I am Russian. Ask me anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"that is interesting to me, that jews in Russia are not members of the jewish religion but were still discriminated against. I always thought the WHOLE point/origin of discriminating against jews was the religion - persecution of Jesus, charging interest on loans, involvement in banking (when christians did not charge interest)."

Oh my goodness. No, across Europe these have been traditional excuses used to justify persecution of an "other". In fact, in today's self-righteous Europe, where historical persecution of Jews and other minorities is minimized in public discourse and recent-memory anti-Semitism is pushed off exclusively on the "inexplicable aberration" of WWII-era German Nazis (really, even Austrians try to pull this shit!!), one hears shades of this in statements like Russian OP's accusation that Jews have played dirty pool wrt. asylum procedures (not that she has anything against Jews other than the problems they create for themselves with their greedy crookedness. Such enlightened Europeans assure all of us that persecution against Jews in modern times was really no big deal.)

Even German OP, whose lifetime of public, cross-generational penance imposed by Germany's acknowledgement of Holocaust guilt ('cause they did it all by themselves, dontcha' know) has taught her to speak with more discretion, tells us it makes her blog boil to think of immigrants who refuse to assimilate. Europe remains painfully intolerant of its "others".

It needs to be said that Jewish involvement in finance and moneylending grew out of medieval laws barring Jews from others ways of making a living. That whole social role was a set-up.

I don't know enough about politics in the ancient world to discuss who may have been responsible for the persecution of the historical Jesus, but I can assure you that directing Christian outrage for his martyrdom toward the Jewish community was an explicit project of the Catholic church beginning 1000 years ago.

Oh please! Have you seen those others in Europe? I am talking about asylum seekers from Magrib in France, for example. Many of them are antisemitic to the point of violence; have rude and aggressive behavior, and have not worked a single day of their European lives. And let's not put all of those "others" together - Jewish people are not that different from any other inhabitants of Europe.

[Anonymous]

It is the gypsies of europe who have it rough
Even in england th travellers are looked down on.
They were victims of the holocaust and continue to be discriminated against

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is the gypsies of europe who have it rough
Even in england th travellers are looked down on.
They were victims of the holocaust and continue to be discriminated against

Very true. And self-righteous Europeans will go to great lengths to explain why they believe the Roma deserve it even today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is the gypsies of europe who have it rough
Even in england th travellers are looked down on.
They were victims of the holocaust and continue to be discriminated against

Very true. And self-righteous Europeans will go to great lengths to explain why they believe the Roma deserve it even today.

So sad
Someone said it is because they are not a unified people and do not have a common 'religion' in the way the jews have.
Like the gypsies in Romania are different from the gypsies in eg Finland.
In some regions even their customs are different. So they have stayed as the underclass and are treated as dogs.
One recent study brought to light that gypsy children in Romania were ruotinely declared to be of a lower intelligence, that way the teachers got them out of the classrooms into the other schools that were for the mentally disadvantaged.
Horrifying really, but how can we judge when we live in a society that also has its flaws

[Anonymous]

I suggest that those posters sorry for Roma people live next to them for a year. Then let's have another discussion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I suggest that those posters sorry for Roma people live next to them for a year. Then let's have another discussion.

Can you explain this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suggest that those posters sorry for Roma people live next to them for a year. Then let's have another discussion.

Can you explain this?

And was that OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suggest that those posters sorry for Roma people live next to them for a year. Then let's have another discussion.

Can you explain this?

And was that OP?

I'm thinking no. OP doesn't seem to like Czechnians (sp?). But I don't think she has said anything negative about Roma people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suggest that those posters sorry for Roma people live next to them for a year. Then let's have another discussion.

Can you explain this?

This is OP. there aren't many Roma people in Russia, at least where I lived. Those who are there are fortune tellers in the streets, using elements of hypnosis to "eject" money- sounds lovely, right?
Some also send their children to panhandle in the streets. Kids are usually loud and demanding.
On the other hand there is educated Roma elite, there is Roma theater in Moscow.
I am just saying there is basis for prejudice at the level of everyday interactions. I don't think there is institutional discrimination. I think they stay out of the system by choice. I also know that there are grants and scholarships for them in Europe, don't know if they are used much.
My take on prejudice is that where there is smoke, there is fire. Of course stereotypes are never 100% true.

[Anonymous]

In my experience those who have them as neighbors tend to either just love them or detest them. Still not sure why.
And this is from a place that is not russia.

You are wrong in saying they want to live outside of society. They just face longer wait times for housing, etc. And have to fight hard to get education and even medical care

[Anonymous]

OP, I admit I haven't read the entire thread. My question is, how long have you lived in the US?

Just wondering how long it takes an immigrant to 'really like it here' and not miss his/her country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In my experience those who have them as neighbors tend to either just love them or detest them. Still not sure why.
And this is from a place that is not russia.

You are wrong in saying they want to live outside of society. They just face longer wait times for housing, etc. And have to fight hard to get education and even medical care

What do you mean by wait times? Are they entitled to subsidized housing? Don't think it's the case in Russia. Also, are you sure they're really into education and cannot afford private medical care (in Russia costs are way lower than in the US)? Again, I don't know much about gypsies in other countries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I admit I haven't read the entire thread. My question is, how long have you lived in the US?

Just wondering how long it takes an immigrant to 'really like it here' and not miss his/her country.

I spent a total of about 3 years here but in stretches from 6 to 11 months. This time it looks like a longer term venture, several years at least.
I think it really depends on the immigrant. I stopped missing Russia after I had my baby and lived in Russia as a new mom for a while. Before then I would look forward to returning.
Again, my first time here was as an exchange student, so I was young enough to get some "imprinting".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my experience those who have them as neighbors tend to either just love them or detest them. Still not sure why.
And this is from a place that is not russia.

You are wrong in saying they want to live outside of society. They just face longer wait times for housing, etc. And have to fight hard to get education and even medical care

What do you mean by wait times? Are they entitled to subsidized housing? Don't think it's the case in Russia. Also, are you sure they're really into education and cannot afford private medical care (in Russia costs are way lower than in the US)? Again, I don't know much about gypsies in other countries.

It is my understanding that in many countries Gypsies are unable to get housing and with no fixed address, it makes it difficult for them to enroll their children in school. I read somewhere (or heard it on NPR, I cannot recall) that Spain was the only country that put a process in place that allowed Gypsies to settle down, own homes and their children get to go to school. as a result, there is a large population of gypsies living in Spain.

[Anonymous]

The gypsies are entitled to housing that is designated for low income people, but most of the time do not get it. Sometimes the problem is cultural, like a family will refuse a unit in a high rise building if an elderly gypsy couple is living below. In most countries gypsy children have to attend school regarless of whether the family has a physical address or not.
And there really are some gypsies that have gone onto higher education. This is not possible for all. In some countries the legistation makes life very hard for them. Greece is one of those places where every roma child does not get to go to school.
Some of the poorer eastern european countries have a bigger problem.
In th u.s. the migrant workers face similar problems. Their children are ignored by the schools they are enrolled in, and none of them will get to go to colllege. In europe at least the universities are mostly free and students quualify for a lot of aid, also the standard of education in schools is better