. Its not like the children or adults chose to be poor and in poverty. I do applaud people like Angelina Jolie and Madonna now who have adopted children from various races and have given them a chance at a good life. People say all the time there are children here in the USA who need homes, true, but the children here in the USA have a better chance at living and a life regardless of the struggle they may face to get ahead than a child in a third world country. For people to boo Madonna because she made a comment about equality is ignorance on their part and anyone else who choose to not believe that everyone deserves equal rights and to be treated fairly. To the previous poster about Madonna, I don't agre
liana
August 27th, 2009 5:51 PM
What does Madonna know? Is she an authority in human rights or Romania's internal affairs? Has she ever stepped foot outside her hotel while in Bucharest? Has she ever met with people who actually live in Romania day in and day out? People did not boo because they are racist, they booed because her crass generalization was an insult. And ironically, they paid up to $270 to be insulted by this fake, superficial being who may or may not have a high school diploma, yet appears to care so much and be so very knowledgeable. MOST Romanians have nothing against the Roma population per se. Naturally, when you're transiting a Roma village by car and your windows get smashed with rocks one might feel a tad bit different. However, Romanians do not hate the Roma by default, they hate the criminals and the gangs because they affect the overall quality of life, not because of the color of their skin. I live in Romania, I know how it feels to have to deal with a drunk Roma ethnic and I also know what
August 28th, 2009 3:51 PM
i am against discrimination, too.
-i don't want any more gypsies getting into colleges around my country just because they are gypsies, while romanians have to study to get a good grade (when i entered college, i did it with 7.40. a gypsy got in with 5. i had to pay tax and he didn't. )
-i don't want gypsies who never worked 1 day in their life to get access to health services or get money from the goverment. i work and i pay taxes. my wage is about 1/4 of the wage of a man/woman of my profession in france/germany/italy. and i work almost everyday for gypsies(i'm a doctor).
-i don't want gypsies to live in homes they never owned, and don't pay any rent.
why aren't THESE facts considered as discrimination??? discrimination against romanians???
what madonna said that night wasn't madonna. she's watching the news? lol. who the hell believes that???
August 28th, 2009 2:37 PM
"Our country , our principles , our thinking.Dont like them?Don't bother coming next time and keep your ass in your American penthouse."
WRONG. Human Rights are everyone's business. You don't get to treat human beings like dogs and then hide under cover of it being "your country". You will be exposed by more progressive, passionate and educated people and you will deserve it. Don't like it? Then try living with an open, educated mind and things will change.
August 28th, 2009 10:52 AM
Our country , our principles , our thinking.Dont like them?Don't bother coming next time and keep your ass in your American penthouse.
August 28th, 2009 10:18 AM
Madona committed a huge mistake by her speach because the gypsies are really terrorizing the population in any place where they are living. I would like to see the following experiment: madona to live for one week having some gypsies as neighbours and I can bet 100% that she will change her thoughts. On the other hand...if she is such a fighter for freedom why is she not lobbying for Romanians to not need a US visa to travel to US. This is a real discrimination made by US since Romania is an EU and NATO country and since the Romanian soldiers are still bleeding in Irak and Afganistan. SHAME ON YOU, madona!
August 28th, 2009 9:57 AM
I have not heard Madonna saying anything about human rights in Ireland, where gypsies were beaten and burned alive. Very patronizing behavior on her part. Shows total disrespect for her audience. Audience which paid to be there.
Totally proud of how the people have reacted. Showed some spine.
August 28th, 2009 8:41 AM
dear peta, why don't u tru comong and living in romania for one month.. and only then will u be able to speak about us "hateful romanians" . we have many other ethinical minoritiel whom we live peacefully with ( we have turkish people, arabs egyptians morrocans nigerians hungarian jewish german people and many many other nation) we, as a nation are quite fond of foreigners and diversity, just not of gypsies in general because they give us a really hard time living in our own country
wstern europe got a bit of taste of them and they are not accusing us of being hateful anymore... that should be a sign for u
August 28th, 2009 8:31 AM
it's shocking and suprising at some of the comments being left here, obviously we are'nt living in the year 2009. i think madonna did a good job at highlighting whats really happening. not just in Romania but in Europe overall, no one can deny that its happening, but no one wants to admit or address whats happening. i'm sure she's not the first celebrity to speak out against dicrimination, and she won't be last. The crowds reaction confirms that she is right,it's a shame that it took an American pop star to finally address whats happening. I say shame on romanians and shame on Europeans, bare in mind only the uncivilized will habour feelings of hatred based on one's race, colour, background, or lifestyle.
August 28th, 2009 5:04 AM
It doesn't matter what the Romanian or other European people think about the Gypsy minority, it's not a matter to be discussed at a pop concert. You don't shout "bomb!" on a plane, the same way you don't criticize 60.000 people regarding a matter that you're totally unaware of. Although they can be sometimes stubborn and intolerant towards some things, Romanians are by no means racists. Just learn about the way ethnic and religious minorities have lived in Romania for hundreds of years and you’ll see what I mean. The western part of Romania – Transylvania (yes, it’s a real country) is the birth place of European religious tolerance not just of Dracula. Plus, Romanians love Madonna, hence the number of people that attended this rather expensive concert. They should have been treated with respect. Madonna did what the Eastern Europeans hate the most: being patronized by someone from a different culture, in total disregard of their national and cultural values. They should ask for a
August 28th, 2009 4:31 AM
Calin thank you for the amazing post. I can't believe Vortex called Eastern Europe primitive. We don't discriminate people for the colour of their skin, it's not something we are brought up with. Our fear is something that is taught because of the countless negative experiencies we have with gypsies. I have been spat on on the street by gypsies, beaten up, had my things stolen, for absolutely no reason. If Madonna reads the news she should do a little bit more reasearch. We have nothing against gypsies as a race, but the way they behave towards us. And some articles say the crowd booed when she mentioned homesexuals. It's not true, we didn't boo at homesexuals, we have albolutely nothing agains that, I just thing it is rude of her to give us life lessons, when all she does is travel in private jets, rents penthouses and has an army of nannies.
August 28th, 2009 3:22 AM
Calin, I so appreciate your comment. I could not have said it any better. Madonna should be left alone, with a bunch of gypsies, for as little as three days. And then she should get three days with a bunch of Romanians. Then, perhaps, she would see the evident difference between the two. It's not about racism, it's about cultural differences. Thank you all for letting your voice be heard!
August 28th, 2009 2:45 AM
Way to go Madonna. I've lived in Eastern Europe and it's pretty primitive with regards to peoples feelings and opinions about race and sexual orientation (with exception of course, to the anti-fascist groups that actively strive to make positive changes). Madonna has just as much right to say something about this terrible state of affairs as anyone else. You don't have to be Romanian to be angered by the Romanian attitudes toward various minorities and groups. It's interesting how all the Romanians on here who say they have no problems with Gypsies then go on to say things that prove absolutely otherwise. I myself grew up in a very racist place and whenever one would challenge racist people on their beliefs, they would lash out with the same sense of thinly veiled indignation as the posters on this message board have displayed. Change your attitudes, realize that you're living in the 21st century and maybe performers like Madonna will get down to actually performing rather than c
August 27th, 2009 11:38 PM
Madonna needs to keep her mouth shut except for what she calls singing. She's in another country where people there could care less about her opinion. Shut up!!
August 27th, 2009 10:40 PM
She was booed for hypocrisy, not for defending gypsies.
Gypsies are discriminated all over Europe, not only in Eastern Europe. In fact, in Western Europe they are subject to laws that directly targets them (see Italy), or are their rights to stay and/or work is denied, and are subject to deportations like in ww2, against any EU laws (gypsies are EU citizens). Read about what happened a couple a months ago in Belfast - where was Madonna then? She should keep these speaches for her public at home.
August 27th, 2009 10:00 PM
I saw images of the freak show on TV ...personally I don't feel any pleasure to see freaks live (not even doing their playback). It's sad that people give a damn to monkey's opinion. Romania has a very old history and the bond between people belonging to different nationalities (as we called them before globalism reinvented us and started to tell as who we are) were strong, plain and natural. Harmony relays on solving problems locally. But nomadic, migratory, chameleonic people running away from their shameful nothingness, instead of being aware of their own natural weaknesses keep on suppressing us with political correctness tolerance and many other perverse political concepts.
August 27th, 2009 8:23 PM
Imagine that being booed for making polittical comments. Does anyone else think a Forign National that is there to perform should do that instead of being a nusiance? The US has freedom of speech but, the Bill of Rights does not extend to Americans in a Forign Country, their country, their laws. Before you jump on a soapbox and become indiginant put it in perspective that she was outside the US making inappropiate comments, no matter what you think or believe it is their country.
August 27th, 2009 8:09 PM
Madonna should take a lesson through this public reaction. Not everything is in black and white. She offended the romanian audience that aspires to the European values, to the western civilization principles. I totaly agree with what happened and I just hope that so widely apreciated artists as Madonna, won't make this kind of errors in the future.
To not fullfill the regular social duties, imperative for anybody in a society, yet to expect to be treated equaly it's a nonsense and is dangerous for the self existence of a state of justice. Also, ranking a statisticly delimitated group, on performance criteria doesn't seem to be an act of racism. The romanians fight to be separated from the image of the gypsy ethnic group and the term confusion (rrom, roma-in english, for gypsy) because of the reason mentioned above. It's not a question of race here, it's a question of culture. I know that the poetry of the nomad way of life attracts anybody. Also the "free from the system" life it is
August 27th, 2009 7:09 PM
I think its important to also correct something commonly misleading. The children being adopted are not poor by choice, they as well as their parents or relatives live in countries which are under developed and don't have the resources that countries like ours the USA have and provide. Its not like the children or adults chose to be poor and in poverty. I do applaud people like Angelina Jolie and Madonna now who have adopted children from various races and have given them a chance at a good life. People say all the time there are children here in the USA who need homes, true, but the children here in the USA have a better chance at living and a life regardless of the struggle they may face to get ahead than a child in a third world country. For people to boo Madonna because she made a comment about equality is ignorance on their part and anyone else who choose to not believe that everyone deserves equal rights and to be treated fairly. To the previous poster about Madonna, I don't agre
August 27th, 2009 5:51 PM
What does Madonna know? Is she an authority in human rights or Romania's internal affairs? Has she ever stepped foot outside her hotel while in Bucharest? Has she ever met with people who actually live in Romania day in and day out? People did not boo because they are racist, they booed because her crass generalization was an insult. And ironically, they paid up to $270 to be insulted by this fake, superficial being who may or may not have a high school diploma, yet appears to care so much and be so very knowledgeable. MOST Romanians have nothing against the Roma population per se. Naturally, when you're transiting a Roma village by car and your windows get smashed with rocks one might feel a tad bit different. However, Romanians do not hate the Roma by default, they hate the criminals and the gangs because they affect the overall quality of life, not because of the color of their skin. I live in Romania, I know how it feels to have to deal with a drunk Roma ethnic and I also know what
August 27th, 2009 2:01 PM
WOW!!!!!!!!