Nov 5, 2002
English 1101
Argument on Xenophobia
Xenophobia has many forms. Its can be express by
anyone and can be understood in many ways.
Xenophobia is the fear of foreigners and by its implication portrays a
negative image and has a negative impact.
However not all types of criticism and views that might appear to be
xenophobia are actually, when analyzed, xenophobia. We will look at three scenarios, discuss the
different situations and conclude that the event-taking place is actually
xenophobia or not.
Xenophobia
can be express through actions, words and ideas. Xenophobia exists in people of every
nationality. The most common type is
perhaps exonerated thorough travel since this is the time that most people are
on the defensive. Therefore people do
not like to travel to different countries in scare of facing culture
shock. This is perhaps be exposed to a
new culture and having a hard time mixing in.
When people do travel to different countries and cannot blend in or
except the changes they change their fear into xenophobia. For example, in article “ Xenophobia” taken
from an online web site Bakkster.com by Mark L Bakke. The author points out an example about how Americans
suffer from xenophobia. A lieutenant
colonel, up completion of a segment of a new assignment orientation for the
country of Turkey, said, “These Turks are just going to have to change their
ways and join the 20th century”.
The lieutenant colonel basically meant that he did not approve of the
customs and culture of the Turkish people and wanted them all to change their
views to match those of his own, as if he is doing a favor for them and
enlightening them with modernism. Forget
the part that this person is in Turkey as a temporary guest. Many Americans do share these same
sentiments. They forget that their
country is only 200 years old and is still a baby compared to the rich cultures
of other countries. Yet they believe
that their ways are the ways of human being and the rest of the world is
barbaric. To these few Americans,
adapting and learning a different anything is a challenge and they rather not
have to do so at any cost. Perhaps this
type of xenophobia exists because of the geographic isolation of the United
States. Unlike Europe where the borders
are political rather than cultural and one can be in a different country within
an hour drive time. This example clearly
exemplifies xenophobia expressed by the lieutenant colonel.
Xenophobia
is not only found overseas, but also found in our schools. Xenophobia exists among many students and
faculty members. There are many
immigrant students in our schools and because of this, students and teachers,
may over time, experience xenophobia.
Students come to the United States to study from different backgrounds
and cultures. At times, many face
problems such as adjusting to the new culture, environment and food. During this phase, these students are
stereotyped and ridiculed for any of their many differences. This is even more magnified after a specific
event that has put people on the defensive. These problems are evident in daily life, for
example, in the article “Tolerance in the News” Robin Chen Delos uncovers and
reports students at south lakes high school in Reston, Virginia being targeted
for their ethnic and even labeled as terrorist.
According to this article there was a student who overheard a couple
teachers calling Muslim people terrorists.
Another student found a death threat note in her locker. Author Delos thinks this kind of action is a
form of terror. The stereotyping of all
Arabs and Muslims to be terrorists is also xenophobia. Based on the actions of a few people, are
entire group of people are blamed, hated and shunned. This would be wrong if the perpetrators were
German and all Germans were blamed or if the perpetrators were Americans and
all Americans were blamed. One thing is
evident, an ex-military American citizen did the Oklahoma City bombing, but he
was labeled crazy and it was over. It is
easier for a majority to blame the minority for their problems rather than
blame themselves. It is out of fear of
the unknown that people express xenophobia.
They do not know the intent of foreigners and fell threatened and so,
for many people their escape is through xenophobia.
Although
it is easy to spot xenophobia, not all forms of rejection or abnormal behavior
is actually xenophobia. It is a very
fine line that differentiates this quality.
Nevertheless it is our duty as educated people to part any biases and
analyze each situation and conclude the matter at hand. In the article “Xenophobia” by Mark L Bakke,
a young American soldier went to eat his meal in a German restaurant for the
first time. When he was served a salad,
he was confused at the presentation and proclaimed that he could not eat
it. The reason; it was not mixed. It was not the same ordinary tossed salad
that he is used to. The author implies
that this soldier is expressing xenophobia, however, I beg to differ. There can be many explanations for the
behavior of the soldier. He may be a
picky eater or perhaps it may have been too messy for him to toss the salad
rather than the salad come to him tossed.
We cannot imply that he has xenophobia simply because of his eating
habits and diet. For all we know a
German can be sitting there in his place acting the same way. Could that German have xenophobia? Or maybe,
he too has a different eating habit and diet.
Xenophobia
is a negative expression from the addresser to the addressee. We have to use logic in our quest to differentiate
to what is or what is not xenophobia.
Our interpretation could have an impact on the situation and how we
judge each and ever occurrence. If we
are too lenient in identifying xenophobia, then we may not be catching and
correcting it at the right time. If we
are too rigid, then we may find ourselves quiet, tucked away in the corner of
the room, scared to come out speak and express ourselves in a sophisticated and
educated manner.
References:
Bekke’s, Mark L, “Xenophobia”, February 05, 2000
Delos, Robin Chen, “Tolerance in the news”, July 5,
2002
