Travellers

[pacharan]

Just watched Nigel Kennedy on the politics show complaining about the "raay-sism" directed towards members of the travelling community with particular respect to the Dale Farm debacle.

Personally I thought he talked a load of bollocks. In my dealings with travellers over the years, I've come to the conclusion that the only group that can be defined racially is the Romanies. The rest of them are a bunch of trust fund hippies and Irish tinkers.

Goy; just like the rest of you in other words.

[AtW]

Travelling is fine.

Illegally occupying someone elses property isn't.

[wobbegong]

Travelling is fine.

Illegally occupying someone elses property isn't.

Nor is theft, handling stolen goods, intimidation, or tax avoidance. (Allegedly)

[mudskipper]

Travelling is fine.

Illegally occupying your own property isn't.

FTFY

[Old Greg]

As for 'race'. Romanies are not particularly racially (i.e. genetically) different from the communities they live in. A more useful term is ehtnicity, which is broader than genetic make up and encompasses considerations such a linguistic, religious and cultural differences, the Race Relations Act specifically highlights three 'non-racial' ethinc groups: Sikhs, Jews, Romany Gypsies. This has been expanded to include Irish Travellers. The problem with looking at this question in purely racial / genetic terms is that it ignores the reality of racism. To take an extreme example, if being Jewish or Romany is enough to get someone murdered in a concentration camp, then we shouldn't quibble over whether it is racism or not.

[Arturo Bassick]

I think while they are there and refusing to leave HMRC should take the opportunity and send the inspectors in. Thoroughly go through the books of all those on site.

[Paddy]

As for 'race'. Romanies are not particularly racially (i.e. genetically) different from the communities they live in. A more useful term is ehtnicity, which is broader than genetic make up and encompasses considerations such a linguistic, religious and cultural differences, the Race Relations Act specifically highlights three 'non-racial' ethinc groups: Sikhs, Jews, Romany Gypsies. This has been expanded to include Irish Travellers. The problem with looking at this question in purely racial / genetic terms is that it ignores the reality of racism. To take an extreme example, if being Jewish or Romany is enough to get someone murdered in a concentration camp, then we shouldn't quibble over whether it is racism or not.

If you have seen Romanies in Eastern Europe you would have noticed that they are very different from the communities they live in. They are much nearer Indian Origin and dark skinned. In some Eastern European countries they are given special assistance in housing, schools etc as a minority group

[SueEllen]

If you have seen Romanies in Eastern Europe you would have noticed that they are very different from the communities they live in. They are much nearer Indian Origin and dark skinned. In some Eastern European countries they are given special assistance in housing, schools etc as a minority group

You do know what a genotype and a phenotype is?

The quote you highlighted from Old Greg mentioned the former.

[xoggoth]

In principal there ought to be more sites for travellers, provision surely must cost less than council houses and they certainly take up less room. In theory, if they are proper sites, they are supposed to pay council tax and get refuse collection etc so not the problems of rubbish etc as with illegal sites.

There are three main points/problems they need to address I reckon. a) If many are Irish or other foreign nationals (can't find any stats) why should the UK be bearing that cost? b) Crime. Not sure if they are any worse than those of similar low income but certainly higher than well off areas they may stay in, so one can see why the locals resent them c) Education. Among the lowest acheivers in the country. Not a great asset for local schools to get a continual turnover of these kids.

[pacharan]

a) If many are Irish or other foreign nationals (can't find any stats) why should the UK be bearing that cost?

Indeed. I've also heard it said that there is (or at least was) a steady stream of them coming in. As one lot get set up on an illegal camp, another lot buys up a field, does a nocturnal tarmac job and then the convoy rolls off of Irish Ferries and somebody's got 300 new neighbours!