uncdan replied to your quote: An eight-year-old Nigerian girl has been injured…

Do you think it’s related to the economic downturn? When things are good, people are happy. When things are bad, people turn on each other and blame each other.

You know, no, I don’t think so. I used to think that it was the case (i.e. happy people when they have money vs. racist assholes when they are poor) but I no longer believe so. The argument reminds me of those who somewhat justify physical or verbal violence by drunk people. They say “it’s because they are drunk!”. No. It’s because they are assholes. There are plenty of people who get drunk and don’t go around beating up others. The alcohol exacerbates a character trait that was already there. With the current wave or racism sweeping the EU, I tend to take a similar stance: the economic downturn has only brought back to the surface what was already there. One does not go from “accepting and embracing of one’s neighbor” to “violent, racist thug” through lack of money. That’s a co-opt to avoid addressing the historical issues with race that Europe never remedied to begin with.

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