OK CRR, I'm just not getting your point. There was a minor incident at a single sports event in a country that happens to be part of the continent of Europe. It was universally condemned and measures were put in place to punish those responsible. Remarkably, you seem to consider this an indictment of Europe as a whole. What am I missing here?
"Oh Europe's So Racially Tolerant"
by ColdRedRain 46 Replies latest social current
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nilfun
Call me crazy, but what I am getting from the article is that most Europeans are the "outpouring of support" kind and not the "spitting in your face" kind.
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stillajwexelder
disgusting - I hate racism - I hate anti-americanism
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imallgrowedup
CRR -
What this article does NOT point out is that I don't think it would be uncommon for the same thing to happen to any American in Europe - no matter WHAT color they are or whether this was a sports event or while suppin' a spot of tea in a quaint outdoor cafe. The fact that this guy is black is irrelevant when compared to the fact that he is AMERICAN. Am I generalizing? Yes, probably. But unfortunately, I don't think I'm too far off base whether the dislike was shown by a loogie in the face, a punch in the gut, or simply an inward thought.
growedup
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ball.
Of course racism is wrong. The mistake you have made, coldredrain, is refer to Europe as a country when in fact it is a continent. This is the equivalent to me making this statement: "Someone in Canada made some racist remark... those North Americans are all the same!" Can you not see a very dry irony on this thread!!!
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funkyderek
What this article does NOT point out is that I don't think it would be uncommon for the same thing to happen to any American in Europe - no matter WHAT color they are or whether this was a sports event or while suppin' a spot of tea in a quaint outdoor cafe. The fact that this guy is black is irrelevant when compared to the fact that he is AMERICAN. Am I generalizing? Yes, probably. But unfortunately, I don't think I'm too far off base whether the dislike was shown by a loogie in the face, a punch in the gut, or simply an inward thought.
Where in Europe did you experience such treatment?
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GermanXJW
Gerald Asamaoh of my club and member of the German national team
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imallgrowedup
FD -
Where in Europe did you experience such treatment?
First of all, I've never been to Europe. Secondly, as I said -
Am I generalizing? Yes, probably
Until I came to this board, I had next to no contact with anyone outside of America. However, since I've been here, I have met many people of non-American descent, so I am basing this comment upon an already-admitted "generalized" observation of many - NOT all - European posters here whom I have witnessed drive verbal (written) punches into the bellies of Americans - most notably politically conservative Americans. Unfortunately, I can not mention names, or I would be violating any number of the posting rules. But America(n) bashing is big from what I can tell. Maybe it is just big on this site -- and since this is the only contact I have had with Europeans, I wouldn't know for sure. But I can say that I see an awful lot of it here, so my admittedly generalized comment was based strictly upon my experiences HERE. I could be wrong, FD, and if I am, please accept my apologies.
growedup
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funkyderek
First of all, I've never been to Europe.
well, you said you were generalising. I didn't realise how much. So what were you basing this opinion on? Oh yes...
Until I came to this board, I had next to no contact with anyone outside of America. However, since I've been here, I have met many people of non-American descent, so I am basing this comment upon an already-admitted "generalized" observation of many - NOT all - European posters here whom I have witnessed drive verbal (written) punches into the bellies of Americans - most notably politically conservative Americans.
So the criticism has been less of a racial slur and more in the nature of a political disagreement? American-style conservatism is not very popular in Europe, hence the disagreements. (Of course, most of the "Europeans" here are British anyway, and not representative of the rest of the continent.)
Unfortunately, I can not mention names, or I would be violating any number of the posting rules. But America(n) bashing is big from what I can tell. Maybe it is just big on this site -- and since this is the only contact I have had with Europeans, I wouldn't know for sure. But I can say that I see an awful lot of it here, so my admittedly generalized comment was based strictly upon my experiences HERE. I could be wrong, FD, and if I am, please accept my apologies.
So because some people on one discussion board have differences of opinion with some of your compatriots, you think that this is directed against your entire nation and that it represents the views of an entire continent? Europe is a huge continent made up of over 40 countries with about as many different languages. There is no consensus on most issues. And yes, there is some "America-bashing", but there is also at least as much French, German and English-bashing, most of it in good humour. Usually we're friendly, even to the loud-mouthed Yanks
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myauntfanny
Well, if you went to Europe expecting to be disliked you might be, but that's true anywhere you go. I've lived in different parts of Europe and traveled around Europe for many years and I've never felt rejected or attacked for being American. Lord knows I've been disliked for other things, and I've had my accent made fun of a couple of times, but Europeans mostly seem to like Americans, every where I've been. I've met Palestinians and Kurds and Iraqis and Iranians and Pakistanis and Turkish too, I never felt any hatred, they were always perfectly normal people. Sometimes they've discussed American foreign policy, sometimes they've liked it and sometimes they've not liked it, but I never felt they hated me or America, whatever their political views.
I also haven't noticed racism being better or worse anywhere I've been. Sometimes it's different, slightly different groups being the butt of it, but it's always the same. And football hooligans always seem to include a few people with a mob mentality who get out of control.