My Multi-Cultural Childhood Could be the Answer to Racism & Xenophobia

Ryan Beitler, a journalist, fiction writer, blogger, musician, foodie, and vicious traveller began wondering why he has always had an innate interest in cultures that are not his own and why he has been driven constantly to put himself out of his comfort zone and furthermore, why others do not share his interest instead meeting other cultures with racism and xenophobia.

He had all kinds of culture sprinkled into his life, and has seemed to have gone to many places. He thinks perhaps the answer to xenophobia, the answer to prejudice, the answer to racism is subjecting children to other cultures to enrich their lives and broaden their perspectives early on.

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Preceding articles:

Go outside. Let the world in.

Dissolve The Barriers You Created

What to do in the Face of Global Anti-semitism

The Rise of Anti-Seminism

If you’re going to be a hater, make sure you’ve done your homework.

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Additional reading

1. Stand Up
2. Migrants to the West #10 Religious freedom
3. Immigration consternation
4. Anti-Semitism ‘on the rise’ in Europe
5. French showing to the whole world their fear and weakness

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Further reading

1. The Irony of Prejudice
2. We’re Not Friends
3. The shiny gloss of liberal tolerance, coating a violently racist global system
4. How Populist and Far-right Parties Conquer the Power
5. One fascist vs. 30,000 peace activists
6. Democratic Party Policy is to Deny Truth
7. Economic apartheid: The ongoing ethnic cleansing of central Auckland
8. To Cease to be Divided
9. A California Waiter Insisted Latina Diners Show ‘Proof Of Residency’ Before Being Served
10. Trash Waiter Wouldn’t Serve Group Of Women Without “Proof Of Residency”
11. “Job Vacancy in America-National Arbiter in Chief of “Who Is Racist”
12. Hate
13. “It’s A Preference, Bro…”
14. Team Culture
15. Intercultural Ministry is Now Available
16. Texas Tales: Family, culture and the multigenerational struggle for equity
17. Racism: More Than a Black and White Issue
18. Rasism Talk
19. empty conversations
20. ‘You Can Help in Ways That I Cannot’: Ijeoma Oluo on Putting Your White Privilege to Work Against Racism
21. Tom Cotton Escalates His War On the Poor
22. The Gospel and The Confederate Flag

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Related articles

• Radicalised Muslim known to security agencies shot dead in possible ‘terror’ incident at Paris airport – miles from where Duke and Duchess meet Bataclan victims
• The remarkable life of Marine Le Pen, the far-right politician who is well placed to become France’s first female president
• Why lesbian groups boycotted African LBT workshop
• Four days of riots unsettle Paris after black man says he was sodomized by baton-wielding police officer
• Why Are Asian Americans Missing From Our Textbooks?
• Emperor expresses hope for deepening Japan-Vietnam ties during Hanoi visit
• Australians doubt Trump’s commitment to its traditional ally
• After delay, Trump denounces racism, anti-Semitism
• The Alt-Right’s Intellectual Darling Hated Christianity
• Anti-Semitic materials found at UIC for the second time this week

our little blue rock

Recently, I began wondering why I have always had an innate interest in cultures that are not my own, why I’ve been driven constantly to put myself out of my comfort zone, why I am forever bewildered and stupefied by those who are not like me. Furthermore, why do others not share my interest instead meeting other cultures with racism and xenophobia?

I hadn’t taken seriously the fact that I had grown up with many different cultures, but then I began realizing I had all kinds of culture sprinkled into my life, and I couldn’t imagine my upbringing without them. Perhaps the answer to xenophobia, the answer to prejudice, the answer to racism is subjecting children to other cultures to enrich their lives and broaden their perspectives early on. The friends I’ve had over the years have taught me to open my mind and stay interested in people I am different…

View original post 794 more words

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Being European in a Post Brexit Britain

Britain and exit to get Brexit and to become the boomerang which shall frighten citizens of Great Britain, Europe and the U.S.A..

A referendum – a vote in which everyone (or nearly everyone) of voting age can take part – was held on Thursday 23 June, giving the inhabitants of Great Britain the opportunity to have their say to decide whether the UK should leave or remain in the European Union. Most people at the continent were convinced that the sane minds of the Britons would vote for “In”, but they and the bookkeepers were unexpectedly wrong.

According to British standards the turn out was very good, 71.8%, with more than 30 million people voting. It was the highest turnout in a UK-wide vote since the 1992 general election. But 52% to 48% decided they did not want to be involved any more in the economic and political partnership of the 28 states making up the European Union.

Whilst EU law still stands in the UK until it ceases being a member – a process which may not take long time – clearly some British people showed they have no intention to keep up a European attitude of diversity of people. Already before the election, the last few months up to the referendum, it showed that it was much more about immigration and racism than economical and political reasons. As soon the vote to leave the EU was published the aggression against foreigners and other looking people than British people became public.

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Yesterday at the Flemish television we could see and hear about non-British and nationalised immigrants in Great Britain being harassed.

The politicians have worked hard the last few months to create a hate against all foreign people in Great Britain and a disgust for all those who have an other skin colour or an other tongue.

The 27 EU member state countries their politicians should carefully look at what they have to avoid at any price.

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Male and female were created to keep each other company and to multiply creating a world were they could all live as brothers and sisters united together in a beautiful and sacred world. Of the environment man made already a terrible mess and of their way of living they proved not ever having succeeded to build up a good nice society for everyone. this gives good reason to keep working hard at the project European Union and to strive together to a liveable and loveable mini-world on this globe of diversity.

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Rhiannon, a nineteen years old half Spanish, half Welsh but of British nationality, currently studying at the University of Exeter and living in a student flat in Exeter. With university studies, work and just generally living her life, she hasn’t really had much time to dedicate to keeping up a blog and she didn’t want this to become a chore – it was never her intention to make this something that makes her feel pressured to maintain. {A Quick Update (June 2016)} but we may be pleased some youngsters also get to feel when it is really time to let their voice also be heard.

What happened on June the 27th made her decide she wanted to write more about the effects and the aftermath of the referendum first, and seemed to have become a victim herself as well.

Would it be not normal people can speak different languages? Even when living in one country and being able to speak the language of that country very easily, would it not be justified to speak the language of other family members when going out together?

Though when she went shopping with her mother she spontaneously started speaking in Spanish, just chatting about what they were buying and such. However, after about ten-fifteen minutes of that, as they were leaving the store, the mother seemed not feeling alright speaking in Spanish. When people have such reason because they are taken by fear, this should alert us Europeans and all civilised citizens.

Her mother did not find it such a good idea that they speak in Spanish and that it was best to stick to English.

Listen to what had happened and what the answer was when Rhiannon asked her why.

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Preceding:

Denmark votes in favour for a Discriminatory Nazi law

Poster: Please Help The Refugees

Tolerance Ends When There Is No Tolerance Shown Towards Us

Our life depending on faith

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Additional reading

1. The New gulf of migration and seed for far right parties
2. Migrants to the West #7 Religions
3. Welfare state and Poverty in Flanders #8 Work
4. Silence, devotion, Salafists, quietists, weaponry, bombings, books, writers and terrorists
5. Social media a destabilisation tool in the Middle East and Syrian conflict
6. Economic crisis danger for the rise of political extremism
7. Preparing for an important election
8. 2015 Economy
9. Brexit clashes and reasons to consider to bring out the right vote
10. Backing the wrong horse
11. Brexit, Nexit, Vlexit and Frexit
12. Financial mishmash
13. Trump brand of migrant demonization #1
14. Trump brand of migrant demonization #2
15. Blinded crying blue murder having being made afraid by a bugaboo
16. White Privilege Conference (WPC) wanting to keep the press out for obvious reasons
17. Pope Francis says Catholics must become evangelisers
18. Unity doesn’t mean uniformity
19. Consequences of Breivik’s mass murder
20. Religion, fundamentalism and murder

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Find also to read:

1. Cameron decries ‘despicable racism’ and Palin dumps New World Order: Eight things to know about Brexit so far
2. European right-wingers, emboldened by Brexit, eye their own yes-or-no votes on the future of the EU
3. Right sees a U.S. parallel in Brexit vote–and it could be right
4. Home is where the hate is
5. Post-Brexit: racist attacks go mainstream in disunited kingdom
6. Our stance against certain religions and immigrating people
7. Pelagianism, abundant sex, no works and refugees
8. Religion, fundamentalism and murder
9. For those Christians who say they are the Victim
10. What can YOU do to help stop this new wave of racism?
11. Brexit has given voice to racism – and too many are complicit
12. ‘Go back home’ – Bitter backlash post EU referendum
13. After a campaign scarred by bigotry, it’s become OK to be racist in Britain | Aditya Chakrabortty
14. I’m Stunned At How Brexit Has Unleashed Racism And Hate
15. Brexit: Wave of hate crime and racial abuse reported following EU referendum

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Further readings

1. Not seeing the wood for the trees: A blog on progress and setbacks
2. Being European in a Post Brexit Britain
3. ‘Brexit ‘- What is this all about and how it affects Europeans
4. Brexit; My Review on the Result
5. Brexit Nonesense
6. Brexit: Ugly Democracy
7. Brexit and You
8. My father fought in WW1, and my mother learned Esperanto – this is what they would have thought of Brexit
9. Coming to terms with ‘Brexit’
10. Brexit: So, did Anyone have a Plan…
11. Andrew Coyne: Voters need to be sold on the merits of open borders, not have free trade foisted on them
12. Universal discontent with Tory government and policies triggers intergalactic referendum
13. Hold a second referendum, British cabinet minister urges as prime minister heads to Brussels
14. Project Fear May Be Over, But Reality Is Much More Frightening
15. Germany Issues Demand That All Existing EU Member Nations Form Single Superstate • Now The End Begins
16. Brexit – Will it Affect Cats and Dogs?
17. Brexshit.
18. If It Had Been
19. Brexit and The Folly of Democracy
20. What is sufficient to constitute an Article 50 notification to leave the EU?
21. John Ivison: Britain drifts rudderless amid growing sense no-one is in charge in England after Brexit vote
22. Richard M. Salsman: Britain will thrive after it’s free from the EU’s socialists
23. I thought you were progressives?
24. The ‘Leave’ Camp Won. That Doesn’t Mean Brexit Will Happen.
25. The Brexit Vote: A British “Paul Revere” to Prep
26. Cameron decries ‘despicable racism’ and Palin dumps New World Order: Eight things to know about Brexit so far
27. Brexit Will Not Happen
28. The Great Brexit Kabuki: A Masterclass In Political Theatre
29. Gideon, We Really Can’t Wait Until September For You To Respond
30. Brexit, nouvel ordre du jour : « C’est le temps de paniquer! » — Vraiment?
31. British leaders want to take their time leaving the EU, but many European politicians want them out
32. The UK Needs To Fail
33. How Brexit Will Change America and the World
34. Why the British Said No to Europe by John Pilger
35. EU response to Brexit: Totalitarian Super State
36. Brexit – venom, bile and hatred
37. #Brexit
38. The UK, the EU, and Berlin Station
39. Autistic InnerSpace Comic No.66
40. Coming to terms with ‘Brexit’
41. Brexit: So, did Anyone have a Plan…
42. A modest proposal – let’s have a referendum every day
43. Brexit for Australia – And Others!
44. Brexit: Why I voted Leave – A Singaporean in UK
45. ‘fine thanks. oh, except for brexit’
46. Brexit: The Disconnect
47. And Yet…
48. Punk, I’ve changed my mind; we need to Brexit
49. A house divided: thoughts from a disunited kingdom
50. Europe laughs and waves goodbye to England (the soccer team and its Brexit-loving fans)
51. Don’t blame the young for feeling politically disillusioned
52. Cameron decries ‘despicable racism’ and Palin dumps New World Order: Eight things to know about Brexit so far
53. Cameron condemns xenophobic and racist abuse after Brexit vote | UK news | The Guardian
54. We still have love

wanderlust's mind

Today, I want to tell you all a little bit about what’s been going on in my country, specifically the UK. You’ve no doubt heard about our current political situation – after a massive country(ies) wide referendum, the UK has voted to leave the European Union – and I was planning to write more about the political side of things and specifically my personal opinions about it. However, something happened today that made me decide I wanted to write more about the effects and the aftermath of the referendum first. So the politics will have to wait for now.

So what happened today?
Today, my mother and I went into town to do some shopping. Whilst we were there, we spontaneously started speaking in Spanish, just chatting about what we were buying and such. However, after about ten-fifteen minutes of that, as we were leaving the store, my mum said to…

View original post 1,442 more words

Symbolic move to scare people away

Because Denmark found it had to need tighter immigration rules Martin Henriksen, immigration spokesman for the populist DPP, used the debate to call for an extension of the border controls that have currently been introduced on a temporary basis.

Copy of “the Independent” cartoon in the article about Human rights groups who also objected to measures delaying family reunifications (2016 January 27)

Do we have to say “After more than ” or “it took only” three hours of debate to have the minority Liberal Party government’s bill adopted by 81 votes to 27, with the support of the opposition Social Democrats and the anti-immigration Danish People’s Party (DPP)? One politician abstained and 70 others were absent.

This shows clearly how the majority of Denmark is feeling about people in need coming to safer places, like Denmark and Germany.

Johanne Schmidt-Nielsen, of the opposition left Red-Green Alliance, argued that the measures taken are

a symbolic move to scare people away.

The United Nations warned the measures would “fuel fear and xenophobia” but Danish politicians claimed they were

“about creating equality between migrants and Danes”.

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The tough measures such as confiscating refugees’ valuables to pay for their stay and delaying family reunification to three years, are not worthy for a free democratic state.

Denmark’s prime minister has warned that the 1951 United Nations treaty governing the rights of refugees might need updating. After Sweden imposed identity checks for travellers coming from Denmark, Denmark did the same along its border with Germany. Hungary had already built a razor-wire fence along its border with Croatia. {NYT}

Denmark and all the other European countries can and should take other measures to avoid the influx of refugees to the more wealthy countries of Europe. Last year, a record 21,300 refugees entered Denmark, one of the highest rates per capita in the EU, but Germany has to face more entrants and public opinion is also under pressure in that country.

Nils Muiznieks, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, wrote to Denmark’s immigration minister to oppose the property seizures.

“I believe that such a measure could amount to an infringement of the human dignity of the persons concerned,”

he said.

The family reunification delays have also been heavily criticised, with Denmark being accused of violating the European Convention on Human Rights.

Jonas Christoffersen, the director of the Danish Institute for Human Rights, told Al Jazeera:

“The right of refugees to be reunited with their family is protected by numerous international conventions ratified by Denmark. We believe the government is overstepping international law by implementing this bill.”

Liberal and left-wing EU parliamentarians criticised the proposed bill and took aim at a new provision in Danish law that would delay family reunification for up to three years for people in need of temporary protection.

“This law … goes completely in the wrong direction,”

Cornelia Ernst, a far-left German politician, said on Monday.

Amnesty International said the country had started a “race to the bottom” as support for refugees continues to wane across Europe.

“To prolong the suffering of vulnerable people who have been ripped apart from their families by conflict or persecution is plain wrong,”

John Dalhuisen, its Europe and Central Asia Director said.

“This is a sad reflection of how far Denmark has strayed from its historic support of international norms enshrined in the Refugee Convention.

“European states must stop this dismal race to the bottom and begin to meet their international obligations, by upholding refugees’ human rights and dignity. Anything less is a betrayal of our common humanity.”

Liberal Party spokesman Jakob Ellemann-Jensen defended their proposition by telling CNN’s Christiane Amanpour last month:

“All Danish citizens and refugees coming here receive universal health care; you receive education from preschool to university, and you receive elderly care; you receive language training and integration training free of charge, paid for by the government.”

The only demand that we set to measure this is if you have the means to pay for your housing and for your food — regardless of whether you are a Dane or whether you are a refugee — then you should.”

Similar laws exist in Switzerland and Germany, according to officials there. Dozens of cases were reported in Switzerland of migrants’ assets being confiscated to fund their living expenses, although in Germany it was unclear if, or how widely, the policy was enforced.

According to CNN many in socially liberal Denmark say they are appalled by the law, which the U.N. Refugee Agency has called

“an affront to (refugees’) dignity and an arbitrary interference with their right to privacy.”

Wiebke Keson, a 72-year-old Danish refugee center volunteer, said she was “shocked” by the notion of confiscating jewelry.

“Since I’m German, I was immediately thinking about our own history,”

she said, voicing a common criticism that the policy echoes Nazi confiscations of Jewish valuables.

The refugee camp in Thisted (Photo the Telegraph)

A Syrian family was stopped by the police at Padborg Station in Denmark, near the German border, en route to Sweden last year. Credit Mauricio Lima for The New York Times

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Please do find to read:

A stain of shame for the European Union

Denmark votes in favour for a Discriminatory Nazi law

Denmark approves controversial refugee bill allowing police to seize asylum seekers’ cash and valuables

Danish MPs approve seizing valuables from refugees

Denmark adopts controversial law to seize asylum seekers’ valuables

Denmark approves law on seizing refugees’ valuables and delaying family reunions

Danish Law Requires Asylum Seekers to Hand Over Valuables

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Related articles

• Strasbourg court rules Hungary pension law violates European Convention on Human Rights
• Denmark’s government wants to seize valuables from Syrian refugees
• Migrant, refugee, or human? The unsettled issue of human rights in Europe
• European Union Combats Extremists Online
• The woman is simply deranged and drunk on her perceived power
• EU could be slapped down again by Danes in latest referendum
• Denmark defends plan to strip refugee valuables
• The Latest: Agency says arrivals to Europe to top 1 million
• Norway: Anti-immigrationist appointed immigration minister
• Danish PM backs David Cameron’s plan for ‘slimmer’ EU after referendum defeat