[Radim]

Romanians are a magnificent, proud nation. Disclaimer: I married one :)

To a large degree, the bad image comes from a small sub-populace that rejects the western life style, western values and produces a lot of what western laws see as criminality, all over Europe. So yes, typical ethnocentric rubbish.

Most Romanians themselves are deeply unhappy about this image. Despite the general air of oppression/depression in the country, Romanians are very nationalistic and hardworking, and care about their country's image abroad very much. (hence this campaign)

I realize this will likely get downvoted on PC basis, but your honest question deserved an honest answer.

[rdtsc]

I think part of the pride thing is that they get embarrassed if one of theirs is acting stupid. So that probably accounts for "Romanians are stupid" phrases in Romanian language.

> Romanians are very nationalistic ...

Interestingly I hang out with the immigrants and they are not very nationalistic. As most are trying to escape and forget about their old country. But my perception is strongly biased according to a particular (rather small) sample of the ones I met.