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Xenophobia

By thescian on January 26, 2008.

The bane of immigrants. Reader's comments at Spiegel following an opinion piece that was critical of germans. Quite rightly, a lot of readers point out that Germany is not special in its Xenophobia. Every country is so to varying degrees. Integration, as always, is hardsell, especially when we are biologically wired to be suspicious of strangers. The color of a single organ - the skin - is enough to prejudice us. Add accent, attire and cultural differences to it, and we will readily puke at someone for them being different. We humans are a fickle fucking bunch. Europe may have had its moment of Enlightenment and the high point may be the universal declaration of human rights, but all that can only goes so far against the current of common prejudice. It's the same everywhere. Nothing to be proud about.

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but all that can only goes so far against the current of common prejudice. It's the same everywhere. Nothing to be proud about.

No, nothing to be proud about! I think it is hardwired in us to lean towards a we-they mentality. We are comfortable with who we are and the way we do things. "They" doing things differently brings into question the rightness of us and the way "we" do, at an unconscious level. It takes an extra intellectual step to work towards the, all men are created equal, state. A step some people don't feel motivated to take.
Dave Beriggs :~)