As I mentioned in first introduction post, I also planned to write about things that bother me, Gypsy things are one of those.
It was another ordinary business day, everybody was in a rush, I was one of those who fought a heavy traffic on Rustaveli avenue, which is the main avenue in the very center of Tbilisi. Thought the reason for the jam was as usual a presidential escort blocking the road, but no, something was happening, something was wrong, ah probably a bus managed to squeeze a taxi cab against another car again, this also happens a lot, never loved taxi drivers in the traffic flow, you would always expect some surprising maneuvers from them, something stupid, but the case seemed to be different this time, getting closer I noticed police cars, crowd and yellow tape saying "don't cross police line", what I saw behind the tape, shocked me, it really did! A girl about 7 years of age was lying on the ground without a move, nobody was even close to her anymore as she was not alive, a child, a little Gypsy girl without a breathe.
Photo by Lasha Ghughunishvili
Those Gypsy things... crossing roads back and forth with little kids, begging for money on the traffic lights, threatening to spit on you or do something nasty to you if you don't give them money, forcing children to beg, keeping them dirty, hungry, in cold, in rain, even in pain sometimes, just to make them look miserable, just to make them make money.
Overtaking a lane of cars standing on red light that has just turned green, I often faced a little Gypsy kid running out just in front of one of those cars. What do you want to do at that time? Just thank God you did not hit him! Those Gypsy things, that are putting in danger little kids, putting others to jail. Innocent child, innocent driver, but who is guilty then? I like the way police worked recently in Georgia, not taking bribes, giving tickets to those who violate, checking me for alcohol when i'm in a good mood driving back home singing, but what measures do they take not to have those Gypsy kids suddenly popping out in front of your car? Nothing, either they gave up on trying to do something with it or they've never tried. Can something be done about it?!
By the way, wanted to take pictures of them on the weekend, but couldn't, I guess they rest on weekends, neither I could find them today after six, decided to upload a picture found online.
its a sad story but you are absolutely right- they are not careful and neglect precious and valuable thing as life- they simply take it for granted and thats the cost they pay. Its just sad to know that it was just a child.
ReplyDeletethanks for another interesting post from the heart of my favorite city Tbilisi
Yes just a child... I remember I made "friends" with one kid like that, I used to give her some coins every time I went back home after work, after a while invited me on a cup of self-made coffee out there in the street corner :)
ReplyDeleteoh wow, invited you for a cup of coffee? thats pretty interesting story, you should totally write about that too :)))
ReplyDelete'Those Gypsy *things*'!?! Please put this ia wider perspective of Gypsies as a discriminated community, developping thus survival strategies that are indeed objectionable...
ReplyDeleteGypsies in wider perspective as discriminated community is a much bigger issue that needs a serious approach and a lot of work. In this concrete post, I was talking about a particular problem, irresponsible behavior that is putting in danger not only innocent children, but also the society. And nobody does anything about it, authorities are not doing anything either.
ReplyDelete