Is the Roma problem racist ?

A brief outline of the historical background
Historians, linguists and ethnologists show that the ancient ancestors of our Roma (Gypsy) fellow citizens came from India. This is evidenced by both their physical appearance (mainly darker skin and hair colors) and their language, which shows many similarities to the old Malabar Indian dialect. In the caste-divided Indian society, members of the lowest caste felt discriminated against and from the 8th century some of its members began to leave India (the frequent droughts and food shortages of the time may have also driven them out of India). Most migrants proceeded from India through Mesopotamia and Turkey, Asia Minor, the Balkans, Greece. They then proceeded through the Danube valley to Central and Western Europe. Other groups through Armenia, the Caucasus, Russia to Scandinavia. Or through North Africa to Spain. In the 15th century, these migrants were already scattered throughout Europe. Local residents in different countries named them according to their appearance, way of life or the area from which they came. In Europe, the name originally derived from the Byzantine Atsinganoi has mostly become established. For example, in Italy zingari, in France gitan, in Spain gitano, in Romania tigan, in Germany zigeuner, in England gypsy, in Russia cygan, in Sweden zigenare, in Poland cygan. In our country, it is the name cikán. The name Rom originated from the Indian caste designation "dom". In Romani, rom = man. Outside the Romani community, it began to appear sporadically in the 1930s-1940s. It has been used more often since the 1970s, when it was recommended by the International Romani Congress in 1971 in London.

During the migration period, a nomadic lifestyle was a given. From their original homeland, they brought, in addition to the language, a way of life, mutual relations and folk customs. However, they also adopted something from the areas where they settled for a while or through which they passed. The basic value for them was the family, where several generations lived together. In some places, they settled temporarily or permanently and established gypsy settlements, where they mostly lived in unmaintained huts. Later, they also occupied abandoned houses in cities. In the 20th century, they were also allocated new apartments in apartment buildings or block of flats, which they did not maintain and mostly devastated (as can be seen in the photographs below).
  The Roma have a habit of speaking louder and gesticulating more expressively (which sometimes gives the impression of an argument). They also tend to significantly isolate themselves and define themselves from the surrounding majority society, which they consider foreign. That is why, for example, stealing anything from someone from the non-Roma community is legal and not considered a misdemeanor or crime....

Negative manifestations of Roma life
Now the "Roma question" is being raised more and more often and with growing emotions. What is actually happening? On the one hand, there are brazen thefts, robberies, physical assaults, fights and absurd demands from the Roma (sometimes supported by purposefully motivated lawyers). On the other hand, indiscriminate attacks by skinheads and other right-wing racist groups against often innocent individuals. On the third side, blanket defense of the Roma and accusations of racism against us all by incompetent politicians and cultural figures (they might "sober up" if they had to live with the Roma ...). It is really difficult to find an objective fact in this mixture of opposing views.

As a non-participating observer, I would venture to try a modest, unbiased view, albeit certainly incomplete. I would briefly and clearly formulate the real essence of the Roma problem as follows :

At present, the Roma (Gypsies) are an objectively problematic and inferior group in our society !

However, not with their genetic predispositions (as racists claim), but with a very bad and devastating social climate in this relatively closed and isolated community. Due to this negative influence, the vast majority of Roma largely lack basic social responsibility, desire for education, diligence, moral restraints, the ability to voluntarily modestly and renounce, etc. - in short, a deep deficit those qualities which characterize noble people and condition harmonious coexistence, mutual help and cooperation with their neighbors and with society as a whole. (Has anyone seen the Roma, for example, plant flowers or clean up snow or garbage in front of a common house? - but the vandal destruction of allocated flats is almost the rule ...). These vices significantly outweigh the positive features, lead to an enormously high crime rate of the Roma and naturally aroused the deep aversion of the majority of other citizens to the Roma. This closes the circle, which is paid for by those Roma who would like to prove something positive, but do not get the trust and opportunity.

There are honorable exceptions - these Roma fellow citizens certainly deserve recognition! And this Roma who have contributed to some good deeds should be more supported and given more publicity to serve as a positive example for others.

At the same time, the Roma undoubtedly have the same abilities and dispositions as other citizens. Were it not for the adverse influence of education in their community, the Roma could be decent, educated, hardworking and honest people, living in friendship and complete equality with all their fellow citizens. Roma parents make fatal mistakes (even a serious crime!) on their children by raising them in their current way to their misfortune and to the detriment of society as a whole.
  In response to distrust and discrimination from the majority society, Roma communities sometimes experience Roma racism and national hatred towards other fellow citizens. This sometimes leads to physical attacks, where Roma, if they are locally dominant or under the influence of alcohol, are capable of brutally beating weaker fellow citizens...

How to get out of the vicious circle? I admit that I do not know and probably no one knows it .... Anyway, stronger promotion of education ! Perhaps the gradual disintegration of Romani communities and the dispersal of Romani families among others, while preserving Romani culture and identity, as it was prudent in the second half of the 20th century? This could break negative influences and ties, including false solidarity with villains and gradually integrate Roma fellow citizens into society. This would contribute not only to raising the overall standard of living of the Roma, but also to enriching itsociety as a whole about the specific contribution of Roma culture and traditions. These are, for example, musical traditions, the desire for freedom, the rejection of burdensome conventions and the pursuit of property, fame, prestige, their conception of the immediacy of life "here and now" ...

Finally, to the question "Is the Roma problem racist?", asked in the title of the article, I would answer :
definitely not !
The low popularity of the Roma stems not from the fact that they look a little different and have slightly different customs and cultures, but from the way they behave and act - at least the vast majority of the Roma community.
Our people are not racists! - they only have their unfortunate experiences, which they sometimes generalize somewhat straightforwardly ...

Vojtech Ullmann , physicist