cjm

I should have said it has become unpleasant, to me, as it is now commonly used in a derogatory context within a spoken inference or written text phrasing. The word is international, I accept, but can be used as a blunt instrument. It's a personal view.

Pistolpete2

I think that it's all about perception.

In the UK right now there are serious allegations being made that the Labour Government intentionally increased immigration to the tune of millions, in their terms, to further their own political rather than national interests. As a result, as it turns out, the already overburdened UK taxpayer is funding migrants' living expenses and the system is finding jobs for migrants who are absorbing government services at a time when the UK indigenous population is in many cases having trouble paying its bills.

The anger vented invariably, though of course unjustifiably, gets directed at the immigrant whose face is visible (no pun intended) as opposed to the former government who is no longer even in power. This anger intensifies when the perception exists that the immigrants are in no way integrating into UK culture.

Employers complain that they cannot find quality local sources of labour because there is simply not sufficient skilled workforce to meet their needs. So, they go to the government and get concessions on importing that labour. There is no earthly reason why the foreign applicant should not seek those jobs offered so they can then migrate to make a better life BUT if the locals had, IF IT WAS INDEED FEASIBLE, been given the proper/better education and skills development the import would not have been necessary and they - the local - would not be on benefits.

It's easy to see where the anger and frustration can build towards immigrants in an overburdened small island (half the size of France) at the same time that those immigrants form the backbone of the NHS and some provide the skills that are crucial to the UK's participation in the global economy.

I'm sure there are exact parallels to the UK experience in France.

Pistolpete2

I'm a real francophile but I clearly remember that the French are always the first to "jump" on issues like banning the imports of British Beef and keeping the ban in place for the longest while during the concerns relating to mad cow disease. Not really the same thing as racism, I think.

We've all experienced the arrogance associated with the French who have no patience with us that we cannot speak their language.

RACISM
XENOPHOBIA
ARROGANCE

all have their different manifestations

bordeaux_boy

'****ing English are everywhere nowadays (SNIP)

Dave Maggie Siddall

Racism is common in every country I have ever been in. I think it is natural and goes back thousands of years to our tribal ancestors. get on with your life.

Ka Ora!

MillieF

What a fascinating post! I happened on this by accident and am hooked! The French are just very very conservative (with a small 'c'), they don't like people who aren't 'just' like them, be it from another village, town or social strata. They need to 'place' people mentally. I love living here, and have been very very happy, and yes...some of my best friends are French! My neighbor describes our relief black postman as 'le petit noir' - she doesn't dislike the postman, but he is black! This has been an idyllic country to have a child in, but now that child is growing, I am just not happy with the need to 'fit the mould' - I don't care if I won't be accepted, but I do for my kid, so we are off.

A girlfriend of mine, of British origin, but with a Nigerian father, and now married to a Frenchman, tells me that she has experienced far less racism here than she did in the UK, which I found encouraging.

I have really noticed a change in attitude towards foreigners in the last couple of years - I am sometimes unsure whether it is due to just the terrible economic downturn, or the plethora of people who have suddenly pitched up in France and made no effort whatsoever to integrate, learn the language, maybe a mixture of both?