Category Archives: Romania

Tea Party Summons Romanian Witches

There are reports leaders of the American Tea Party, along with key Republican leaders in Congress, have visited Romania where they had extensive discussions with witches. Romanian witches have declared war on taxes by the government, and these days one seeks allies in even the most unusual places. Senator Jim DeMint is reportedly learning how to use cat excrement and dead dogs to cast a spell on a certain leading Democrat who lives in the White House. Once those animals hit the waters of the Potomic it is time for Democrats to keep the lights on all night in their houses since evil spirits will be hovering in the darkness and God knows what they will do when becoming angry. We urge any Democrat to beware of a poisonous mandrake plant which has the power to transform President Obama into a decent God fearing white man who goes to church on Sunday and abandons his Muslim religion.

We warn President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden that if they wear any purple clothes on certain days of the week, their bodies will shrivel up and their hair will turn white. The best hope for Democrats is to repeal all tax laws, place witches in charge of our budget making and round up as many dead dog bodies as they can.

Man Jumps From Balcony In Parliament

The Romanian Parliament was engaged in a violent argument stemming from opposition party efforts to have a vote of no confidence in the government of Prime Minister Emil Boc when the hall was silenced by the voice of a man in the audience. Mr. Adrian Sobaru, an engineer with a child at home who was disabled and now would lose benefits due to government cuts, arose, shouted, and then flung his body over the rail and landed with a thud on the floor of Parliament. Prime Minister Boc ceased talking, gazed at the body and rushed over to provide assistance. The echo of the man’s voice was still in his head. Sobaru had shouted: “You’ve pierced us. You’ve killed our children’s future. Freedom!” The entire body of Parliament was silent for a moment and then members of the opposition party left because they could not muster enough votes for a no confidence tally. The Prime Minister did not know what to say and soon left. Medical personnel soon arrived, placed the body on a stretcher and rushed him to a hospital where his condition was rated as serious, but not life threatening.

I was wondering whether a similar event could rock the US Congress.

1. A member of the Tea Party heaving a box of tea because Congress had voted to provide medical assistance to 9/11 Responders and it would cost $4.2 Billion of Tea Party tax dollars.

2. A member of the Republican Party shouting “Freedom For the Wealthy” as he heaved onto the floor of Congress a copy of the tax code.

3. A member of the Obama Cabinet shouting, “We So Do Have Backbones” as he heaved a dead chicken onto the floor.

4. A member of the New York Yankee management throwing $2 million onto the floor while shouting: “Any Pitchers Among You?”

5. Sarah Palin throwing a dead moose carcas while shouting: “How much am I bid in US dollars for this piece of meat?”

Sarkozy Attacks Roma

In most modern societies there is always a group which represents the “other,” the unwanted, the ones who do the dirty work of society. French President Nicholas Sarkozy, who is determined to be re-elected as president of the country, has initiated an anti-Roma campaign which resonates wonderfully with people in his country. After all, there was no crime or poverty in France until “those people” arrived. Immigration Minister Eric Besson, went on radio to explain recent events connected to tearing down Roma encampments and rounding up people so they can be deported back to Romania. He urged the French media to cease employing expressions such as, “les rafles” which in English means, “roundup” because that was the expression used by Vichy, French police when they rounded up 75,000 Jews who were sent to their deaths by the Germans. He wants everyone clear that his ministry is simply placing people on planes to be sent to another country. OK, so they tore down homes and put people onto buses, but it was all done in such a manner as to assist Romas to return home.

Bernard Debre, writing in Le Monde, emphasizes: “it wouldn’t be correct to link everything: integration, religion, terrorism and foreigners coming to France. There are French terrorists. There are French criminals. We need a rational immigration policy and an integration policy.”

I guess when all the Romas have been deported, oops, sorry for that word, France will no longer have crime or beggars or poverty.

EU Denounces Sarkozy

Nicholas Sarkozy noticed his popularity ratings were declining so he looked around, realized there were Roma in his country and decided they were the ones who could help him once again become the man on a white horse of power. He initiated a terror campaign against Roma who were in France sending 977 to Romania and demolishing about 127 of their camps. Right wing enthusiasts hailed the president for his tough stand and every hater of minorities was happy to send Roma back to where they came from. However, the European Union Parliament was aghast at his policy which was in direct violation of the right to move around the EU and, for one of the first times in history, passed a resolution against the leader of a nation. It said the EU Parliament “was deeply concerned at the inflammatory and openly discriminatory rhetoric that has characterized political discourse during the repatriation of Roma, lending credibility to racist statements and the actions of extreme right wing groups.” Ironically, even conservatives in the EU body voted for the resolution which passed 337 to 245!

It is too bad the US is not a member of the EU. What would be more encouraging than a resolution condemning the Republican Party for its campaign of hate and bigotry?

France Stands Tall For Human Rights–US??

A few weeks ago the United States witnessed a hundred thousand people gather in Washington D.C. in order to cheer Glenn Beck and his anti-immigrant tirades. During the past weekend in Paris, Marseilles, Toulouse, Lyon and Lille, thousands of French people marched for human rights and demanded an end to oppression of immigrants who lack the means to fight back. Demonstrators expressed anger toward President Nicholas Sarkozy for his blatant racism and political manipulation by stirring up hate against defenseless Roma immigrants. An estimated 100,000 decent French people heard the head of NPA openly state his party’s determination to fight for equal rights. Oliver Besancourt, head of NPA said: We are here to show our refusal to the French people and the international community and to tell them that there is an indignation and revolt against the racist and xenophobic actions. The facts of stripping nationality from immigrants and dismantling Roma camps are unacceptable.”

I trust President Barack Obama reads that statement. We Americans have come a long way from once being a beacon in the world for oppressed people who were extended welcome when they arrived on our shores. I guess we Americans need to listen to Europe and learn something about being a democracy.

Roma Blamed Once Again

Copenhagen is a modern metropolis with hundreds of thousands living within its confine as well as millions who visit it each year. Danish police recently found 12 Roma living in a derelict abandoned post office and arrested them for trespassing on private property. Police are concerned about the ever increasing number of Roma who have come to their fair city of Copenhagen to find a way of life. Political leaders are currently discussing ways of coping with this large influx of undesirable aliens who supposedly beg for money, sell bottles or engage in life of crime. Current estimates place the number of these hordes of Roma at anywhere from 200–400! A police spokesperson promised a “series of police raids will be carried out and there will be nothing soft-handed about it.” They are working with Romanian police to ascertain the status of the 12 arrested Roma.

Let us accept the figure of 400 as the number of Roma in Copenhagen. Is it possible that among these 400 a few are working at paying jobs? If not, can an employment agency help secure work for these men and women. I am certain they prefer a weekly wage to what they could earn begging.

European Union Restricts East Europe Migration

There are members of the European Union and there are members who don’t exactly enjoy the same benefits of those who have been in the organization for years. Romania and Bulgaria gained entry a few years ago, but there are growing restrictions on allowing people from those nations to migrate west in search of jobs. A large number of EU nations have instituted restrictions on Romanians and Bulgarians who seek to enter in order to obtain jobs, many of which are in the agriculture area. In gaining membership, Romania and Bulgaria accepted the right of other members to restrict people from their countries to emigrate for up to seven years which is not allowed for those who have been members for years.

The current financial crisis impacting European nations will undoubtedly lead to stricter laws banning east Europeans like those from Romania or Bulgaria to enter. All over the world, migrants are among the first to suffer the financial crisis. Of course, one issue is whether native born people will desire jobs in the field of agriculture.

Romanian Actress And Italian Racism

Italy is in the grip of xenophobia and hatred toward Romas which now has impacted those of Romanian background who have migrated to the country. There are about 1.2 million Romanians in Italy and many believe they are being lumped in with the Roma immigrants. Rome’s right wing mayor, Gianni Alemanno, who has no love for Romas, has appointed Romano Badescu, an actress and singer to become his point person in reaching out to the Romanian population. “I hope to become a bridge between the Romanians and the mayor,” she said. Her first task is setting up a free phone service in both Italian and Romanian to assist immigrants obtain information such as residence permits.

Some Italians are furious at the appointment which they deride in no uncertain terms. “What does this bird know about what the Romanians in Italy are up to,” said one web comment while another derided the mayor by commenting, “it’s scandalous to give this job to a ‘lady’ who has no qualifications for the job.” Ms. Badescu has a degree in commerce and economics and argues she is an immigrant and understands issues faced by newcomers.

It is interesting that Ms. Badescu made clear to differentiate between Roma and Romanian immigrants. “The Romas and the Romanians are two completely different peoples. The crime reports have created this prejudice against an entire people.” Of course, in her view, the prejudice created by a few Roma criminals is unfair to Romanians, but she fails to note it is equally unfair to the overwhelming majority of Romas who have never committed a crime. Ms. Badescu sings like the bigot she is–in nuanced tones.

UN Role Urged In Black Sea Region

In the aftermath of the Georgia situation, enior officials in Romania and Bulgaria urged the United Nations to assume a more prominent role in dealing with conflict in the Black Sea area. Bulgarian Prime Minister Segei Stanshev expressed concern about efforts to create the elements of democracy and peace in the region due to the influence of outside forces. “Should plans for a regional centre for UN mediation in the Western Balkan/Black Sea area meet approval by member states, Bulgaria stands ready to host it in Sofia and to facilitate it in every possible way.” Romanian Foreign Minister Lazar Comanescu emphasized the importance of dealing with a region which contains important energy resources that are needed by many nations in Europe.

The fact smaller nations in the region are concerned about events in Georgia once again highlights mistakes of the Bush administration which so often makes any conflict one that the United States must resolve.

Roma In Rumania Object of Hatred

President Traian Basescu of Rumania reminded his nation that discrimination against members of the Roma community still exists and must be ended. In message made public as Romas celebrated their International Day, the president said, “although it is a day of celebration, we must not forget the primordial design of the moment and that it is drawing the attention of Romanian and European citizens alike on the problems affecting the Roma minority, of commemorating the victims of this community in the Holocaust and reminding everybody our duty to maintain the language and traditions of this minority.” He pointed out his nation has about 600,000 Roma citizens whose children frequently do not attend school and whose parents encounter discrimination at work or finding a place to live.

The plight of Roma citizens is ordinarily ignored by most people which is a factor in leading to the continual discrimination and persecution of these people.