how many coloured CO in London ?

[maore 0]

I am sorry to bring this subject into this forum but I am reading a very high rate of success at interview when the couple involved are whities ( I mean it in an affectionate way ) . I am asking this because I have a large chip on my shoulder ( or whatever the right expression is ).

The last time I visited the US embassy of London ,I saw a significant number of back room staff being coloured (one of them she 's the famous asian lady a few people mentioned who danced with all the paperworks an obsolute model of efficiency) but I have not seen any coloured consultate officer ( the people who actually have the power above our dear Queen and God). What is going on ? No coloured people want to do a career in the foreign department ? Or no coloured CO want to move to London ( fair enough myself I would run away from this city like peste ).

Call me worried by nature but I usually get really concerned/scared with any organisation who have people in power who are solely white or entirely coloured .

Maybe I am not impartial in asking these questions because I am black and my wife is chinese but you will have to admit when I see the rate of whoorai after a 5 minutes interview compared to the 45 minutes grilling ( I even forgot the name of my mom during this interview, sorry Mom !)I was subjected to with my wife - it does raise some suspicions and questions.

I ve compiled what go through the CO minds (take it lightly it is not a serious study):

CO 's mind :marriage between different ethny is suspicious , guys you do not have anything in common so what the hell are you doing together ?

Me :are NY caucasians so similar with scouser ? if you knew a bit more about the culture of people you might see more similarities than differences.

CO 's mind :marriage between people with large age gap is suspicious

Me: I don 't care it is not my case

CO 's mind: marriage between third world looking people is suspicious

Me: Well all third world looking people might not go through a dodgy deal just to be in the USA especially when settled in the UK and earning quiet a lot of dineros

CO 's mind: marriage with a chinese is totally suspicious

Me: as far as I know the chinese exclusion act was repelled quiet a while ago , and chinese are already americans (not interested in terrorism/or changing the politics of a country they just want a BIG piece of the pie (business)

This CO sometimes remind me of driving examiners and VISA applicants are like testing candidates: the truth does not matter (I am a crappy driver) what matter is how you perform on the day when interviewed by the SPECIAL ONE.During the interview they do not care about the right points (used the right gear,observed well,etc...) only the bad points will fail you during your exam and if you get a serious fault/mistake that 's it you are back for more driving instructions (paperworks/or administration processing) before daring showing your face in front of the SPECIAL ONE.

Just the thoughts of an IDIOT = ME

[Boiler 45,967]

In the US:

To be Black you have to be African American.

To use the term coloured, or colored, you also have to be Black, US style.

As far as CO's are concerned, I can not comment, I do not see colour, I have moved beyond it.

Edited March 28, 2007 by Boiler

[britty 1]

I have no words.

[maore 0]

In the US:

To be Black you have to be African American.

In the UK: the word went through quiet a lot of phases

1960's let us label all these bloody british subjects from some funny tropical places as Blacks ( mainly west indians/ and indians)

then suddenly people realised oups it looks like these guys do not eat the same thing - alright then some will be afro carribeans and other asians (and no we do not include all the guys from the very far east- we got no idea when they will come around for the party)

[\quote]

To use the term coloured, or colored, you also have to be Black, US style.

As far as CO's are concerned, I can not comment, I do not see colour, I have moved beyond it.

By couloured I meant anyone without a scandinavian look or someone with a pronounced sun tan (trust me on this, my observation skills made me fail my driving test twice)

Fair enough if you see beyond and I have to recommend you for it.

I have seen a comedy show about a south african bus driver during apartheid: he was driving and some white and black kids started a fight in his bus because one group insisted on sitting in the front seats of the bus. He stopped the bus and shouted " stop it !! there is no more blacks and whites , you are all green . Now we have this one sorted out ,all the dark green please sit in the back and the light green in front of the bus".

I was brought up in a multi cultural society/family: my friends are from england, vietnam, portugal, tunisa, ireland, india, china, algeria, ivory coast and senegal . because basically we were brought up in the same dirt cheap place and went through the same experiences. Do I see colour or focus on it ? I think I focus on a lack of it and I promote/strive on diversity (yes I do include my whities brothers/sisters in it). I would be bored to be living in a place only full of martians (even if they are fun to be around).

No organisation can afford not to be diverse because it create a dumb workforce (imagine a workforce with only guys like me): people thinking the same way and taking the same decisions.

Let me give you a concrete example how dangerous it is : do you think a mixed "race" CO would ask to a mixed couple " why did you marry a chinese " ,yes I was asked this question and I fell silent to such an idiotic question. But I would definitely ask to a couple from liverpool and manchester why they got married ?

:

[britty 1]

I still have no words.

[DaveandFleur 0]

In the US:

To be Black you have to be African American.

In the UK: the word went through quiet a lot of phases

1960's let us label all these bloody british subjects from some funny tropical places as Blacks ( mainly west indians/ and indians)

then suddenly people realised oups it looks like these guys do not eat the same thing - alright then some will be afro carribeans and other asians (and no we do not include all the guys from the very far east- we got no idea when they will come around for the party)

[\quote]

To use the term coloured, or colored, you also have to be Black, US style.

As far as CO's are concerned, I can not comment, I do not see colour, I have moved beyond it.

By couloured I meant anyone without a scandinavian look or someone with a pronounced sun tan (trust me on this, my observation skills made me fail my driving test twice)

Fair enough if you see beyond and I have to recommend you for it.

I have seen a comedy show about a south african bus driver during apartheid: he was driving and some white and black kids started a fight in his bus because one group insisted on sitting in the front seats of the bus. He stopped the bus and shouted " stop it !! there is no more blacks and whites , you are all green . Now we have this one sorted out ,all the dark green please sit in the back and the light green in front of the bus".

I was brought up in a multi cultural society/family: my friends are from england, vietnam, portugal, tunisa, ireland, india, china, algeria, ivory coast and senegal . because basically we were brought up in the same dirt cheap place and went through the same experiences. Do I see colour or focus on it ? I think I focus on a lack of it and I promote/strive on diversity (yes I do include my whities brothers/sisters in it). I would be bored to be living in a place only full of martians (even if they are fun to be around).

No organisation can afford not to be diverse because it create a dumb workforce (imagine a workforce with only guys like me): people thinking the same way and taking the same decisions.

Let me give you a concrete example how dangerous it is : do you think a mixed "race" CO would ask to a mixed couple " why did you marry a chinese " ,yes I was asked this question and I fell silent to such an idiotic question. But I would definitely ask to a couple from liverpool and manchester why they got married ?

:

I think your thinking too much. Your a person like everyone else. When you begin to segregate yourself, then you will tend to think what others think of you. Don't worry. Especially where I come from in Seattle, Washington state, there are mixed couples everywhere, we don't even take a second look.

Good luck in your adventure and don't think about it so much....

[kitkat1 5]

Are you concerned that questions may arise because of the differences between you and your fiance? If so, yes, a variety of different kinds of questions may come up at any interview.

For future reference, the word "coloured" to refer to Black or African-American is not used these days as it has a negative implication.

[TracyTN 237]

I still have no words.

Me too.

[meauxna 15]

Are you concerned that questions may arise because of the differences between you and your fiance? If so, yes, a variety of different kinds of questions may come up at any interview.

For future reference, the word "coloured" to refer to Black or African-American is not used these days as it has a negative implication.

I guess it's a UK thing--had to school the DAH on that one when he moved over, too (even tho one can't help but notice that there are plenty of Black folk around these days who are neither African nor American... that must be annoying for them!)

[Boiler 45,967]

For future reference, the word "coloured" to refer to Black or African-American is not used these days as it has a negative implication.

Actually it is used: http://www.naacp.org/home/

There was a piece on the Colbert Report a few weeks back where a noted Black author was explaining that Obama is not Black. You have to have a US slavery aspect in your ancestory to be Black.

Founds her name: http://www.debradickerson.com/

Photo on her web site must have been taken a little while ago.....

Edited March 28, 2007 by Boiler

[maore 0]

I think your thinking too much. Your a person like everyone else. When you begin to segregate yourself, then you will tend to think what others think of you. Don't worry. Especially where I come from in Seattle, Washington state, there are mixed couples everywhere, we don't even take a second look.

Good luck in your adventure and don't think about it so much....

Seriously do not worry about it , the only way me think I segregate myself is in my hatred for Dutch food and excuse my french but I learned not to give a toss about what others think about me because as you put it in such a good way - you end up restricting yourself and what they think it is their own problems none of my business.

What I have a serious problem with is giving any kind of money to any organisation not representative of the society I live in (London being a striving and dynamic multi-cultural place with a few bombing there and then but well we got used to it after a while)-

I definitely agree with you ,the US in general is a multi cultural place that 's why I have a great believe and trust in its people , the US london consulate is just at odd with this image and is not representative of its own people (US) or the city where it is located in(London)

[Boiler 45,967]

The clip:

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Colbert_...kness_0209.html

[maore 0]

Are you concerned that questions may arise because of the differences between you and your fiance? If so, yes, a variety of different kinds of questions may come up at any interview.

Oh yeah check this one out :

CO question: "have you consumed your marriage ?"

in me head: Not your damn business ! but since you ask I have my fair share of love actions - but I doubt you want any sort of love actions after a day in this office , right ?

I am such a sissy I just answered "Yes"

[meauxna 15]

Are you concerned that questions may arise because of the differences between you and your fiance? If so, yes, a variety of different kinds of questions may come up at any interview.

Oh yeah check this one out :

CO question: "have you consumed your marriage ?"

in me head: Not your damn business ! but since you ask I have my fair share of love actions - but I doubt you want any sort of love actions after a day in this office , right ?

I am such a sissy I just answered "Yes"

The question was probably 'consumated' instead of 'consumed' (altho humorous images do abound..)

I still don't get the point of your rant? That there isn't enough diversity in the racial make up of the current staff in the Immigrant Visa Unit of the London Embassy?

If that is it, maybe you just got there on an off rotation. Staff come in and out every couple of years. Can't have people placed based on their race now, can we? (tomake sure there is a perfect racial balance at all Cons posts all the time?)

eek.

[maore 0]

The question was probably 'consumated' instead of 'consumed' (altho humorous images do abound..)

I still don't get the point of your rant? That there isn't enough diversity in the racial make up of the current staff in the Immigrant Visa Unit of the London Embassy?

If that is it, maybe you just got there on an off rotation. Staff come in and out every couple of years. Can't have people placed based on their race now, can we? (tomake sure there is a perfect racial balance at all Cons posts all the time?)

eek.

Yes you are right ,I was probably in the wrong shift (morning) and used the wrong world- all freaking grumpy(including myself) except for the asian lady (managed to joke around while throwing our papers all over the place).

Maybe you misinterpreted my questions,I am not talking about all consulate around the world I am talking about London US consulate which is a special city (it is not Athens, bratislava, or Moscow it is London).Would you be concerned if you went to the british embassy in NY and all the guys who interviewed applicant were scottish ?

My worries is not to inforce any racial make up (although I would not mind if there are a few ethnic greeks even if I have difficulties pronouncing their names but that 's my problem) . It is funny when people jump into their guns as soon as you refer to diversity and try to make you feel guilty because you used the nastiest word ever created :Diversity.Oh by diversity you mean racial quotas and positive discrimination - right ? Not quite right, I mean diversity is a neccesity to me and me only.

What I am questioning here is the lack of diversity :diversity is in the backroom staffing but not in the CO interviewer position .It seems odd/bizarre/abnormal to me in a city like London , in an embassy like the US embassy. Fair enough if you do not consider this a problem, I personally see it as a problem based on my experience .I would not be bothered if I was in a police station in Prague full of czech( no insult to the czech it is just an example among millions ).

Assume you have a cloth shop in oxford street what sort of staff would you hire ? Well I would make damn sure that 's I hire: qualified muslim/hindu/buddhist/catholic/atheist no orthodox black/white/asian/green/yellow male/no female because I am from a multi cultural background and because from my experience it does create a dynamic work place more ready to provide answers to a diverse world/customers.

on the same note , I am contracting in Holland and it makes me sick to the stomach not to see any woman in a managerial positions . I am not just focusing on colour : I live in a diverse world and I need it to be reflected everywhere in my life that 's my personal choice. It is acceptable for individual to have a different view but it is unacceptable for a governmental organisation supposed to represent the American people to the great city of London.

I really hope/wish you are right about me being in the wrong shift/rota.