Thanks for pointing out the errors. We corrected the captions on photos 10 and 13. FP regrets the errors.

I've heard this story from more than one person and I have to say, this was really poorly thought through. If the Bulgarian government had had any sense at all they would not have just handed over a brand new building to people who obviously didn't know how to live in it, then just mixed them with a whole other ethnic group and expected them to play nicely.

One sees the same things in inner cities here in the US - subsidized housing does tend to get trashed. It's simple ignorance, yes, sometimes it's appalling ignorance, but that's reality. They don't take care of those buildings because they don't know any better. To you and me it's common sense, but to them it isn't - they were only living in those places the same way they've always lived in their own houses. If the government wanted this program to succeed, they should have trained people how to take care of these homes. But that's hard, a lot harder than just building a building, rounding people up and making them live there.

And what did the government expect them to do with their livestock? Was there an enclosure, that was lockable, where people could keep an eye on their chickens and whatnot? Were they supposed to just get rid of them, fall on their knees in gratitude and completely abandon all aspects of their own cultural identity, their language and behave exactly like everyone else? If you think any group of people is going to do that you're barking mad.

Speaking of being realistic about cultural identity, I certainly don't expect white Europe (oh, let's be fair and include Turkish society too) to just one day quit hating the Roma; it's a centuries old pastime. Europeans seem to look for reasons to hate them. Based on my personal, first hand observation, I have found most of the criticism to be unfair, irrational, or coming from a complete failure to understand (and no interest in doing so) what it's like to be that poor and oppressed. Blacks here in the US refer to it as "War on the Poor."

As with any longstanding problem like this, there are stubbornly ingrained dysfunctions in each group. Don't think that I am pretending there is no alcoholism, domestic abuse, or crime families among the Roma. There are certain aspects of traditional Romani culture that frankly, deserve to die (child brides come to mind). But that is true of any culture (I wish reality TV would die a horrible painful death). However, I've spent rather a lot of time with decent, law-abiding, gainfully employed Roma in and out of Europe, and I hate to tell you, but many Europeans seem to pretend not to see those; instead they talk about the ones who are criminals and nuisances. This is exactly like saying all blacks are gang members and carry guns.

Having grown up in a very racist area, I know racism when I see it. The language used by European racists talking about Roma is identical to the way the people around me talked about black people - just swap out "nigger" and put in "dirty gypsy" and it's the same thing. From personal experience, even if you don't think you're a racist, even if you don't want to be a racist, when you grow up around that kind of systemic, cultural prejudice, it gets inside you anyway. Getting rid of that takes active work and a willingness to recognize it in oneself. There are real problems here, and valid criticisms, but that doesn't mean the people talking aren't racist. People have to address that issue first because it clouds judgment about everything else.

I sometimes question the sanity of responding to absurd posts like these, particularly when you equate reality TV with the horrors of culturally sanctioned child rape (the cultural relativism knows no bounds with bleeding heart types like yourself).

Two quick points warrant mentioning: 1) I’d love to know which "personal firsthand observation" you would like to cite in terms of criticism of the Roma being “unfair.” I’ve interacted with these people (not by choice) in four countries over 10 years and found them consistently aggressive, filthy and inclined towards theft of some kind, so from my "personal firsthand observation" I'd call these criticisms quite fair indeed. You would like to completely absolve the Roma of any responsibility for the "racism" they face, but the simple fact is they exist largely by stealing and therefore are at least somewhat deserving of the “persecution” they have received.

2) As for the “war on the poor,” and their inability to refrain from destroying the dwellings they are given (and how this somehow society’s fault), you seem to place 100% of the blame on external conditions, not the failure of the individual. Exaclty who should be responsible for helping these “poor, oppressed” black Americans learn to do things like not destroy their own homes?

Good grief, your wooly-headed notions may be what passes for “academic discourse” these days but these silly ideas wear pretty thin outside any environment that doesn’t feature corduroy blazers with elbow patches. I'm sure you wouldn't be averse to taking some "oppressed" black Americans or Roma into your home and personally schooling them in the ways of the civilized world? Right then, sign yourself up straight away.

How dare you act like you can justify who exactly Roma people are because you claim to have 10 years of experience with them? I don't care how long you have seen a Roma person walk by you, but you most likely have never really acquainted yourself with one. I lived with a family, and my host father is Roma, and he's one of the most hardest working and intelligent people I know since I moved to Bulgaria from America. And I've made friends with many Roma people who are also very hard working and are able to provide for their families and have a great roof over their heads. Sure there may be many Romas suffering from poverty and have commited to crime, but what ethnic group has not? Why does it seem like you only want to persecute Roma people for crime? And who are you to suddenly decide the categories of others? People like you and your close mindedness are actually one of the things that make our world even worst. Of course some individuals have to take responsibility for their actions, but not all people want to live in those harsh conditions. There are many people who work extremely hard to get out of these lifestyles. You honestly don't care enough about humanity to conceive the idea. I assume you're of European descent and view yourslf as high and mighty. It doesn't feel good to be grouped into that one category either, does it? You probably have never lived a day in your life as a minority, so you have no right to claim you know Roma people and act as if you are the most sane person in this issue. I don't claim a stake in knowing Roma people, but I do know what it's like to be a minority and suffer from poverty. You don't understand suppression, and you'll never understand what it's like to grow up in harsh conditions.

And as for signing up. I actually have. I have taught minority children in America. And right now I teach kids in Bulgaria, and majority of my kids are Roma. My kids have amazing hearts, unlike cruel adults like yourself, who don't give a real damn about others.

You're not the only minority on the board, nor are you the only person who has experience poverty. Want to compare notes sweetie?

Thanks for pointing out the error. We have corrected it. FP regrets the error.