Travellers' Rest

Here are a few accusations, I'd have to call them, that have lately been received from John Q. Neighbor (along with my restrained responses, of course). I have economized by combining them in one slightly variegated lump for ease of demolition:

JQN's typical PC disclaimer: I understand that no one can say "all" people in any tribe or race are bad or criminal, but I wish to share my personal experiences with the local Travellers.

Almost universally, the comments that follow this sort of disclaimer are antithetical to its principle. As in:

Travelers keep to themselves to a fault. They are the worst neighbors to have because they are so unfriendly. Anyone can be a jerk, but our Traveller neighbors are experts at being rude, unsociable and unfriendly. If you hate un-Travellers so much, move to a farm and live together. No one asked you to blend in amongst others who enjoy having neighbors and friends. Many enjoy meeting others from a different background. Travellers are assumed guilty of being criminals because that's the personality they have chosen to exhibit. What have you got to hide? Much!

As near as I can figure, you are being ignored by one neighboring family whom you assume are Irish Travellers because they seem anti-social to you. Even granted that they might wear some sort of uniform or identifying tattoo that proves they are Travellers or perhaps they sing a little Travelling song, you seem to be characterizing an ethnic population of possibly fifty thousand Americans as justifiably "assumed guilty of being criminals" because one family may consider your behavior intrusive. I submit that the qualities of rudeness, unsociability and unfriendliness are, like "beauty," in the eye of the beholder. Yes, Travellers are clannish and not much given to conforming with local suburban norms; you're right, they often are more comfortable in a rural setting, preferably on the road, but the exigencies of modern life call for at least the part-time use of a fixed abode. By our standards, the ideal neighbors, Country or Traveller, are people who "know how to mind their own affairs." Why not accept the situation? If your neighbors were Hasidic Jews or Old Order Amish, I give you the credit of thinking that you would find it in your heart to accommodate their aloofness with at least resignation, if not grace.

And this:
If you want to be treated fairly, follow the law! Your children carry fake ID's and Driver's Licenses. The children I see regularly driving within our neighborhood are no more than 13 or 14 years old. They endanger MY children.

This has been a problem sometimes, yes; yet I would venture to say that the vast majority of American teens carrying fake ID are not Travellers and the problem is not confined to us. I like to think that we have learned something constructive from several tragedies in the last few years and our share of this problem has lessened but, in all honesty, I just can't say for sure. But I still wouldn't bet the farm on the precision of your X-ray vision, were I you. One thing I can state unequivocally is that a special theory of relativity is involved here, to wit: an average sixteen year old, of legal driving age in your state, looks eighteen on a tricycle and fourteen behind the wheel of a pick-up truck.

You drive Hummers and Cadillacs in our neighborhoods illegally. When your women and children stop their Hummers next to each other and block the road while they visit, they rudely glare and ignore anyone behind them needing to pass, daring someone to not like having them around.

The same complaint is often made about real estate agents and off-duty police and firemen. It seems to be a human failing, not a Travellers'. Except for the Hummers and the Caddies, that is; they're only illegal in the state of Envy.

I have no one in my family known to be a "scam artist". Can you say that? I don't know anyone who steals Social Security checks from mail boxes. Can you say that? My family owned a legitimate roofing company for 40 years and were never even remotely accused of scamming or theft of services. Can you say that? We have kept our wealth private? We don't wear flashy jewelry, drive flashy cars, carry rolls of cash, sneak around, avoid paying taxes, while making others feel like they are living well at our expense. Can you say that?

Yes, yes, no (my family never owned a roofing company), yes. I take it you are referring to my immediate family and close cousins. Were you referring to all Irish Travellers in the USA, my extended family, you would have to acknowledge responsibility for at least 50,00 of your distant cousins to make for a valid comparison and I might hesitate to concede that each and every one was getting as much moral fiber in their diet as you appear to consume.

I was in a restaurant the other day. There was a Hummer and a pick up truck out front that read "paving" on the door. I knew immediately that it was the local Travellers. I sat in a booth directly behind three adults. All were wearing identical Rolex watches. Each had a massive diamond ring on their fingers. Each ate like they were slopping the hogs and all were throwing napkins and other trash on the floor like they had never eaten indoors before! As they left, I noticed they left no tip for the restaurant employees who would have to clean up the mess they left behind. Very typical behavior of those who think the world owes them something. I suppose if you believe it's okay for you or those who represent you to steal, breaking the law and generally avoid contributing to society so that you can only contribute to yourselves, then you deserve the "bad rap" you say you get from the outside world. I pay taxes that keep your kid's neighborhood nice. I tip the waiters and waitresses that you stiff because you care only about you and your "clan". I pay the inflated store prices when you steel from those hardworking store owners trying to feed their own families. When you shoplift from Kohls, who do you think pays for it? You see, you have your reputation because you have asked for it. I can tell you this, if I had anyone in my family conducting themselves like I've seen from those within your family, I wouldn't put up with it!

Well, my table manners probably do leave something to be desired, but I pay about $6,000 in property taxes each year and neither shop nor lift at Kohls, tip around 20% for table service and completely refute your peculiar notion that three flashy slobs you happened to run into (I was about 2,000 miles away at the time) are agents of mass economic destruction for me and mine. There's a lot of circular reasoning involved in your contentions, John Q., and that is all I will say for now.