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Looks like nationalism is rearing its head throughout Europe now and racism is becoming an issue again. What country do you is most racist? Share your experiences
| France | 16 | |
| Italy | 7 | |
| Germany | 18 | |
| UK | 15 | |
| Spain | 9 | |
| Holland | 2 | |
| Greece | 2 | |
| Portugal | 1 | |
| Austria | 1 | |
| Denmark | 4 | |
| Sweden | 7 | |
| Norway | 2 | |
| Poland | 10 | |
| Other | 14 |
The most stupid answer is: "Germany". Note: Germany has thoroughly learned the lesson. Through more than 60 years, Germany has developed into a completely anti-racist country. For many years already, not even the word "race" (=Rasse) has been tolerated in Germany. In Germany, this word is viewed as part of a non-acceptable category of terminology.
I'd have to say Serbia. Serbians have been fighting with Bosnians, mainly Bosnian Muslims forever, recently killed alot of them back in the 90's. Other than that, people in Europe really don't care. They're more laid back than Americans.
Most people here (including myself) aren't sufficiently knowledgable about all the countries of Europe (around 50) to accurately answer.
The answers will be based on broad stereotypes, misunderstandings and old history - hence Germany being top of the charts.
Basically, the results are rubbish.
Conquistadors killed over half of the Native American population and they're Spanish their descendants (Mexicans) are racist toward english speakers (gringos) btw, I'm not Spanish
I would say either Spain (Madrid mostly, Barcelona is OK) or Italy, I have seen harsh discrimination in those countries against African and South-American immigrants and gypsies. Other countries like Serbia are also very racist
Interesting that so many people are choosing Germany...perhaps that small 10% are left in the eastern parts...or maybe they're jealous of it's strong economy!
Italian football audiences are notoriously incredibly racist, so if they represent the broader Italian community then they've got problems.
Other: the country isn't racist it's the people born in a certain race. What majority of a race is the most racist? I think any answer given will always be a little subjective and biased, so I really couldn't answer.
Yea you're right but what I obviously meant is which European people country has the most xenophobic policies and attitudes towards
Minorities?
I'm from America, so I really couldn't tell you, but because of Hitler and my bias lack of knowledge from most other countries, I would choose Germany (if I had to absolutely pick one).
Incredible.
Your knowledge about Europe reduces to one horrible name (of a disastrous criminal who in the end killed himself in 1945) - and on these grounds you make your vote here in 2012?
No, I voted other (meaning none or I don't know). I know Germany has changed, but I have such a lack of knowledge on Europe that if I absolutely had to choose one country without saying "I don't know" (because I don't), then it would be Germany. I know it's stupid reasoning, but I can't blame any country on being overally racist in the first place.
The Netherlands, by far. But I think it's unintentional. I don't think they realize they're being racist, it would just SEEM racist by comparison. I cite 3 examples from my trip there:
1.) Usage of the word "n**ger". To the Dutch, their word for a black person is "neger" and it's not offensive at all, but they translate it to "n**ger" when speaking English, to awkward/hilarious results. I was talking about my 3 black friends and my Dutch roomie goes "Oh! You mean the three n**ers!!" very loud in a bar. I spat out my drink and was like "Christ! Pauline! No! So wrong!"
2.) There was a package of crayons for sale, and one of the colors was "Oriental Yellow". My jaw just about hit the floor
3.) In a toy store, I saw a big teepee for sale, for kids to play in. It was labeled "Red Man's Wig-wam". Oh, those silly Dutch...
I like your examples, but I can assure you we don't mean it like that. Actually as a Dutch person I feel kind of offended by your assumptions.
Er... so... you're offended that I assume it's completely unintentional? Or did you not read the part above the examples?
I'm confused, but I meant no offense, only humor.
I know you didn't mean it in an offending way, but I'm just kind of bummed you think of us as 'intolerant of other cultures'.
Ooh, from the other comment.
Well, it is based on my experience, I can't speak for everyone...
I just repeatedly got hounded and chastised for doing things that were "normal" for my culture (both Danish and American) but not "normal" for the Dutch. I know very well that different behaviors are appropriate or inappropriate in different cultures, I've lived in many countries, but I've never lived anywhere where the people I interacted with were as unforgiving of making mistakes about that.
I don't think that "every" Dutch person is like that, of course! It's just that I *kept* getting scolded, over and over, for just about anything I did that was un-Dutch. Perhaps I took it too personally, perhaps it was just the people I interacted with. I dunno.
Examples are:
Complaining about an ache or pain, the weather, etc.
Asking how much someone's car cost
Making french fries in the deep-fryer for lunch
Walking slowly
Taking a longer time to get ready to go somewhere
All of these things are quite common in America, and most are in Denmark (the ones that aren't are very quickly forgiven)
Also I had to hear a lot of negative things about Americans. Don't get me wrong, I get it, but to be the skinniest person at a table of people ranging from slightly- to quite-overweight, and hearing about how all *Americans* are fat? :/ Or uneducated, or racist, or bigoted... and if I passed a generalization about the Dutch, I was the bad guy.
Again I'm not trying to say this is "every" Dutch person at all, but it's just a theme I encountered many times. It doesn't mean there aren't awesome, excellent qualities as well or that I disliked the place, but I did notice it.
Aah I see..
Your story actually made me smile because this behavior in Dutch people sounds so much like its from the north of the country. I myself am from the south, and i must say it irritates me when my family from the North say things in the same categories about me. (people from Limburg are very different compared to the rest. To everyones annoyment)
I can say Dutch people don't really like complainers, and indeed think it's not-done when someone asks the price of their car ^^' i however am not at all like this.. But i do like 'our' humor.
May i ask you, in what places have you been in Holland?
Lol Americans are complainers, I know; I'm american(USA)!
"this water's too cold!"
Americans are the only people that complain about COLD water! Lmao
Yeah, it's completely unintentional for the most part so i'd give them a pass, the Dutch in my experience are the warmest and friendly of all the Europeans.
If you've never heard David Sedaris reading his story about the Dutch Santa Claus then you really need to track it down. One of the funniest things i've ever heard.
I think the Dutch in Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam, and The Hague (where they deal with a lot of foreigners) are among the warmest and friendly...
I've found that the stereotype of the Dutch being intolerant of other cultures does hold somewhat true elsewhere throughout the country, though. Granted this is all speaking from personal experience (lived there 3 months), but those I interacted with often seemed to drive home the "When in Rome, do as the Romans do" with a grim stare and tone of finality. Not doing things "the Dutch way" seemed to cause a lot of irritation, which nobody seemed to have a problem with vocalizing.
Not to paint the country in a negative light, though. There's a lot of great and wonderful people, and some amazing things to see and learn. I had some fantastic and marvelous experiences! Just don't ever try cook yourself some french fries for lunch, or complain about how your back hurts after not sleeping well the night before :P
I will most definitely check out the Sedaris bit, I like him!
Hard to say. Racists are pretty evenly spread all over the world, not just Europe by the way.
France, from personal experience.
Sarkozy has discriminated against Rroms [and still is AFAIK], you almost never see non-whites on TV and there's still a huge amount of anti-immigrant sentiment. Telling men you're an English woman is effectively a license to get raped [unfortunately]. Any form of open display that you are religious is illegal.
It is also very much a right-wing country and looks like it will continue to be that way for a while, though I'm hoping that will change after this year's presidential elections are over.
French men think English women are easy, even in baggy, non-descript fleece, jeans and trainers. I learnt the hard way after being forced into a kiss witrh a disgusting elderly man who smoked and gave me his number.
I have never been hit on or grabbed in an unwelcome sexual manner so much in my entire life, and I was only in the country for about 5 months a couple of years ago. Quite often this happened without me even saying a single word.
I can only speak for the UK, I haven't been anywhere else. In the UK, Welsh people are the worst for it.
I don't think there is much racism in Europe.
There's some skinheads left in Germany, but that's just a small group.
In Russia there is a lot of racial violence though, mostly by skinheads against immigrants, is Russia considered part of Europe?
Geographically a small piece of it's land is in Europe and a large percentage of its population.
I guess it's Eurasian so I say Russia :D