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the demonization of immigrants has been one of the ugliest trends in politics over the past 20 years in Europe. I'm sure it's happened before, but it's definitely gone worse over this period.

I'm sorry to read your bad experience and hope it turns out well.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Sat May 30th, 2009 at 05:39:38 AM EST
is actually quite racist, in fact.

Here I am, a white educated (specifically in the field of the native culture) American of German and Polish decent, third generation in fact, and I am having these bureaucratic problems.

I imagine an immigrant from Pakistan or Kenya has it way worse than I do.

That was really my read-between-the-lines point here.  I am already integrated and that is the main argument used against immigrants.  It doesn't logically hold up.  Therefore I believe it falls out of logic to irrational xenophobia and blatant racism.

I am experiencing the barriers of xenophobic policy.  It was shocking to me how the Auslandsamt openly stated that since I am an educated American that I was treated differently.

I certainly do not believe that I should have special consideration for that, but rather that immigration should be more accessible for all.

In the US as well, for that matter.

"Schiller sprach zu Goethe, Steck in dem Arsch die Flöte! Goethe sagte zu Schiller, Mein Arsch ist kein Triller!"

by Jeffersonian Democrat (rzg6f@virginia.edu) on Sat May 30th, 2009 at 06:49:40 AM EST
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I imagine an immigrant from Pakistan or Kenya has it way worse than I do.

I can only imagine...
Looks like it's going to be rough for immigrants EVERYWHERE.
Few days ago here on TV they told us how immigrants from India became target of vicious attacks lately here in Australia.

Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind...Albert Einstein
by vbo on Sat May 30th, 2009 at 09:07:35 AM EST
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