Immigration & Racism

[Shannon & Ibrahim 15]

Is anyone on this page willing to talk about immigration in terms of the rampant xenophobia in this country?  I can’t be the only one who struggles with talking to her black, Muslim, immigrant fiancé about race relations.  It pained me to discuss interactions with the police.  I cried telling him about a work reassignment due to Islamophobia.  I’m also a Virginia resident and right now my state is dealing with acts of terrorism by white supremacists.  My heart hurts.  Yesterday there was a thread about pitchforks, torches, and frustration with USCIS.  It was brushed off as a joke.  I understand we are all stressed, lovesick, and more than a little on edge… but maybe I am looking to this page for compassion.

[Redheadguy03 505]

Could you possibly move somewhere else? Racism is everywhere. 

Edited August 13, 2017 by Redheadguy03

[RJandHamid 1,133]

My Moroccan husband has been in the US for a little over 2 weeks now, and so far everyone has been nothing but kind and welcoming (at least to our face, I'm sure people have their own opinions in private). My husband has noted some things about race, for instance he noted that it was mostly black or dark skinned people working low wage jobs in restaurants we went to. He compared it to Morocco, where race relations are also a problem, though in a different aspect. 

 

Unfortunately I think it also has a lot to do with the area you are living in. Chicago (where we live) is extremely diverse, so I feel like we are exposed (and therefore less afraid) of other cultures and backgrounds here. I know there will come a day where someone somewhere will make a nasty comment to my husband about his race or his muslim faith, but we've both decided to let the ignorant be ignorant so to say. 

 

I will say that police relations, especially in regards to black and dark skinned people is a difficult subject. I hope your fiancé never has to experience difficulty with the police or anyone else for that matter, but I'm glad you were able to talk to him about it, even though the discussion can be painful. I hope we can come together as a nation and begin healing instead of further dividing.

[desilove77 45]

Unfortunately Racism is everywhere. Some places more then others. I know it can be hard but it's life. We have to deal with it. I'm Iranian and live on Long Island.  After the whole ban thing that started in January 2017, alot of ppl looked at me different.  Did it hurt? A little (but I know I'm not what ppl say about Iranians). The thing is I have  family and friends that love me no matter what and that will get me by in life. I'm actually not muslim though. I'm of Roman Catholic faith but do have muslim relatives. No matter what ppl will always judge whether ur black, white,  muslim, jewish..etc.. Just be somewhere safe with ur Fiancé and be with loved ones. I wish u the best and don't let these racist, uneducated low lives set fear in u or ur Fiancé.  Everything will be ok InshAllah😉

[Going through 5,671]

Racism happens anywhere...to anyone, not just immigrants or those going through the immigration process.

 

There are plenty of people who were born in the US and lived here all of their lives and discriminated against/presumed as an "immigrant" or "foreigner" simply because of the colour of their skin or because they are heard speaking a different language.

 

Have I faced racism or religous discrimination in the past?  Sure---both here in the US and in my home country.  It's everywhere, unfortunately, and it's not going to die down anytime soon.  I think it's just more at the forefront these days for various reasons.

Edited August 13, 2017 by Going through

[JFH 12,190]

*~*~*moved from "K-1 fiancé visa progress reports" to CEHST - discussion of recent events*~*~*

[IAMX 3,055]

Xenophobia, is that why so many people want to move to the US?

 

Don't let leftist scaremongering alter how you perceive reality. Respect US laws and customs, and you'll notice that for the overwhelming majority of people they have fantastic lives.

Those who don't want to follow the law and live on society's fringes, regardless of race or ideology (think the act of terrorism by the white supremacist in the car plowing over people yesterday), will always find trouble follows them. 

 

I've experienced racism against myself for being white (by Hispanics and Blacks alike, but also recently from my Asian in-laws from Laos, China, Thailand, etc. as some had this impression that because I was white I was a cultureless mook who would gladly be subservient to their cultural values from the other side of the planet, must not be that great of a cultural environment if people are fleeing it like that), and against my own half-black sister in her younger days when she had much darker skin. I never allowed it to cloud my judgement about them. I still started two businesses with two black individuals, one of whom was a police officer for EPA, another a senior city planner for Benecia. You'll notice similarities in that they wanted nothing to do with criminals like BLM, Antifa, etc., just like, being German myself, I wanted nothing to do with skinheads/Neo-Nazis (laughable concept really), or white supremacy. 

 

Politically, I want to point out stupidity tends to switch based on who is in power. Those on the right were the crazies last decade, this decade its the left. I encourage more independent thought to identify this, although be prepared, because there's a lot of political hostility that's impossible to avoid.

 

Edited August 13, 2017 by IAMX

[Going through 5,671]

4 hours ago, IAMX said:

Politically, I want to point out stupidity tends to switch based on who is in power. Those on the right were the crazies last decade, this decade its the left.

You know, this is actually very, very true.  Never thought of it in that context before.

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

8 hours ago, Shannon & Ibrahim said:

Is anyone on this page willing to talk about immigration in terms of the rampant xenophobia in this country?  I can’t be the only one who struggles with talking to her black, Muslim, immigrant fiancé about race relations.  It pained me to discuss interactions with the police.  I cried telling him about a work reassignment due to Islamophobia.  I’m also a Virginia resident and right now my state is dealing with acts of terrorism by white supremacists.  My heart hurts.  Yesterday there was a thread about pitchforks, torches, and frustration with USCIS.  It was brushed off as a joke.  I understand we are all stressed, lovesick, and more than a little on edge… but maybe I am looking to this page for compassion.

We talk about it all the time on CEHST but you are a newbie so I can give that a pass. But to think there is blatant racism or islamophobia is just flat out wrong. Yes, you are a Virginia resident but where you live at is vastly different compared to the rest of the state, in fact you live in one of the most liberal bastions of country. So if you think there is so called racism there then I would hate to see you down in rural Virginia. 

 

I would like to ask what islamophobia have you experienced, and what interactions with police? My wife is darker than your husband and she is a Filipina, but the only racism she has EVER experienced here in the USA is from black people. My question to you is if you are in fact experiencing racism or just a slight that you think is racism/islamophobia? 

[OriZ 3,157]

The OP was looking for compassion. While in my opinion as well - their post is clearly misguided, I don't think it deserves some of the harsh comments. That said, imo, prejudice is life. It is everywhere you look, be it in the form of racism or any other form. Be it against Blacks, Jews, Muslims, Hispanics or white yes white people. Disabled people, gays, ill, ugly, poor, again, many forms of prejudice, racism is but one of them. Be it in the US, Europe, Asia, Middle East...wherever. It's life. I don't think the US is any worse than most places, in fact, it's probably better.

Edited August 14, 2017 by OriZ

[Amica Nostra 4,803]

15 hours ago, Shannon & Ibrahim said:

Is anyone on this page willing to talk about immigration in terms of the rampant xenophobia in this country?  I can’t be the only one who struggles with talking to her black, Muslim, immigrant fiancé about race relations.  It pained me to discuss interactions with the police.  I cried telling him about a work reassignment due to Islamophobia.  I’m also a Virginia resident and right now my state is dealing with acts of terrorism by white supremacists.  My heart hurts.  Yesterday there was a thread about pitchforks, torches, and frustration with USCIS.  It was brushed off as a joke.  I understand we are all stressed, lovesick, and more than a little on edge… but maybe I am looking to this page for compassion.

Thank you for laying out a critical topic in such personal terms. There are many in this forum and in this country who do not see racism, xenophobia or hatred of Islam as an issue that seriously afflicts America. I doubt you will find encouragement from folks with those views. America is a great country with the capacity to get through its current strife, but right now it is painful to watch and experience the struggle.

 

You should be encouraged, sadly CEHEST is not the best place to get that support.

 

 

Edited August 14, 2017 by Il Mango Dulce

[Penguin_ie 5,994]

***** One TOS breeching post and one related to it removed.  Further admin action taken.  Post civilly or do not post. *****

[Going through 5,671]

39 minutes ago, Il Mango Dulce said:

I cried telling him about a work reassignment due to Islamophobia.

I'm a bit curious about this...how did you know for sure this was due to racism on the employer's part?  Lots of times people don't get jobs, or job responsibilities are handed over to others for various legit reasons--experience, location, shift hours of work involved, educational level, prior performance within the same company, special certification needed, etc.  

 

I understand the frustration, anger and hurt one faces when it comes to having racist or discriminatory actions taken against them---most people, believe it or not, can understand it.  Yet, you have to be careful not to begin to chock up the majority of disappointment you face with people as the result of racism towards you.  Sometimes, it really isn't.

[Jacque67 7,328]

49 minutes ago, Going through said:

I'm a bit curious about this...how did you know for sure this was due to racism on the employer's part?  Lots of times people don't get jobs, or job responsibilities are handed over to others for various legit reasons--experience, location, shift hours of work involved, educational level, prior performance within the same company, special certification needed, etc.  

 

I understand the frustration, anger and hurt one faces when it comes to having racist or discriminatory actions taken against them---most people, believe it or not, can understand it.  Yet, you have to be careful not to begin to chock up the majority of disappointment you face with people as the result of racism towards you.  Sometimes, it really isn't.

Well according to the Nazis in Virginia they are being discriminated against by Jews, Muslims, blacks whomever.

[Going through 5,671]

1 minute ago, Jacque67 said:

Well according to the Nazis in Virginia they are being discriminated against by Jews, Muslims, blacks whomever.

Well...everybody gets discriminated against by somebody at some point in their lives, I gather.

Dogs probably discriminate against cats...hence all that barking and hissing.