The immigrant and integration conversation is all the rage in Europe. Ragin enough that there's some loon sniping off Muslims in Sweden. He's at 16 thus far. Ragin enough that somehow Sarkozy's getting away with offering Roma families about 300 euros and a plane ticket to go back to "their country". Ragin enough that Germany's offering integration classes, and a man called Seehofer screaming about the failure of multiculturalism on every TV station, Bill O'Reilly style. Ragin' enough that I talk about it in almost every single class these days. It doesn't always go so well.
Me: Where are you from in France? Are you Parisian?
CuteBlondeFrenchStudent: No, I'm from Marseille.
Me: No way! I've never been and anything I know about Marseille I learned from French rap songs.
BlondeCatalanGuyStudent: There are a lot of immigrants there?
CuteBlondeFrenchStudent: Marseille is the port, the first stop in France from Africa, so there are a lot of people from Maghreb--Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco--in Paris there are more people from Africa Africa...
Me: Right, you mean from sub-Saharan Africa.
CuteBlondeFrenchStudent: Yes. Perhaps there are more people from Algeria than the rest of Maghreb in Marseille. Not like in Spain where most immigrants from just Morocco.
BlondeCatalanGuyStudent: (Laughs) What's the difference?
CuteBlondeFrenchStudent: No... Among the people from Maghreb there is a lot of difference and they don't really like eacho--
BlondeCatalanGuyStudent: Maybe but they are all the same.
CuteBlondeFrenchStudent: No...
[He cannot tell that both she and I are losing patience. He presses on.]
BlondeCatalanGuyStudent: You can tell the difference between them?
CuteBlondeFrenchStudent: Yes.
BlondeCatalanGuyStudent: How?? Maybe they can tell the difference between each other. Like, an Algerian knows another Algerian and can distinguish from a Moroccan. But for us? They are all the same. How can you tell the difference?
CuteBlondeFrenchStudent: My father is from Morocco.
10 comments:
You know, I seriously blame this "hate rhetoric" on America's exportation of their prejudice since 9/11. I mean, the whole world sympathised, empathised and wanted to help, but they took it too far because of greed(invading Iraq, anyone!?).
Even here in Switzerland, where the majority of Swiss are social thinkers and helpers first, we've had serious debates/discussions, elections about (for goodness sake!)miniarette. I'm so sick of the way our world has become all because the USofdumb wasn't content to "export" fatty foods and drinks, but (religious) hate too.
Like, bugger it all. Don't care if my opinion is simplistic, what I do hope is that this hate backfires, eventually. The Europeans were once smarter than this, but I suspect that economic greed is clouding their vision, mightily!. Worse of all that goes for the younger generation who has zilch balls or guts and are too busy social networking on facefuck or twattering bullshite.
Yeah, I'm pissed. Watching young people demonstrating in France left me feeling hopeless. Their message seemed to be more about gleeful destruction of property than the actual cause at hand. I say: frig em all, Ieishah. They're no better than the selfish bankers I encounter everyday!.
....Oh and the crazy git in Sweden, I thought it was any dark skinned person he/she's tageting...?
@foosrock, WTF? "The USA exporting their prejudice?" You don't think any European nationality is capable of being prejudice all on its own? Wow, I've heard a lot of blame placed on the USA for the war in Iraq, but be honest and ask yourself if Europe needed any help being facist and anti-Semitic in the 1930s?
Give me a break! The Swiss didn't vote against minarettes b/c of American imported Islamaphobia, they voted against minarettes b/c they're afraid their European Christian culture is being overshadowed by Islam. I have family that lives in Switzerland and I think they could tell you another side of the supposedly "social thining" and "helpful" Swiss people you make out to be so innocent.
I'm just as disgusted as you are but be realistic and smell the coffee, the aroma is distinctly European.
I'm with Rose Anne. 2000%.
foos, you seem so vehement about your position that I initially thought it imprudent to even try challenging it. in my experience, people who hate america (and americans) that much cannot be... reasoned with. i am, in fact, VERY american and there are millions upon millions more like me.
indeed, all those evils--colonialism, capitalism, racism, slavery, the genocide of natives americans-- that began this modern age, have there genesis in europe. though europe has (and i think, to its detriment) completely distance itself from its history. for example, france's immigrant 'problem' is chickens coming home to roost. it is a 'problem' of france's creation, via COLONIES. colonies which predate even the creation of 'America'. colonies, some of which france still 'owns'!! in 2010!!! to claim that america created even a smidgen of this is anachronistic and ahistorical, at best. you claim that 'europe' was once smarter than 'this', but when? surely not when they carved up and subsequently raped africa...
i understand that in countries without a colonial history, the origins of racism are quit different, but in the end, europeans are going to have to start taking responsibility for their crazy shit. blaming it on america i don't think helps anyone.
No offense meant to you, ieishah. I express some opinions passionately, but hope I leave a tone for anyone to challenge said opinions.
Am too tired now to take up you and currentsbetweenshores on some of your points, but will revisit sooner, as well to clarify my position.
ciao zäma
Speaking as a Muslim woman, I have to admit, it upsets me [to put it mildly], what the terrorists are doing in the name of Islam.
I don't hate America, I don't hate any place, country, people. Hate consumes too much good energy.
I'm just sad about the actions some take in the name of whatever they believe in, whether it's belief in country, religion, politics. Sometimes, I get downright angry. But, as we all know, we don't have to act out our anger in hurtful ways. Our anger should be a signal to make changes in a POSITIVE way.
Maybe more peace-lovers should start trying to get their 15 minutes of fame, try outdoing the brick-hurlers. But I suspect people luuuuve controversy.
foos! You've been commenting here long enough that It never occurred to me that you'd intentionally offend me-- should go without saying I'd never want to offend you either, which was why I had to think about how to respond. In the end, your p.o.v. Is not all that shocking or unique in Europe. There seems to be a general tendency to blame all fakery on the US. Europe masquerades as the gentile cousin, but as a very smart woman said the other night, has it's feet on the table and blood on it's shoes.
I ain't know you was Muslim, Guyana Girl! I like that idea, though, you should get together with my blonde Muslim student and start a very loud peace-lovers, "you can't even tell we're Muslim", fame hungry movement. I'd convert just to take part.
ieishah, i'm reading this post like a week late and I nearly spit out my coffee LOLing. thank you!
Jen, I'm still wondering how in the Sam Hill I managed to keep a straight face!
Hey Europe!
We're in your capitals, feeding you burgers and makin' you racist!
foos, do you really think Europeans are so feeble that Uncle Sam just has to play the music and you all start dancing to our tune?
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