On August 25, 2009, Madonna performed in Bucharest in front of approximately  70000 people. According to the local media her performance was perfect and technically impressive. Whilst opinions about Madonna’s vocal quality were many and contradictory, Romanians were united in being outraged by Madonna’s courageous statement, made during the show, where she spoke out against  discrimination towards the Rroma population and homosexuals in Eastern Europe.

 Even we, who have been monitoring and combating anti-Semitism in Romania since 2002, were surprised by the common front taken by the local media against Madonna’s views on the matter: articles about “Madonna’s arrogance and cheek in coming to Romania and expressing support for the “Gypsies” “ and “ we do not need a lecture from Madonna on something like this” were common opinions which preoccupied the media for the past few days.

 And so, a living legend who’s arrival was anticipated with great enthusiasm became a fallen star, almost a persona non-grata, just because she expressed her point of view on a matter which is also of our concern: discrimination and intolerance.

 In one article published by a leading digital media site, Madonna herself became the target of discrimination:

“The alien Madonna Ciccone, a macaroni eater ( macaronari)  from an Italian Mafia family from New York, converted to Talmud and other Zionist cabala, who sold herself to the international gypsy, ….”  Was the opening statement in that article.

 This is a very representative case of the state of mind still existing in Romania, at alarming levels, when talking about extremism, nationalism, discrimination, racism in Romania. Unfortunately the vast majority of the population were raised and educated in the spirit that generated this reaction against Madonna: this group includes many of those who are in charge of the state institutions responsible for combating these phenomena. This is why we see no real actions implemented to educate the population away from intolerance and bigotry, and the situation continues to deteriorate.

 The education program we speak of needs to be long term, continuous, vigorous and conducted not by politicians and opportunists, who chase international sympathy and EU funds, but by dedicated well-educated people,  well prepared in this domain, and who are not subject to political and social pressures.

Such a program will remain without results or value if it does not include the Rroma population, who needs assistance, patience and determination to change issues that feed the hate and racism manifest in Romania.

Until such a program will become a reality we will continue to witness racism, discrimination and hatred shown not only against the minorities but also against those who have the courage to take a stand against it.

Romania considers itself to be a well-educated country with a right to free speech: the right to be rude, offensive, even hateful of others, is seen as sacred, particularly when the general population holds similar views. Yet when the victims of discrimination, intolerance or hatred try to defend themselves or speak out against these hateful words and actions, pressing for legislative action, their actions are considered as an attack on free speech, and an attack on the Romanian people.

 No allocation of money or donations, no politically correct statements, no fancy academic gatherings and dinners, will bring about the change that we all talk about but do very little to enact: these ineffectual actions only serve to make us feel comfortable whilst the stream of ethnic hate continues to flow, unabated, around us.

 A long-term, in-depth and sustained education program, targeted at the young, is the only hope for bringing about positive change in the future; a future in which statements against hatred and intolerance, such as those made by Madonna, will encourage cheers and support instead of the jeers and general condemnation received this past week.