4 ms·

Absolutely, and that's why I'm worried about sounding like an Islamophobe and not being one. The issue is obviously (to me) one of strict religious orthodoxy, n

Absolutely, and that's why I'm worried about sounding like an Islamophobe and not being one. The issue is obviously (to me) one of strict religious orthodoxy, not specific religious affiliation. The problem being that there is only a single major immigrant group with strict religious orthodoxy and it happens to be Muslim. If Amish or Mormon fundamentalists were immigrating to my country in large numbers I would have the exact same concern.

master_crab 2y ago
There are other large immigrant groups that arent Muslim and also have issues integrating. Also, many Muslim immigrants have varying degrees of orthodoxy. I’d say another part of the problem lies with the fact that Europeans tend to be pretty racist and insular group (and definitely so when compared to how they envision themselves). They complain about everything from Roma to West Africans (many of whom are not Muslim) moving to their countries. Hell, the Portuguese complain about Brazilians moving to their country and stealing their language with their slang. Of course it’s all relative. Europeans are most definitely more welcoming than say the Japanese.
- smusamashah 2y ago
  Isn't disliking outsiders a bit natural, specially if you are absolutely not adopting to the culture? And is this dislikeness same as racism or are these two different behaviours? (saying this while working as an outsider in another country where at least with coworkers I never feel like an outsider but may be that's this industry I work in)
  - bryanrasmussen 2y ago
    I hold that Racism, being an 'ism is a way of looking at the world that attempts to describe why reality is the way due to Racial categories https://medium.com/luminasticity/on-racism-6b38784a9156 https://medium.com/luminasticity/on-racism-6b38784a9156 >Like most systems of thought Racism draws from some common characteristic(s) found in at least part of the humanity for its power, in the case of Racism it is the tendency to xenophobia. not liking outsiders is xenophobia, most European countries are xenophobic, but often that xenophobia gets handled, explained and solved via the tools of Racism.

master_crab 2y ago

There are other large immigrant groups that arent Muslim and also have issues integrating. Also, many Muslim immigrants have varying degrees of orthodoxy. I’d say another part of the problem lies with the fact that Europeans tend to be pretty racist and insular group (and definitely so when compared to how they envision themselves). They complain about everything from Roma to West Africans (many of whom are not Muslim) moving to their countries. Hell, the Portuguese complain about Brazilians moving to their country and stealing their language with their slang. Of course it’s all relative. Europeans are most definitely more welcoming than say the Japanese.

smusamashah 2y ago
Isn't disliking outsiders a bit natural, specially if you are absolutely not adopting to the culture? And is this dislikeness same as racism or are these two different behaviours? (saying this while working as an outsider in another country where at least with coworkers I never feel like an outsider but may be that's this industry I work in)
- bryanrasmussen 2y ago
  I hold that Racism, being an 'ism is a way of looking at the world that attempts to describe why reality is the way due to Racial categories https://medium.com/luminasticity/on-racism-6b38784a9156 https://medium.com/luminasticity/on-racism-6b38784a9156 >Like most systems of thought Racism draws from some common characteristic(s) found in at least part of the humanity for its power, in the case of Racism it is the tendency to xenophobia. not liking outsiders is xenophobia, most European countries are xenophobic, but often that xenophobia gets handled, explained and solved via the tools of Racism.