Just to let Doug know the US is not the only bastion of idiots:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96949439
Bigotry, apparently, is not uncommon in Europe.
I was surprised by Julian Bond's statement. He's both insightful and
knowledgeable.
"The big difference here is that the United States has been
thinking about and dealing with race since we were founded. These
countries in Europe are relative newcomers to the conversation about
race. They are much less familiar with confronting their own
bigotry." Bond adds, "I have always thought that European countries
are more bigoted than the U.S."
I recall considering leaving the US after Bush was elected. I thought
about the problems I'd seen in Italy and elsewhere, and decided that
there just might be as many problems outside the Bubba infested US as
in.
I think of Europe as being more sophisticated, certainly in
lifestyle. But then my sampling is biased. But if I think of my
friends here, I see the same sophistication. Hard for me to say if
Bond has it right.
I'd be interested in our European Friamers observations.
-- Owen
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