The proven disadvantage of a foreign name in Switzerland... - Page 7

Wollishofener · #**121** 22.05.2011, 03:04

	Quote:	hoppy
	I I think that Obama may have learned something from Patterson's experiences and knowledge of Southern politics. http://video.pbs.org/video/1560084046/ It's a great documentary for anyone interested. http://video.pbs.org/video/1925571160

Thanks for the link. Just watched the whole video .

AmericanGotWorkVisa · #**122** 22.05.2011, 22:12

	Quote:	Wollishofener
	What do I know about racism in the Deep South. Answer : a lot & nothing ! What do I mean by that ? I have relatives in Texas and Louisiana and paid four extensive visits to the area (incl Georgia and South Carolina) but never lived there. Some, particular older ones regretfully ARE racists, in spite of otherwise being nice and hospitable, which at times can be rather depressing. With the NON- or anti-racist, I had many discussions until 2 or 3 am, got a lot of input but also a bit of confusion. Much of what I stated above is not "scientific" but personal impression. Nadir is an Arab name (Christian AND Muslim) and that he is a White is logical as Arabs around the Med are generally as "White" as those on the northern side.

If you don't know, that's fine. But don't "front" like you do. I know Nadir is an Arab name, but most Americans do not.

It doesn't matter what is, it matters what the average person knows. VEry few Americans know much about Arab names, if it doesn't sound like a typical Muslim arab name, most people have no clue where it is from. Nadir does not stand out, I believe his family is Syrian or Lebanese. Most Americans have stereotypes that Arabs are "dark skinned" with "big noses", black hair, etc.

In any case, some of this is not racism, it is more tradition. I don't think the average southern white is racist, but I do believe that voting patterns are passed down in families (in Switzerland and the U.S.)

What I'm saying is pretty simple...so I won't rehash it. One thing I can say is blacks in America do vote in higher margins for blacks. That's true, but what's more important is the party, than race.

A black guy, who later became head of the REpublican Party, Michael Steele, tried to run for Senate in Maryland. Maryland is 30% black. A white Democrat won and got most of the black vote. I think Steele got more votes than a white Republican would have got from blacks, but still, most blacks won't vote for a Republican of any race or color. :-) Party politics run deep in the black community. Since President Kennedy and Johnson, most blacks have voted Democrat no matter what.

Wollishofener · #**123** 22.05.2011, 22:59

	Quote:	AmericanGotWorkVisa
	If you don't know, that's fine. But don't "front" like you do. I know Nadir is an Arab name, but most Americans do not. It doesn't matter what is, it matters what the average person knows. VEry few Americans know much about Arab names, if it doesn't sound like a typical Muslim arab name, most people have no clue where it is from. Nadir does not stand out, I believe his family is Syrian or Lebanese. Most Americans have stereotypes that Arabs are "dark skinned" with "big noses", black hair, etc. In any case, some of this is not racism, it is more tradition. I don't think the average southern white is racist, but I do believe that voting patterns are passed down in families (in Switzerland and the U.S.) What I'm saying is pretty simple...so I won't rehash it. One thing I can say is blacks in America do vote in higher margins for blacks. That's true, but what's more important is the party, than race. A black guy, who later became head of the REpublican Party, Michael Steele, tried to run for Senate in Maryland. Maryland is 30% black. A white Democrat won and got most of the black vote. I think Steele got more votes than a white Republican would have got from blacks, but still, most blacks won't vote for a Republican of any race or color. :-) Party politics run deep in the black community. Since President Kennedy and Johnson, most blacks have voted Democrat no matter what.

I on an idea of a cousin who was with the University of Texas in Austin visited, back in 76, the LBJ Library there. Even in view of his failure about Indochina, I was deeply impressed by things about Civil Rights and Racial Equality. LBJ may have failed to succeed in the Indochina matter but in the end was a really great President.

Nadir, btw. is Syrian-Lebanese (both). And most Arabs are light-skinned (between white and "brownish"). Do not forget that about 75% of all Arabs live in countries along the Mediterranean (a majority on the African continent between Casa and Suez)