Bury Me Standing by Isabel Fonseca

This is not say that I am ignorant with respect to the Gypsy culture or to the historic facts that contributed to impeding the evolution of their group in a manner that would mould into the host culture, keep their identity intact and not projecting itself as dangerous to the host values. Yet, Isabel Fonseca’s tourist in Europe book, charming, well written and informative on many levels, takes a hard to swallow, strong stand against the European nations for failing to integrate the Gypsy group and, in quite a naive manner, strips the Gypsies of any wrongdoing by always attaching a reason behind the actions they are usually blamed for.  Stealing and laziness translate into entrepreneurship, while the persistence of filth, of slums wherever they decide to settle, are countered by the simple statement that in their culture one should not clean outside their house hold. It’s other people’s job to do so.

The most difficult to swallow finding seems to be the acknowledgment that Gypsies do resist integration, but it is the host country’s only fault for failing at this aim.

I wouldn’t recommend the book to someone who has never lived long enough within European borders or who hasn’t documented thorougly on the subject, because they would not have means to counter-balance this lovely, yet highly subjective and judgemental book

Only stripped of its accusatory tone I could enjoy it.

Reading Americans Talk About Love.

Readings June 30

Green Card Cinderellas – educated, billingual Japanese middle class women, who’s identity and self esteem are shattered once they fullfil their dream, the acquisition of a white husband. From Journal of  Identity and Migration Identity Study, via BookForum.

Will Frears post on on England’s Loss Germany left me nodding in aprroval. Via The Paris Review blog.