I can't believe racism is still out there

CATS

Hi Guys,

More of an observation really. My son has just taken a trip to Austria with his school, spoke to him last night and he was visibly shocked, he tells me that him and his friends took a trip to the town center, where they encountered 3 groups of Austrian boys who called them n**gars. My son is not even black, he is half Oriental have Latin American, although his friend is and obviously my son is not white.

I have never seen him that affected by anything like the way he was last night and I really wanted to give him a hug. I explained that racism comes from ignorance and he should just ignore it.

Obviously being born and raised in London he has never encountered anything like this here so it must have really had an impact on the way it was said. He tells me he feels uncomfortable now and cant wait to come home.

I have never encountered racism before and I am shocked that it still goes on. Am I right to be shocked or is racism still part of everyday life?

spacey2012

Indeed it is, one local card shop sells "funny Ginger" cards.
It is all around, you just have to look.

neon_dannii

Quite common in parts of Europe, as well as many other countries around the world unfortunately.

RAS

Countries have different attitudes; Austria may not be great; the anti-immigrant/neo-nazi party have a strong following.

The one that really strikes me is that the US is very PC as regard to spoken comms (Canada even more so) but people are very surprised by "mixed race" relationships. The New York Governor is very unusual. The right wing hate Obama but if he was married to a "white" woman they would loathe him even more.

Person_one

If you've never seen racism you're either the luckiest person alive or you aren't paying attention.

Its everywhere, still, sadly.

CATS

person_one, you are right, maybe am just not paying attention, but I honestly have never had racism directed at me or my family

System

if its not the colour of your skin it will be the colour of your hair, the fact you wear glasses. The size of your body, the way you talk.


There will always be something.

duchy

Austria does have a very different attitude to Britain. I was shocked when I visited Vienna at some of the political posters and attitudes in general conversation (we were visiting my then husband's family) I encountered. Like here it's a minority-but a bigger minority. I voted with my feet. I won't revisit the country until they become more enlightened.

tiger_eyes

Sorry your son had this bad experience.

Relocationrelocation

Living in London does shelter you from racism, I have never encountered it here (I'm not white) but in other areas of the country, sadly I have. It's good to still be shocked that this happens because it means you have a good moral compass and know what's right and what's wrong. Also encountered it in Australia...

worried_jim

Shock horror- the land of Hitler has racists, who would have thought!

It is bad when you travel abroad and encounter these bigoted idiots, it makes you realise how fortunate that we are to live in the UK and I can't blame all those in other countries who are trying to get here both legally and illegally for a better life. OP- I hope you Son still managed to have a good time.