Since living in Europe, many things have permanently impacted my brain and sometimes I wish I hadn’t learned them at all. In America, we are told as children that the world is compatible to us, that people are basically good, and that if you work hard, you will be rewarded. But I’ve learned that here as well as on the other side of the globe, life is hard, hope is negotiable and sometimes happiness is a luxury for only the few.
So, here are the things I wish I didn’t know:
1. How prejudiced, how racist many people are here in Europe. They see others as a Nigerian, a Turk, a Muslim, a black, a gypsy, a German, a Jew, while I see people (as I think most Americans do) as just people- with all the same needs….security, food, hope, shelter and compassion.
2. How so many people disappear- children here in Eastern Europe, backpackers and alone people in remote places- victims of organ trafficking.
3. How everything hinges on mere survival. Desperation and food, food, food.
4. How fragile our eco-system is and the importance of every person to be aware of what is really happening with our climate.
5. How much politics, the mafia, and the rich rule interaction between nations.
6. How much the media controls propaganda directed against Americans as well as restriction of information to Americans about situations in the rest of the world.
7. How many dark deeds, thoughts, and plots exist in people’s hearts that films just can’t invent.
Ana Pires said,
April 15, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Regarding your number one. That’s very preconceived of you. You don’t know all Europeans to make a general statement like that. Just like a racist doesn’t know everyone from one certain race to make general statements about them either.
I don’t think America is that great either. There’s a big importance given to one’s status and class. “Life is hard, hope is negotiable and happiness is a luxury for only the few”, if you think hard, that could be said about America too.
I understand you probably didn’t mean that to sound the way it did to me, so sorry if I seemed rude or harsh. But think about what I said?
I also see your blog is new, so I wish you good luck with it.
Ana Pires said,
April 15, 2008 at 6:06 pm
You’re right. Everyone has preconceived ideas, it’s in the human nature. And by your comment, I can see you’ve been through a lot that may have made you a bit less “faithful” on humanity (not sure that’s the right term I’m looking for, hope you understand what I mean).
But still. Words are powerful. I don’t like to label a person by one characteristic alone. Being white, black, american, european, asian, muslim, jew, christian – those are only small characteristics of what a human being is, like you said yourself. But then you go and say that many Europeans are racist. Labeling a people as being racist – don’t you think that’s a bit racist as well?
I hope you don’t take any offense on what I’m saying. I wasn’t as tolerant before as I am now, and now that I see things in a different way, I’ve become more sensitive to them. I’ve definitely made offensive and racist remarks before, sometimes without even noticing. Sometimes because of past experiences (not that I’m trying to compare myself to you; escaping from a killer in Greece?!), sometimes for just not choosing my words right.
And again, words are powerful, so I really believe any positive and constructive discussion on the topic helps.
theblacksentinel said,
April 15, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Unfortunately, you may be a little naive. Here in America people are just as racist as over there. We categorize people and as of this moment discrimination is the special of the day on the menu.
Also, the propaganda pumping out of the U.S. is deafening. We are so quick to dismiss the things that we do as we point our fingers at those in other countries.
Thanks
Carol said,
April 16, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Dark hearts are everywhere, in all cultures. We all work very hard to insulate ourselves from them to keep from losing hope and struggling to believe that everyone is good at heart. Truly, all any of us can do is deal with what we’ve been saddled with, good, bad or ugly, with as much grace as we can, choose to be the Eeyore or the Tigger and get on with it. We can’t effect how others choose to deal with life, we can only control our own reactions.