Golden Retriever GFSo my understanding of "Immigrants is just code for racism" has moved from a logical understanding to an empathic one over time. Like I am not a German yet. I'm in the process of citizenship but it's long, hard and expensive. But generally speaking, my coworkers call me an "Honorary German". You can likely see this from my profile but I'm hella white, got blonde hair and blue eyes. VERY white. I make Mayo look tan.
I had a coworker. Lived his whole life in Germany. Is a German. Speaks perfect German ( naturally ). He also is just white. But his father is Turkish. People call him Turkish and me an honorary German. Like ... could y'all be more obvious? I had a coworker even ask him when Ramadan was and he was like "TF should I know? I'm an atheist." The assumption goes, is Turkish, therefore Muslim, therefore knows when Ramadan is.
Then another chef was teasing me. Called me an "Auslander". Nothing was meant by it. I am one for heavens sake. It was just playful trashtalk between immigrants. But my very German coworker looked at me with pitying eyes of "We both know what you actually are".
The whiteness of my skin paired with some personality markers and education in a federalist democratic country and strong integration makes the immediate assumption "German". I had a german official bend over backwards, make several calls, and get me in with the best German school with the highest ranked teacher to join a class where there were brown and black people that had waited for over 10 years for this course. I got in in 3 months out of Ausländeramt.
The thing is I have never heard anyone say it. Nobody says "Immigrant means brown, black or yellow" it just is ubiquitous. Immigrant literally is just "I'm racist but need a code word so you don't hear the hard R". Hating immigrants is literally just being racist with a dogwhistle inbetween. The vast majority of AfD, and CDU/CSU voters I have met think I am "The Exception". I am not. I'm just white, and y'all are just hella racist.
Again, I knew this before. I voted and acted accordingly. Now that understanding has just moved from logical understanding to empathic understanding. I know I am an exception as a white educated westerner from another federalist democracy with a strong work culture. People are willing to look past certain labels if you "pass" well enough for them.
PS Also this isn't just about Europe. I've heard the same stuff out of Japan and the USA. This isn't trash talking Europe. It's trash talking Xenophobia and I don't think I have ever heard of a country that was an exception to what I am talking about.
#immigrantlife
I had a coworker. Lived his whole life in Germany. Is a German. Speaks perfect German ( naturally ). He also is just white. But his father is Turkish. People call him Turkish and me an honorary German. Like ... could y'all be more obvious? I had a coworker even ask him when Ramadan was and he was like "TF should I know? I'm an atheist." The assumption goes, is Turkish, therefore Muslim, therefore knows when Ramadan is.
Then another chef was teasing me. Called me an "Auslander". Nothing was meant by it. I am one for heavens sake. It was just playful trashtalk between immigrants. But my very German coworker looked at me with pitying eyes of "We both know what you actually are".
The whiteness of my skin paired with some personality markers and education in a federalist democratic country and strong integration makes the immediate assumption "German". I had a german official bend over backwards, make several calls, and get me in with the best German school with the highest ranked teacher to join a class where there were brown and black people that had waited for over 10 years for this course. I got in in 3 months out of Ausländeramt.
The thing is I have never heard anyone say it. Nobody says "Immigrant means brown, black or yellow" it just is ubiquitous. Immigrant literally is just "I'm racist but need a code word so you don't hear the hard R". Hating immigrants is literally just being racist with a dogwhistle inbetween. The vast majority of AfD, and CDU/CSU voters I have met think I am "The Exception". I am not. I'm just white, and y'all are just hella racist.
Again, I knew this before. I voted and acted accordingly. Now that understanding has just moved from logical understanding to empathic understanding. I know I am an exception as a white educated westerner from another federalist democracy with a strong work culture. People are willing to look past certain labels if you "pass" well enough for them.
PS Also this isn't just about Europe. I've heard the same stuff out of Japan and the USA. This isn't trash talking Europe. It's trash talking Xenophobia and I don't think I have ever heard of a country that was an exception to what I am talking about.
#immigrantlife