MovieChat Forums > Hemlock Grove (2013) Discussion > ROMANI racism?

ROMANI racism?

posted 10 years ago by majandralover30
8 replies | jump to latest

I've only just started watching this show, and I'm wondering what the problem with this town is with gypsies. I've crossed paths with a few, and I never got ripped off or had children stolen or any of the other stereotypes true or false associated with romani. I'm only on episode 1 but it seems that there is only one or two in this town anyway and they simply keep to themselves with a little bit of wicca and just really don't care. Without spoilers, can anyone tell me what the big deal is? Also, I found it curious that political correctness is so enforced so heavily in media, politics and anything else. Why then, does an entire community get away with disdain for gypsies?

[–] chaosrainz 10 years ago

Not to embrace stereotypes, but actually, they are well known- at least where I am for ripping people off in construction, on a regular basis.
Not to mention the roving bands who move around the country and take anything not nailed down.
Those people lead a gypsy lifestyle and/or refer to themselves as gypsies so the have those roles attached to them.

That's not to say ALL of them are like that, just like any other group, there's good and bad I'm sure and I dn know any personally that I'm aware of.
And I don't think they're known for violence or drugs and such so at least they're not as bad as gangs or drug dealers....but ripping people off IS criminal, not to mention just generaly douche-y.

I'm actually looking into them a little more because I found out I may have some Romany ancestors myself.

[–] loki242 10 years ago

Stereotypes come from somewhere. It happens enough to be associated with something. Fools like you running around screaming racism and pointing are stereotypically aholes.

HELP AGGRAVATE THE STATUS QUO, VOTE AGAINST EVERY INCUMBENT YOU SEE ON A BALLOT.

[–] elenari-queen 9 years ago

Please look up Antiziganism:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiziganism

It's way worse around the world than you could ever know. The racism on "Hemlock Grove" is incredibly minor by comparison to the reality.

Also? Wicca has nothing to do with Romani culture.

[–] bagarnbakarskor 9 years ago

My country only fairly recently had an influx of Romanian Romani, and no matter what the reason may be (being forced by criminal elements higher up in the clan hierarchy or something), my home town now has to contend with organized begging for the first time since perhaps ever. I haven't bothered to do much research since this this phenomenon frankly isn't that much of a nuisance to me personally, but I remember seeing a documentary a few years ago that covered just this same thing involving Romanian Romani in the south of Europe (I'm in the northern part), and it was the same modus operandi to a t, only down there they have also branched out into brazen pick-pocketing and even outright robbery, albeit of the unarmed variety, thank whoever. The most distasteful thing about these latter two is that they have their children committing the crimes, which leaves the police more or less helpless. I can only hope it doesn't come to that here.

Remember now, this is an incredibly tight-knit people, and to a degree it is understandable that they are sticking with the same old well-established approach (and be under no illusion as to who the REAL racists are in this equation*).

* It is most assuredly THEM.

Bigot: One who is obstinately and zealously attached to an opinion that you do not entertain.

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] bagarnbakarskor 9 years ago

Really? That's your reasoning for the influx? It has nothing to do with the fact Romani homes are firebombed or that Romani women and children are beaten like dogs in the streets until they are forced to move on?

Oh, don't be so dramatic.

Jesus Fuc*ing Christ, you're a complete piece of sh*t and a waste of air.

You flatterer you.

The Romani people have been degraded, dehumanized, discriminated against, ENSLAVED and systematically MURDERED by racist as*holes like you for centuries. Are you even aware of the Porajmos—the Romani Holocaust that took place at the hands of the Nazi's—or do you not care that upward of TWO MILLION INNOCENT PEOPLE were SLAUGHTERED LIKE ANIMALS after having the German word for 'G*PSY' seared into their skin?

Not especially.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/8d/d5/40/8dd54055702a33d23433225a0dac4d98.jpg THAT Romani woman was walking down the street, holding her child and minding her own business when she was attacked for nothing more than the blood that flowed in her veins.

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR8DOBEuCMfRTsgu-ZiLSp_8SmWUrC4r4mRHdhjWapcvEUs6SopHw THAT beautiful little girl was almost burned to death in her home after a group of RACISTS LIKE YOU threw Molotov cocktails into her families home.

I'm really more of a strategist and schemer. I leave the grunt work to those more suited for it.

You will never be forced to experience that level of racial hatred—you will never be forced to experience anything close to what the Romani people have to deal with on a day to day basis. You can find a good job that enables you to provide for your family—you can sleep at night, safe and secure in your home without worrying about racist scum burning your children to death while they are asleep in their beds.

You mistake me greatly. I haven't done an honest days work in my life. In this, I and the Romani are ironically alike.

Statements like yours perpetuate the systematic oppression that has plagued the Romani since they set foot in Europe; statements like yours perpetuate the systematic violence that disfigures innocent children just because they are Romani.

Well, you know, I do what I can to contribute.

Nice try, but incorrect. Please stop getting your definitions from Wikitionary.

Are you honestly as poorly educated as this makes you sound?

You know why the Romani are such a tight knit group, who don't let outsiders in? Because people like YOU have victimized, oppressed, persecuted, and discriminated against them based on nothing more than stereotypes and ignorance for centuries.

We could get into a whole 'chicken and egg' debate here, but I'll just thank you for the high praise.

*beep* you and the horse you rode in on, you racist scum.

I'm taking a figurative bow.

Bigot: One who is obstinately and zealously attached to an opinion that you do not entertain.

[–] mildu619 9 years ago

looks like someone never met a gypsy. you people crack me up. they get waaaaay less *beep* than they deserve,they're barely human, lol

[–] mistersparkle 9 years ago

I'm wondering what the problem with this town is with gypsies

Ignore the real world for a minute, and just look at the the show. The first thing Peter does when he gets to town is steal an expensive jacket. He and his mom are grifting and hustling and trying to con people all the time. And they're proud of it. If stuff like that starts happening every time gypsies move to town, well, people in the town are gonna have a problem with any time they come to town.

I think you also overlook the way the show (like most shows) makes small town America look like a bunch of reactionary yokels that hate everyone, when most small towns are actually very friendly, not looking to string up every outsider who comes along.

But it's just fiction, and it works for the story, so I'm not in any way upset.
--
You have many question, Mr Sparkle. I send you premium -- answer question, hundred percent!