Are Americans really more intolerant than Europeans?

[Adrusek81]

I was reading these two articles on Towleroad about how most LGBT people in Europe are constantly worried about becoming the targets of violent attacks motivated by homophobia, and how, allegedly, the UK (by far Europe's most racist and xenophobic country, and one of the most homophobic places I've ever been in), is the nation in Europe where gay people enjoy the most freedoms and social guarantees...

http://www.towleroad.com/2013/05/map...ope-photo.html

http://www.towleroad.com/2013/05/frasurvey.html

In my experience, due to Europe's well documented history of racism, homophobia, misogyny, xenophobia and religious fanaticism since the XVI Century, and especially due to the rise of fascism during the 20th century, people tend to be very reluctant to openly voice their bigoted views in public out of fear of upsetting the status quo. Equally, people seem to have internalized self-censorship to the point of being extremely uncomfortable when issues of discrimination and violence against minorities come up in a conversation. It's almost as if these subjects were taboo, and they could only ever be addressed after deranged extremists like the BNP, le Front National, the Freedom Party of Austria or Muslim clerics promote hatred and violence against minorities in general, and gay people in particular. On every other occasion, these things must be conveniently swept under the rug, even though they happen every single day - and are sometimes engaged in by the same people who denounce far right movements as "evil".

Personally, I think that people in the US are less hypocritical and more proactive in their bigotry, and aren't paralyzed by the fear of being seen for what they are: nasty individuals who deliberately seek to undermine, denigrate and scapegoat minorities, more often than not out of sheer malice rather than ignorance. People in Europe just hide and pretend that things don't happen even though they do, whereas in the US prejudice and intolerance are openly stated in all their ugly savagery.

So, what do you think? Are Americans really more intolerant, or just less careful and dishonest about their views?

[SLOPPYSECONDS]

sofa cheese global
ans new improvered pops wot global bed pans

thankyou

[Harke the Boeotarch]

So, what do you think? Are Americans really more intolerant, or just less careful and dishonest about their views?

I think you're not very bright or trolling, possibly both.

[Adrusek81]

I think you're not very bright or trolling, possibly both.

Thank you for your mature and rather bright input. That was truly impressive.

Then again, I was just trying to highlight the fact that, beyond the realm of official discourses and alterations to specific legal frameworks aimed at protecting and/or extending the rights of minorities in most European countries, the truth is that prejudice in all its forms is still very much an unresolved issue; among other things because people seem to be extremely unwilling to address the fact that, in quotidian life, xenophobia, racism and homophobia are still rampant, and the latent violence exercised against minorities often manifests in "minor" acts of discrimination that range from making differences in the way in which people are treated, to insidious attempts to prevent others from having access to services/opportunities, inappropriate comments, spreading rumours, hatemongering or overt violence. Whether we like it or not, these things happen in Western Europe and it will not be possible to eradicate them by assuming that the more evident achievements we have obtained, somehow deny or nullify them.

Yes, the consequences of being openly gay or belonging to any other minority groups in the US can be far worse, but that is only because there is less care or awareness about the "correctness" or "appropriateness" of such attitudes. Yes, in principle, gay people have a better quality of life in most countries in Europe, but that doesn't mean that, on a day to day basis, we don't have to face extreme challenges caused by prejudice.

Sorry if I have offended anyone's sensibilities.

[PreTTy PeTe]

sorry americans don't even know about canada.

here you go and rick mercer is cool

[dpnice]

You have put your arguments clearly and concisely but you paint a dark picture of the ordinary European.

I don't really know how to reply to you. I have come across little to no documentation on hate crimes against homosexuals neither about discrimination in daily life. Obviously it must exist but it certainly doesn't make news worthy articles in the papers or magazines.

Even our recent demonstrations against "gay marriage" were heavily underlined by the wish for them to be seen as a social issue rather than homophobic. Difficult I know but they did try.

So I can't challenge your comments as have no empirical data to do so and using my own personal experience in support of a contre-argument would seem to be ridiculous.

[Carlo1991]

wait; western europe is quite tolerant with gays, but east europe is not

I think it's the say in USA: california and north east gay friendly; bible belt intolerante

[Melgum]

I would just like to know how long you have been living in the UK to make that sort of sweeping statement about the UK being "by far Europe's most racist and xenophobic country, and one of the most homophobic places I've ever been in" and how long you have lived in other European countries (must have been several I guess) in order to make such a broad comparison...

M

[JohnnyAnger]

I would also be interested in how long you have lived in the rest of Europe? I think the UK is a step up on some of the stuff I have seen here in the Netherlands...

On a side note Melgum, it's always nice to see another Colcestrian on JUB

[jimmayy]

The difference is our racist parties aren't in the running for the government of the country unlike yours.

[Native Son]

Well, some of us are. Ha ha!

(These are always the funniest threads.)

[eddielee]

I don't know about Europeans, but I do know that America is sharply divided when it comes to gay people. Where there is intolerance, it's served up with plenty of malice.

[Telstra]

I think you're not very bright or trolling, possibly both.

Every time people want to know more about things,
People like you called it trolling .....



Maybe no one should be allowed to make any threads at all !!!

[Native Son]

Maybe no one should be allowed to make any threads at all !!!

No, they shouldn't!!!

Ugh.

But you're so right, Tolstoy. I always refer to him him as 'Harke the Blowhard'! Hee-hee.