Epicurus, I don't know if you noticed- James is not a gangsta drug dealer, but office manager in U.S. Army. Whatever you think about American politics and military, you should respect army members, as long as you live in the US (Florida). I am telling you this being against war in Iraq and against keeping US military everywhere in this Planet.
Yesterday one of my students asked me, if Polish folks steal alot. He was scared of conversating in English with me walking through Nowy Świat. That's the opinion some German folks have about Polish people. Didn't you think that what you are saying here is bunch of stereotypes?
James's social or economic status in the US does not change the reasons for my views. As for overriding my racial beliefs and loyalties to Poland, no status or military rank will do that. Simply because I live in the US does not require I forgo my loyalties to Poland, nor would I want to do so. I am not a US citizen and I have made no oaths to the US. Citizenship is becoming more and more meaningless by the day. I am tied to this country for the next 2 years but I am making plans to leave and return to Poland. The next amnesty bill will be the final stab in the back for any respect due a person of US citizenship. Ironically, the foundation of this destruction of US citizenship is multiracialism.
Just because James, on the individual level, may not adversely affect a community he immigrates to does not invalidate the overall adverse affect of his race upon a community. Once immigration is accepted as the norm and the government increases the numbers then you have an increase in the randomness of those brought in. In addition, there is also a bias toward the lower ends of the races bell curve since this segment provides a suitable supply of cheap labor. To have James come in is even worse because he is a Trojan Horse. He looks harmless enough, but on his coattails are masses of others whose presence will have the opposite effect that James may have. There is one other reason I am against it. I do not wish for Polish woman to miscegenate.
As for your student spouting stereotypes, that is what he was doing. But what is your point? Stereotypes are called stereotypes for a reason. Once a characteristic of a particular group of people is elevated culturally to a stereotype the probability of it being correct is almost 100%. Therefore, the reason there is a stereotype that Poles steal is because Poles do steal just slightly more often enough to trigger the innate ability of humans to recognize patterns of behavior in other humans. Let’s say you have 10,000 randomly selected native white Germans and 10,000 randomly selected native white Poles. The stereotype is that Germans steal less, Poles steal more. The stereotype claims that we will find more thieves among the Polish group then the German. I believe that is correct.
The numbers aren't that great. It's not like 1000 of the Germans fit the stereotype and 4000 of the Poles. The numbers are small, but recognizable in the minds of individuals who come in contact with that population. It could be that 200 of the Germans are thieves vs 500 of the Poles. And hence, a stereotype is born. Stereotypes are stereotypes because they are born out of truth. This is why people are hurt emotionally by them.
I think that Kochana Babcia is right. It depends on people income where they live.
Place where I live now is nice new estate with good schools and I can see any people living here eatern european, Black, Asian......I know that most families are attracted by good schools.
I would say that people are more divided by social status than race.
Social status and race are two rams butting heads. When put to the test race will always have the higher probability of being the decisive factor.
When people of different races intermingle, be it due to free will or being forced, the race factor becomes slightly passive. Social status immediately has no other choice but to come to the forefront. But social status is one of an unstable nature, it is allowed to exert its force at the whim of race. Race remains underneath, like a snoozing oversear.
I'm sure you know what a bear trap is. You can put your hand inside one and you will be fine as long you don't hit the trigger and close the trap. Social status is like that hand in the bear trap. As long as you tiptoe around and be careful, the trap is harmless. But one wrong move and the power of the trap (race) will quickly let you know who's boss.
This is exemplified in how easily a person's repuation and social status can be destroyed when that trap shuts. Recent example include politicians and comedians:
1) Former U.S. Senator George Allen points to a Webb aide, referring to him as "Macaca".
2) Kramer (Micheal Richards) from Seinfeld went on a race laden tirade in a public venue.
In both cases race immediately, like a 500 pound gorilla, overtook the little mouse that is social status. You can't escape race. You can't run from it, hide from it, or avoid it.
When I say race I also include ethnicities/blood. As for religion, it is the monkey wrench in the whole equation.
