Yeah, it's definitely an on-going process for me too, unlearning whatever prejudices I pick up. I think it was pretty healthy for my social development that I moved to Lørenskog in my early teens - I remember when I first changed schools I was bullied by a clique of Muslim girls and that coloured my perception, but as time went on I came to know all sorts of first- and second-generation Norwegians, some friendly, some not, and I realized they were no different from the ethnic Norwegians I'd been with before.
I agree, I think Norway's a pretty xenophobic country - I'd hate to think how bad things would have gotten if it'd really been Al Qaida or someone like that who'd caused 22. July - but still, I'm optimistic about the fact that it's really the older generations who seem to be the most ignorant and bigoted, and that the younger generations seem - for the most part - to be moving forward when it comes to these things.
But yeah, talking about racial issues does make me nervous - of course I'd put the opinions of someone who've lived through that kind of bigotry before my own. But I also believe in the value of thinking critically and picking things apart, even if I don't think I'll ever be able to make a straightforward conclusion about things like these.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2012-01-04 03:01 pm (UTC)I agree, I think Norway's a pretty xenophobic country - I'd hate to think how bad things would have gotten if it'd really been Al Qaida or someone like that who'd caused 22. July - but still, I'm optimistic about the fact that it's really the older generations who seem to be the most ignorant and bigoted, and that the younger generations seem - for the most part - to be moving forward when it comes to these things.
But yeah, talking about racial issues does make me nervous - of course I'd put the opinions of someone who've lived through that kind of bigotry before my own. But I also believe in the value of thinking critically and picking things apart, even if I don't think I'll ever be able to make a straightforward conclusion about things like these.