The Casual Racism Of Western Society | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

The Casual Racism Of Western Society

To start working towards the elimination of a systemic issue, the results of it must be called out for what they are.

141
The Casual Racism Of Western Society
Bayerischer Rundfunk

In the last few months, particularly in the wake of the November terrorist attacks in Paris and the attacks on women in Cologne on New Years Eve, the casual racism with which the Syrian refugee crisis has been treated in the media and by fear-mongering high profile individuals, such as GOP presidential candidates, has reached astounding new heights. While systemic racism against Muslims and people from the Middle East has long been ingrained into Western society, it has recently become even more culturally acceptable in many circles to express bigoted ideologies against Islam and an entire geographical region. And even as rallies and demonstrations are held around the world in support of the resettlement of Syrian refugees, this bigotry continues to seep into governmental actions and decisions. A current example is a series of informational guides released by the German government in late 2015 aimed at the Syrian refugees who have resettled there.

Meant to provide refugees with tips on how to adjust to German society, the campaign, which features a 14-panel cartoon illustrating expected behaviors, was not published in response to the previously mentioned attacks in Cologne, as defenders of the publications have claimed. Rather, it was published months prior, as if it was a needed resource. It is a prime example of the casual racism at work in modern society, and while it thankfully has become a viral source of mockery, let's not forget that it is the result of a government actually believing that a group of people needed to not only be reminded to make eye contact and say "hello," but to not assault women, harass gays, or beat children.

An essential part of bigoted ideologies is the belief that your race/ethnicity/religion possesses characteristics and morals that makes it fundamentally superior to others. In this case, white people in the West have developed the idea that they are endowed with more compassion, social understanding, and open-mindedness - which is ironic, seeing as these conclusions are directly linked to extreme close-mindedness and a lack of understanding of other societies and cultures. To be clear, this is not unique to the the German government. Just recently stateside the Senate Democrats voted down a Republican bill that would have effectively blocked many Syrian and Iraqi refugees from entering the US - a bill that had passed the House of Representatives. What we see occurring with these worldwide attempts to restrict and recondition Syrian refugees is the acceptance and proliferation of dangerous racial, ethnic, and religious stereotypes. Western societies were built upon such xenophobic principles, and even in the modern era, they continue to not-so-subtly operate on them as well.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

181062
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

7985
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

453032
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

23629
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments