By the way, the issue also applies to Swiss citizens who are of different ethnicity, or white foreigners as well.
That means we should not apply our standards to them. How much do you know about Switzerland and how immigration started here? Or when did it start? Or how was it before?
People need time to adapt to new situations, and that is exactly what happens here.
The vast majority of swiss are welcoming, and don't really mind foreigners being here. In a country where in the larger cities foreigners make 30% of the population that is quite a lot; in most other places I know there would be riots in such a situation...
I believe I fully understand the intent of your post. Nevertheless, I am peeved by meanness. I believe common civility is universal and does not take decades to learn.
Is it a peacock then? Racist act cannot take place without a racist person. A person who knowingly and voluntarily commits and keeps committing racist acts is a racist person in my opinion. Also institutionalized racism cannot flourish without backing of racist people.
For me that is all superficial. My dream is to see an increase of genuinely non racist people through out the world. Not people who are racist but are putting on a front to be PC or for staying clear of the law.
This is where you are stuck. Go see L.A. Crash and watch how all the characters make choices to overcome their racism.
If it's of any peace of mind to you, then I would qualify to be labeled a racist in your definition. And the truth of it is, so are you!
Speak for yourself mate If I discriminate it would be on the basis of the way a person thinks and not for the colour of their skin or the race they belong to.
The one that left would jump down the throat of anyone who mentioned anything remotely to do with her cultural background (OK, most of us are foreigners so get asked about our backgrounds). In my opinion she overdid the "race card" to the point where no-one talked to her about anything except work for fear of setting her off on one. She was constantly whinging about the Swiss - someone once let the door swing in her face and she was convinced it was because she was black.
The other lady is totally relaxed and confessed that she was pretty fed up with the first lady and her crowing about racism.
She had also witnessed racism in Switzerland but didn't take offence if, for example, you asked about her hair (obviously in a relevant conversation about hair and beauty rather than barking a question out of nowhere). The other lady would have gone berserk at such a comment.
My point is that some people see racism everywhere and in situations where it doesn't exist so it's kind of unnerving.
After I read the OP, it reminded me of the situation in my office. The OP was "offended" because people ask why she has a Western name rather than Chinese. That isn't racism, it's curiosity. If you put up a wall to people who are just plain curious and make them feel like they have hugely offended you, people stop asking and draw their own conclusions. Sad and wrong but probably true.
Being racist is not an either/or state. It's a question of degree. I've never met anyone who isn't, but many who deny it.
You know sometimes i just dont get it, i realy fail to understand some kind of attitude some people show to a diffrent color or race seriously i dont get it, i believe its not the race or the color that describes ones charactor .I mean that girl was chinese, but that doesnt mean if she puts another chinese person in the room then that chinese will do or behave exactly as the previous one, no no no thats not the way it should be.I think its high time people started respecting other race n stop judging one because of the color or race.
I wish u all the best in finding the room and stand strong dont give up.
When I filed for my Hochzeit the geminde asked me for my "residency papers" proving where I live in the US. So I brought in my ID's and some bills with my Address in SF. She thought I was retarted. She said "No, we need to proof that the US governmnet knows who you are"... !?
So I called the embassy and they explained half jokingly "We arent Nazi's and we dont keep files on individual Americans". So I went back to the Geminde and they couldnt believe it. They said I needed "Papers and registration from the State of where I live"..... I had to have the embassy call them and explain that these papers dont exist.
I do see a push towards "Big Brother" and "the sign of the beast" but its certainly worse in Europe because of the social safety net structure. Its sure handy, but you give up some civil liberties when you have to register for them.
I don't think there is any hidden agenda other than the Swiss not really wanting to issue documents, residency and whatnot to people who have a criminal record in their home country.
Sounds reasonable to me.
So I call the LAPD and ask for a document. They respond "You've got to be kidding? Where are you calling from? Who are you and why are you asking about our private citizens?". Finally, I learned there is NO such report that can be obtained.
The Gemeinde nevertheless insisted I get SOMETHING. And they suggested I talk to the US Embassy. So I called the Embassy to explain. Of course they are familiar it. They chuckled and called it BS. They suggested I come in and get an affidavit.
So I wait 15 minutes at the Embassy, and the ambassador himself comes out. He explains to me how tired he was of this. He tells me to raise my right hand, then asks "Do you swear to the truth that you have not committed any crimes, nor have a criminal record?". I said "I do". He promptly stamps a piece of paper, hands it to me, and says "That's it". I gave it to the Gemeinde and they begrudgingly accepted it.
Reminds me of an experience I had at a Sauna at Schinznach Bad. This freaky dude followed me around trying to tell me to take off my trunks. I almost beat him up. Then the strict Frau Müller came and sternly reprimanded me. She insisted it was against the rules to wear ANYTHING. So she stood there and watched as I dropped them... now that was very, very strange.
I think an important point of having to register at an address in CH is to know where you are allowed to vote (if you're Swiss) and where you pay your taxes.
Maybe but there has to be a threshold where you see the tipping point.
Well sorry to disappoint you but I really don't pre-judge or discriminate based on race/skin colour. Maybe that would explain why I had no issues marrying outside my race.