[unityByFreedom]

My takeaway from such comments is their perception that it is not a problem for them.

And, they are in denial, since if it wasn't a problem for them they would not question the story.

Sharing stories does help. Racism is rooted in lack of exposure to diversity. It may never be eradicated but working to end it among every new generation is worthwhile IMO.

[inglor_cz]

"Racism is rooted in lack of exposure to diversity."

Uh, have a talk with South African whites sometimes.

And isn't American Deep South, with its 30-50 per cent black population, considered stereotypically racist, while you have a lot of anti-racist movements in mostly white places like Oregon and New England?

It does not work in Europe either. For example, the far-right Rassemblement National has most support on the French Riviera and Corsica, places where the Arab and African populations are very numerous. It struggles to gain support in Bretagne, where there is little immigration.

Israel is very diverse and the level of ethnic and religious violence there is massive.

I am Slavic myself; traveling around former Yugoslavia, I heard things that would absolutely stun American readers. There are people absolutely ready to slit throats of the villagers two kilometers away, just because of a different religion.

From your comments, I hear the conviction that upon meeting people from a different culture, everyone will rejoice and cherish the changes. You do not take into account a possibility that two cultures may, upon contact, develop a serious conflict, perhaps even ending in war.

Diverse places like Northern Ireland, Yugoslavia, former USSR, the Caucasus, Lebanon, Iraq or lately Western European metropoles seem to be a hotbed of conflicts.

[unityByFreedom]

You can grow up in a diverse city while isolating yourself to a subsection that has no diversity.

Look at Trump, from NYC. Spent all his time at private clubs.

[koonsolo]

> Racism is rooted in lack of exposure to diversity.

The biggest racists that I know grew up in an environment with the most diversity (talking about EU here, not US). It also shows in political results, where extreme right is most voted on in diverse environments.

[unityByFreedom]

Sure you can find racists anywhere. It's more about their home environment than it is about anything external. But if your parents tell you white people are bad and you meet one who's nice you might start to question that upbringing.

[koonsolo]

You clearly didn't hear what I said.

For example, there is a reason why gay people don't like to walk around in muslim environments, and it has nothing to do with how their parents raised them.

So like I said, your theory is that when you are exposed to diversity, you have less racism. But the numbers (such as political preference) show completely the opposite.

[unityByFreedom]

I did carefully read what you said. I'm sorry you do not feel understood. Have a good one mate.