Re: We think of Mexicans like the Germans think of Turks.
Indeed... but tell me, why don't you think of Mexicans the way Germans think of Poles or, more generally, Eastern Europeans??
You're correct in pointing out Europe's racist hostility towards Turks, Arabs, Africans, etc. Yet the cultural gap --or chasm-- between these minorities and native Europeans is/was initially much wider than that between the US and Mexico... I mean, if it's that painful for the US South and Midwest to welcome Christian, Spanish-speaking Mexicans, just imagine what an ordeal it would be if Mexico were made up of Arab-speaking, Muslim folks!!
You have it wrong. The gap is as big as it is between Turks and Europeans. You forget.......Americans have little comfort zone when it comes to foreigners. Even Europeans can make them uncomfortable.
And with Mexicans, the differences are huge....the Mexicans are from the country......they are farmers and ranchers. However, they end up migrating to American cities. They are unfamiliar with urban living and behave much like they did on the farm.........peeing in the streets, throwing garbage out their windows for the farm animals to eat, driving cars that break down continuously, wearing the clothes of a farmer or rancher etc.
They don't speak English which is intolerable to Americans.....leading to all kinds of frustration and disputes. Their cultural background is a mixture of indian and Spanish; Americans is Anglican with some German thrown in......N. Europe vs S. Europe....you know that drill.
The Mexicans live in overcrowded buildings, six to a room.......putting heavy pressure on a city's infrastructure. They have their own ceremonies like firing guns into the air every few months....leading to the inevitable shooting death as a bullet comes threw someone's roof and pierces their skull. The list is endless.
Plus the Turks in Germany constitute 2.4% of the total population.........a drop in the bucket. The Mexicans make up at least 10% of the population and its likely to be more.......probably as high as 15% and growing very quickly.
No, sir, the two situations are fairly analogous and given the Turks overall percent of the population you have to wonder why the Germans are so intolerant.
ted |
