I know, there are many countries in Europe, all are somewhat different. The Netherlands seems very accepting, but looking at Germany, France and a few others, I am shocked at the amount of racism hiding in the hearts of its citizens. In case you wonder, yes, I have been to several European countries lately. I also cant believe how much prejudice and hatred against jews still exists. I really admire how far the US has come and learned to overcome racism. People in the US are used to a rainbow. Looking at germany and France ... those people have long ways to go.
No, and from meeting people from southern Europe (Italy, Greece etc.) things are very different there. Sorry, I am primarily talking about countries starting in Austria and going north from there.
:lol: And youd know this through your vast personal experience of these countries or what youve been fed ?? Be nice to actually back up bizarre xenophobic comments with facts
There are good and bad people everywhere, but the percentage of racists seems to be higher in central and norhtern Europe than anywhere else.
As an Island, here in the UK we are often painted around Europe as an ethnocentric nation who are not willing to integrate or accept other nationalities, yet we are very much a multicultural society. On the whole we are very tollerent of other cultures as are (IMHO) most of the other member states of the EU. Paris is in my experience a melting pot for all nationalities, so are most other EU Cities. Once you get out of the cities and into the 'sticks' then attitudes can become more perocial, I honestly don't think this is a Racist attitude just more of a protection of a more sedate way of life, a fear of the unknown etc. This intollerance of others cultures can also accur within ones home countries, how often do you hear of people who have moved into more rural areas saying it has taken them years to be accepted? This has nothing to do with racism, more of a fear of change, an unwillingness to accept or embrasse other ways of life - xenophobia: A person unduly fearful or contemptuous of that which is foreign, especially of strangers or foreign peoples. - this is not Racism. Racism, typlically involves a belief that your own race is superior to another. (IMHO)
When i referred to xenophobia (as you correctly pasted ) I was speaking of the thread starter, not about the countries he referred to as allegedly being 'racist'
Your little wordgames make no sense badger. How am I xenophibic expressing what I myself have seen and experienced?
Interesting observations Blogmaster. I have never been to the U.S. so I can't comment on race relations there but in the UK there is definitely a high level of racial tension. Britain as a nation of people are not all that tolerant.We have a very tolerant government though, that provides the necessary conditions for a multi-cultural society, but on street-level, it has been my experience that we are a country that is very much divided. I doubt we would have such cultural diversity if the UK wasn't so liberal with immigration and its benefit system. Integration may also be something that differs in the U.S.In Britain, different ethnic groups form their own communities and isolate themselves.To me, that is not what a multi-cultural society is all about. Different races and cultures living side by side in the same community is how I picture an MC society.In Britain that isn't the case.In some areas, walking a few metres up the road seems like you've entered a completely different country.That is how strong the divide is. How is it in the U.S.?I get the impression that things are more integrated over there.
Ideas Man, (IMHO) the forming of an ethnic community in a 'strange' land is something that happens as a matter of need rather than choice. Most 1st generation immigrants find themselves in a foreign land with little money, only a minimal grasp of the language (if there is a language difference) and even less of an idea of the customes and cultures of their 'new adoptive' land. Given this, there is little wonder that they tend to settle into communities where there is a large concentration of their own nationality. As they move into 2nd & 3rd generations they tend to move out to other areas, more ethnically mixed areas. As they sell their homes they will tend to sell their homes to other new 1st generation imigrants (as this is usually the only type of accomodation that they can afford!). This is happening in my experience within the UK but as a nation in general we accept this pattern. I live in a town that has a large diversity of nationalities. We have areas that are very much ethnic communities within the town but these areas have always been that way, 1st the Irish lived in these areas, then the Eastern Europeans during and just after the war years, then the Afro-Carribeans and more recently the Asians and now the Rumanians and Albanians. If you take my local area, 20 years ago this area was predomently English and middle aged, now we have a terrific mix on nationalities and ages. As the older members of our area move out, they are replaced by younger more multi cultural families and couples - as they can afford to buy in areas that are more expensive and what's more there are no Racial tensions in our area. I know I'm painting a rosy picture but I honestly believe that in general, as a nation we are not Racist and (again) in general tollerant of other nationalities.
Hopper, I'm fascinated to know where you are talking about.Having spent extensive amounts of time in various places around the country, I have yet to find a place that experiences this cultural equilibrium between many ethnic groups.Perhaps there is something to be learned from where you live.
You should really wait until a black president gets voted into power, thats when the rest of the world would admire America overcoming racism. I couldn’t believe the amount of racism that I seen when I lived in the States and how separate ethnic groups actually lived. My white neighbors were at a loose end when the first black family moved into the street and I remember one friend saying, "There goes the house prices". The company I worked for only had a handful of black people working for them but of course all had low-end positions, not one manager was a black person. The funny thing that I found in America was that black people could just be as racist as the white people and one couldn’t walk down a black community without being chased. There again we have many people on here (from America) who are quick on the trot to bash all Muslims, if that’s not being racist then what is? Although I don’t deny that racism doesn’t exist in Europe because it does just like in every country around the globe, some just hide it better than others when others have no fear in spreading it.
This is a very strange post to come from you blogmaster (though we are in gen chat). EDIT: I deleted my whole post because I don't really want to get involved in this type of dicussion.
nordic people are look somehow more racist or xenofobic but dosent mean they really are. Of course were generalizing but germany and austria are more conservative and there are more racist people. Northen Irland is another case of xenofobic. But mostly europe countrys are not xenofobic or racist, specialy northen ones,the people are more "closed" and lookl more cold, but they really arent. In fact they are the more civilized of europe. In Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece people are more used to "back" people and emingrants from a long time ago (italy and greece from more than 3000years, portugal and spain for about 600years traded black slaves). This dosent mean they there arent racist and xenofobic people all arround, but i realy think europe is a lot less racist than you think. Anyway the problem in europe are the small emigrants comunities wich think they own the world and get trouble, that leeds to xenofobic. An example is what happened in Paris not long ago. A teenager was shot by the police while he was running/escaping... during 2weeks there were riots all over France. Now people are a lot less tolerent to that comunity (in fact they all almoust the 1º generation of afro-emingrants and they were all french-born).
I think that in the US people are more integrated. There is less of a difference being made whether you are of let's say Irish or Turkish heritage (as examples). There is still too much racism, but it's getting better. I like your post a lot because of how open and honest it is. It's funny, in Amsterdam I have met a lot of Brits. 50% of them told me there were far too many foreigners in the UK, and the other 50% told me there was far too many racists in the UK.
I don't think so, I live in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. Just recently we had what the local and national papers described as a Racist murder, A group of teenagers (allegedly - for the legals) beat an Asian taxi driver to death. Yet I still believe that as a Town we are in general not Racist. The actions of a minority shouldn't destroy the beliefs of the majority. The local feeling and outpourings of anti-racist sentiment restored my faith in the town. We have a West Indian Carnival, an Asian Melia, a St Patricks day procession and may other multi cultural activites that are enjoyed by all sections of the communities. We even have a 'Pink Parade' that is all inclusive within the town. I am by nature as they say an optimist, I like to see the bottle as half full and not half empty and so I see the good in situations and not the bad, maybe if I were from a minority group, I may see the town and the country differently - but I hope not!