Quote:
Originally Posted by Locke
Well, I think Trevor Noah sort of hit the nail on the head without outright saying it.
We know he's alluding to racism, and I'm certain there is an element of that, of course. Its not as though Eastern Europe is notorious for being the cradle of modern society's woke movement.
That being said, you cant ignore the fact that many of these places are former USSR and despite consistent tensions, they are a very close-knit society.
Families are intertwined, travel is common and frequent. These are people they know in a conflict that they understand.
Comparing that to the Syrian refugees, those were people with a religion and culture they dont understand as well, from countries they dont know as well or have as close ties to, etc. In huge waves.
So yes, his allegory of saying that "Theres a reason Uncle Phil only took in Will" is pretty spot on. He wasnt trying to save the world, he was trying to save his family member.
So to just say 'its racism' while not incorrect, is disingenuous. Its more nuanced than that.
However, I definitely will admit some of those reporters when they're talking strictly about 'how these people look' and specifically addressing blond hair and blue eyes, etc. Yeah. That is straight up racist and more than cringe-worthy.
Also though, you have two fairly modern, mechanized militaries duking it out in the streets of modern cities...you definitely dont see this kind of thing every day.
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Totally agree with this post. It's easier for European countries to accept masses of other fully European people for the reasons you mentioned. Having said that, Europe accepts a lot of refugees from around the world. It's not like their doors are closed. The real question is why other wealthy countries in Asia and the Middle East do have nearly completely shut doors, if it is all about racism.
There is also the feeling in many countries that if refugees reach a safe country, and then continue risking their lives by travelling through other countries without being processed and legally transferred, they are no longer refugees and become migrants. Ethically, there is difference between the two.