in the news: Romania, Madonna, & Roma

As an American making a life in Romania this summer, three things have come up when talking (in broken Romanian) to folks on the street:

What do I think of Michael Jackson?
What do I think of Barack Obama?
Did I know that Madonna’s coming to Romania?

Well Madonna has come and gone and in the process, has made some headlines in the NY Times.  Her message about discrimination of Roma is an issue that definitely needs to be addressed throughout Eastern Europe.  But I’m not sure what my take on the appropriateness or timing of her message considering the venue.  I’ll let it marinate in my noggin for a bit.