Sinti Polajki, president of the World Romanist Association, is on a mission. For many years now, he has been lobbying world leaders to fulfill his lifelong dream: based on the right of all peoples to a country of their own, Polajki argues for the creation of a sovereign Gypsy state in the country of Sweden. Here are some of his arguments:
"After all, gypsies (the roma or romani people) have lived in Sweden since at least the 16th century and thus have a valid claim to the territory. Without a nation, spread throughout the world, gypsies have suffered persecution under nazis, communists and many christian states. They have even been blamed as partially responsible for the cruficixion of Christ. In Spain, even the word "gitano" was made illegal; in that country, as in others, gypsies were forced to assimilate into the mainstream of the country or suffer dire consequences. At least 200,000 gypsies were murdered during the third Reich. It is therefore necessary that Gypsies have a national state of their own, in a land they historically occupied, such as Sweden. To claim that Romanistan, the Gypsy homeland, should not exist is to reveal a deep, evil, anti-romanism. Only the filthiest racist could deny the gypsies a country of their own."
A sensible idea, of course. If it happens, though, I don't think the swedes would be very happy.
But who the hell cares about the swedes?