Comments on: Why Fleeing the USA May Not Be Such a Bad Idea

By: Jay Digital

Jay Digital — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:16:06 +0000

As a follow up to this article I would like to see a piece detailing how one would go about making the move to another country. Speak on the legal steps and career decisions that need to made to turn the dream into reality.

Thanks for the piece. Like many others who have commented this has been on my mind for the past few months.

By: TicToc

TicToc — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:29:35 +0000

Those that comment on racism in Europe do forget one vital thing: The cultural diffferences between, say, a Germany and an Italy are way bigger than the difference between F.I. California and Ohio, even when Germany and Italy lie geographically much closer than the mentioned American states.Europe still has clrearly defined borders between countries. Ignoring it is a mistake that, sadly, many Americans make and it gives a skewed vision of ” Europe” as a whole. Europe is not a mega-state, but a conglommerate of smaller countries with very distinct differences in culture. It is only a Union in the financial sense.

Italy is Notorious in Europe for it’s racism, The Netherlands, Danmark, Sweden, Norway are known for their liberal look on “race” and their well-run wellfare and healthcare schemes ,yet are notorious for their fear of people of the Muslim faith(I know from experience,I am no muslim, but I happen to live in Northern Europe). France is racist to the umpteenth degree towards North-Africans & muslem and is acting just plain conceited towards the rest of Europe….So, not exactly “Xenophobic” but “Religio- or Islamo-phobic” A very important difference, that must be seen in the light of very secular societies, that have a long, painful, history of bloodshed in the name of religion, so Europeans as a whole are very wary of religion in any shape or form.

Being “colored/black/mixed/whatever” doesn’t mean a whole lot, but being a muslim very much does.

Racism towards blacks does exist, but not to the institutionalized extend it does in The States.(no “race” tick-box on any form or document)

Advise: When travelling Europe(Please dodespite expensive Euro’s), try more than 2 closely aligned countries and especially do not skip the odd little countries like Andorra, Monaco, Belgium or The Netherlands. It’ll give a whole new spectrum of experiences and a million differences to ponder..

By: Zoe

Zoe — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 01:02:48 +0000

Both my parents did it. They felt America is too stressful and now they’re living it up in West Africa.

By: Jst1BlckMn

Jst1BlckMn — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:59:41 +0000

To Afrika maybe ?

By: 18andlovinit

18andlovinit — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 23:31:29 +0000

Mrs R you are so right!
When i see americans over here….i always ask
“why did you come here”, it just seems so wierd to me, however, every country has problems.

By: Amber

Amber — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 02:08:18 +0000

I’ve done a fairly extensive amount traveling in Europe–even lived in Italy for a few months, it wasnt all it is hyped up to be. Just as much racism and classism from natives and visiting Americans as I experienced in the US. I couldnt wait to come home– at least here I dont have to struggle to understand what people say behind my back lol

By: lajoliefille

lajoliefille — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 01:38:28 +0000

I’m sorry but if you’re a person of color and you travel to a European country be prepared to face xenophobia and discrimination of a different caliber. The thing that people often forget is that countries such as France,the UK, and Denmark, haven’t had a civil rights movement and aren’t really acquainted with immigrants like the US. So you’ll often meet people who assume you’re there illegally or you’re stealing their job and there more frank about their prejudices than those in the US. I say this as a self professed francophile every country has it hang ups its just that we don’t hear abut or experience first hand (due to the shittyness of US media IMO)

By: Lee Gordon

Lee Gordon — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:49:00 +0000

Hey y’all. I married a Brazilian woman 5 years ago. We have a 3 y.o. daughter and are expecting another child. We speak Portuguese at home, something I never ever imagined before meeting my wife; it’s our daughter’s first language. As an American, I’m the one who’s jonesing to get down there and feel living everyday life outside this place. But my wife is a US citizen now, and we both fear the violence in Brazil. One of these days we gonna do it!

By: texasgrl

texasgrl — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:42:05 +0000

Hmmmm I was just thinking about this.

By: Ms. R

Ms. R — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:40:10 +0000

It’s funny, those in the US want to leave but so many of us here (here being the UK) want to escape to the US.