It seems to me that in terms of race relations the United States is far advanced than Europe. This is not to say that there is less racism in America than in Europe but rather that racism in America is far more subtle than in Europe. In America, there is far more public display of contempt over open racists than seems to be the case in Europe. I say this because the kind of public display of racism one hears about in many European countries can hardly be seen in America. In American racism, events or comments that carry racist undertones, like the recent Trayvon Martin case, is said not to be about racism at all. Thus, it seems that people try to hide their racism in America because they feel embarrassed about it. Not so in Europe. In Europe, racists actually flaunt their wares in public and go on to prosper. Racism is demonstrated every week in football stadiums all over Europe and the teams with racists fans and players go on to prosper. Currently, there is a row in Italy, that stronghold of racism in Europe, about a member of parliament who has described a black, female minister of the country as an orangutan. He has, however, rejected calls for his resignation. I wonder whether a member of congress in America would survive such remarks. I wait to see the outcome of the Italian case as I watch how Europeans and Americans continue to teach their kids racism. It is quite a distasteful and distressing development.
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