Jacalyn, I was misunderstood, I referred to my direct surrounding here.
I also did not want to disqualify such talk on the whole, but I wanted to say, that the behaviour, e.g. any of the words said on this thread, would be more important than the question whether your parents have come from Latvia, Kazakhstan, Paris or Cologne - in my direct surrounding.
For Germany on the whole I think you are as well right and wrong. Of course there have been racially motivated (and non-racial anti-american) tensions against GIs and other American citizens in Germany.
On the other hand in many parts of Europe and Germany as well you will find a welcoming or at least quite relaxed atmosphere to multinationality, multiculturality and multiracial environments as well.
Whether these nice spots are insulae or encompass still the majority of Germany, as some opinion polls say, I cannot say.
You might ask on how many GIs have come home with a bride or wife from Germany. It has never been the rule, but it has always happened. To me several (namely three) cases of intraracial GI marriages are personally known. I have not heard any hint of contra-talk hinting at race in these cases. But maybe I am a lucky exception.
Isn't it possible to meet racist tensions in the US, too? The general situation of army troops in a foreign country can be an additional factor to feelings of uneasiness on the soldier's side.
Regards, MNI. |
