I am going to hazard a guess here, but you aren't an American, are you? This was the case maybe in the fifties, the sixties? But hell, interracial marriages are a dime a dozen these days. My best friend at University was bi-racial (white mother/black father) and I had several other bi-racial friends. Ever take a look at our president? Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Not entirely true I experienced racism for the first time in my life in the US. It was quite an experience. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Well that's the the difference isn't it, Denmark has only had these immigrants for the past 20 years or so. Its a smaller country and more homogenized than the U.S where there has been a long history of immigration.
Lucy: "I bet. The U.S is still incredibly racist though there are some surface signs of change." no more than anyplace else. less than some places.
I wouldn't say "incredibly racist", but there are definite distinctions between the coloured people and the palefaces. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Curiously, I found myself being adopted by black and Hispanic people wherever I went. Which made it hard for me to relate to stories about dangerous ghettos
Immigration is relatively new to Denmark, I don't think it would be a good idea for them to invite more immigration until they have sorted out the issues there are with the ones they have. Danes no longer want an open immigration policy.
Hence I call them a xenophobic society. They probably thought of immigrants like the English thought of the downstairs service staff. Must be seen rarely and heard never. If you read the link I gave earlier, it seems that their reasons for inviting immigrants was based on labour requirements. They probably thought of foreigners as an exotic species, best confined to some sections of society.
I'm in NY by the way. Inter racial relationships does not mean that racism has died in the States, even with a black president. Which is why: "Over 40% of Americans have already dated someone of another ethnicity and are pioneering a revolution in the dating scene. Many high school and college students are dating interracially, which is helping to increase awareness of mixed race relationships. Unfortunately, many of these relationships go unnoticed because the couples feel that either friends or family will not approve. Secret mixed race romances often occur because the parents are strict and forbid or discourage dating outside of one's culture. Parents are often the perpetrators of stereotypes and racism. Many parents force their children to date within their culture, in order to avoid betraying their own cultural roots. Successful relationships often result in marriage, and the wedding plans themselves can be a major struggle. Some couples choose to avoid cultural tradition altogether, some choose to have two separate weddings in order to celebrate both traditions properly, and some try to compromise by combining cultural customs and creating their own. When preparing for interracial weddings, many of the parents feel that their cultural traditions are being denied and can cause problems. Including the families in the decision making process is a great way to keep everyone communicating and feeling happy. Once married, mixed race couples face more decisions concerning holiday traditions, religious worship and children. It is important to talk about where holidays will take place and which traditions they will choose to celebrate. Many couples choose to worship either separately or they will find a different faith that suits them both. Issues concerning children, and how they will be raised both in faith and cultural are also major concerns for mixed race parents. The mixed race children should also be taught how to deal with racism." http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/3-29-2006-92184.asp
No they couldn't cope with the portion of muslims who refused to integrate themselves with Danish society, that is not a sign of xenophobia its a sign of not being able to cope with the changes that are being forced upon them by a completely different culture. If they are xenophobic why do they embrace west africans and asians whom have an easier time assimilating into danish society? If they were xenophobic why did they always embrace foreigners middle eastern, asian and african before the whole problem began with the second generation of immigrants from Somalia and Yemen etc? If they were xenophobic none would have been welcome ever. Immigrants own kiosks and restaraunts and they are not all 'servants'
I disagree. My experience of things seen and heard prove otherwise. If I had a child of mixed origin I would never raise them in the States
Hmm, where do you get your information on all this integration with west Africans and Asians? From my earlier link: Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! More: Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! What do you base your impressions on?
From living in Copenhagen. I have lived there on and off and go back regularly to visit some very good friends.
Lucy, Denmark has its fair share of problems with xenophobia as illustrated by the Denmark cartoon controversy, and the recent films and speeches given by radical MP Geert Wilders. Wilders even claimed that the Quran should be banned. This hatred of Muslims and foreigners has increased the support of BNP-like organizations in Denmark, as it has done in England and with radical Republicans in the US. In Germany, one province forces those who identify themselves as Muslims to go through specific exams to test their tolerance and force them to watch gay movies and nude scenes. http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,1935900,00.html No doubt immigrants have jobs and go about their business, but the rise of discrimination and hate crimes cannot be ignored. This is the type of situation which leads to wide-scale riots by immigrants as observed a few years ago in France.
