No Cabbage Rolls for Microsoft...

Fljotsdale · Post by **Fljotsdale** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 7:21 am

My husband, now deceased, was Polish, and he was very racist - black, gypsy, Jew, Asian... you name 'em, he was against 'em. Heh! and he was living with me in a city that is chock full of black, Asian, and Jewish people!

Oh, and Hi! QuenGalad.

galraen · Post by **galraen** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 7:36 am

I've known a few Poles who aren't racist, but sad to say that amongst those who came her, or at least to South London, in recent years, many of them are. I and some colleagues got into a very heated debate with some who lectured us on how foolish we were to allow black immigrants into the country!

Loki[D.d.G] · Post by **Loki[D.d.G]** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 9:08 am

QuenGalad wrote:After all, nobody objects to sexy black sportsmen of both genders sweating on nike posters.

Their glistening bodies and rippling muscles are quite thought provoking, no?

QuenGalad · Post by **QuenGalad** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 2:14 am

You mean this is all a beginning of an invasion? We're going to get used to seeing them around via the posters, and then it's gonna start? And they'll be more fit than us and we won't stand a chance! :laugh:

Seriously though, we are a racist nation, but if people are going to accept that and humor that, how is it supposed to change? Especially since my travelling brothers and sisters are not exactly broadening their horizons, as Galraen informs me.

Oh, and Hi! QuenGalad.

yeah, it's been some time since i've been around... life's put me through a mincer more than once in the last couple of years. But it's good to see not much has changed around here

galraen · Post by **galraen** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 3:46 am

It's not going to change overnight QuenGalad, in this country I've noticed that racism seems to be more prevalent in areas where there are the fewest 'ethnic' minorities. Ignorance fuels a l lot of it. It seems that once most people actually get to interact with people of different races they realise their fears, and most, if not all, their assumptions are false. Once that happens sustaining silly prejudices is hard to maintain. Amongst the Poles who've spend a fair amount of time here the prejudices many arrive with soon start to erode.

You are right though the more see of images of people who are different in positive roles the sooner the walls will start to break down, and if Poland is successful within the EU, as I think it will be, then those walls will have to come down. Eventually success will attract people from all round Europe, and many of those attracted will be of different racial backgrounds. So they (the racists) had better get used to seeing black faces around, being part of Europe these days means accepting multi-culturism, like it or not. Personally, it underlines the old saying, 'variety is the spice of life'. I've recently moved back to Cornwall, having spent decades living in south London, society down here is a monoculture, and frankly boring compared to what I've become used to.

Fljotsdale · Post by **Fljotsdale** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 12:29 pm

QuenGalad wrote:
yeah, it's been some time since i've been around... life's put me through a mincer more than once in the last couple of years. But it's good to see not much has changed around here

I've not been around much myself until a week or so ago - nothing bad, though, just doing other things; and you're right! Not much has changed around here.

Lots of names I recognise and very few that I don't.

On the racist theme, if it's any consolation, this country was very racist when I was young. It's come a looooong way to racial tolerance and acceptance in a relatively short time - but even so, there is still a degree of racism under the surface, and some people, I think, will never be anything else. Give Poland another 30 to 50 years.... maybe less, with the degree of communication (and therefore exposure to other races and cultures) that we have today.

Loki[D.d.G] · Post by **Loki[D.d.G]** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 10:18 pm

Fljotsdale wrote:It's come a looooong way to racial tolerance and acceptance in a relatively short time - but even so, there is still a degree of racism under the surface, and some people, I think, will never be anything else.

Racism is an ugly trait that will prove almost impossible to eradicate. As long as people think of themselves as superior to another race or fellow human being, racism is here to stay. Sad really.