I’m sure trying to take in americans (many of whom will not look like northern europeans) while having an extreme anti-immigration policy (e.g. in Germany) will go over well with no friction.
That’s the thing though, many american scientists who want to flee are ‘brown’ (hispanic, black, indian etc.) and/or queer, because that’s exactly the type of people who will suffer the most in the US.
This is about Germany, though. I don’t agree with the other person’s point, but at least in Germany, Ukrainian refugees are well-liked - I never hear anything bad about them even from the far right. Probably helps a lot that most of them are 1. white and 2. women and children.
With Ukrainians, we initially saw a wave of genuine support that I was happy about. But within months, politicians started using them as scapegoats. Friedrich Merz, likely the next German Chancellor, accused Ukrainians of “social welfare tourism” - as if they were fleeing bombs for German benefits. Similar rhetoric emerged in Poland and Hungary, where the initial “these are Europeans like us” sentiment gave way to the same xenophobic patterns.
The point is - even that initial acceptance runs out eventually. No matter who you are, we will eventually turn against you given enough time. Americans coming now might be welcomed as “expats” with valuable skills, but as soon as there’s another economic downturn or political shift, they’ll be “immigrants taking our jobs” or “ruining our housing market.”
But ‘we’ also have an endless capacity of trying to help others and especially the Ukrainians who now have a job are being very appreciated as well. Not saying there is no hate, but the Americans who’d cross the pond are most likely the more wealthy and better educated than average. They might get some hate but they will probably be much more easily accepted as islamic and African immigrants.
Our “capacity to help” is inconsistent and conditional. Yes, there was initial support for Ukrainian refugees, but as I mentioned in another post politicians like Friedrich Merz (likely next German Chancellor) soon accused them of “social welfare tourism.” Same happened e.g. in Poland. The welcome narrative quickly gave way to scapegoating.
This pattern happens repeatedly. We initially welcome groups based on perceived usefulness or cultural similarity, then turn on them when convenient. Polish workers in the UK went from being praised as hardworking to being blamed for “stealing jobs” and straining services.
You’re assuming Americans would be “more easily accepted” because they’re “wealthy and educated,” but this ignores how xenophobia operates. Brexit campaigners didn’t distinguish between Polish doctors and laborers - they lumped all migrants together.
Even well-off migrants become targets during economic downturns. Look at how Romanian doctors and nurses in the UK were treated during Brexit despite filling critical NHS shortages. Or how German refugees after WWII faced hostility from other Germans.
Our immigration policies aren’t based on humanitarian concerns but on economic utility and cultural anxieties. When politicians need scapegoats, they’ll target any migrant group regardless of their contributions.
The Americans who’d face the most persecution under Trump are often the same ones who’d face discrimination here - LGBTQ+ people, religious minorities, and people of color. The idea that we’d somehow treat them better than other migrants ignores Europe’s deep-seated xenophobia.
The Americans who’d face the most persecution under Trump are often the same ones who’d face discrimination here - LGBTQ+ people, religious minorities, and people of color. The idea that we’d somehow treat them better than other migrants ignores Europe’s deep-seated xenophobia.
I don’t disagree, but I do believe there (unfortunately) is a scale of how well migrants are generally treated that is based on their culture. education and economic status.
I also don’t disagree with you saying there is a deep-seated xenophobia, but I do believe if you choose to migrate from where ever to where ever you’ll come across people who act xenophobic and racist. Humans tend to like the familiar better than the unfamiliar. Also, wherever you go you will have people (though politicians more than any) using this basic fear to further their agenda. ‘We’ humans are good and bad, often a curious mix of both and most of us have deep-seated fears and most of us are vulnerable to being influenced by others with a good story. Despite this, I still think immigration in general is a good thing. Not always, not every form; but people deciding to move from a bad place to a good place is a good thing.
No argument here, I think humans are being racist/xenophobic in general. The best example imo is the hatred against Syrian refugees in Libanon and Jordan, where people even speak the same language, have the same food and culture, and mostly have the same religion.
I guess I would just wish that we would actually live those “Western values” we keep talking about. And I definitely wish the best for all those wanting to flee from Trump, I would consider that too if I’d be in the US.
I’m sure trying to take in americans (many of whom will not look like northern europeans) while having an extreme anti-immigration policy (e.g. in Germany) will go over well with no friction.
If they’re straight white men and their family nobody will care.
That’s the thing though, many american scientists who want to flee are ‘brown’ (hispanic, black, indian etc.) and/or queer, because that’s exactly the type of people who will suffer the most in the US.
Look at what happened to Ukrainians, I think our capacity to hate other human beings is endless unfortunately.
This is about Germany, though. I don’t agree with the other person’s point, but at least in Germany, Ukrainian refugees are well-liked - I never hear anything bad about them even from the far right. Probably helps a lot that most of them are 1. white and 2. women and children.
With Ukrainians, we initially saw a wave of genuine support that I was happy about. But within months, politicians started using them as scapegoats. Friedrich Merz, likely the next German Chancellor, accused Ukrainians of “social welfare tourism” - as if they were fleeing bombs for German benefits. Similar rhetoric emerged in Poland and Hungary, where the initial “these are Europeans like us” sentiment gave way to the same xenophobic patterns.
The point is - even that initial acceptance runs out eventually. No matter who you are, we will eventually turn against you given enough time. Americans coming now might be welcomed as “expats” with valuable skills, but as soon as there’s another economic downturn or political shift, they’ll be “immigrants taking our jobs” or “ruining our housing market.”
But ‘we’ also have an endless capacity of trying to help others and especially the Ukrainians who now have a job are being very appreciated as well. Not saying there is no hate, but the Americans who’d cross the pond are most likely the more wealthy and better educated than average. They might get some hate but they will probably be much more easily accepted as islamic and African immigrants.
Our “capacity to help” is inconsistent and conditional. Yes, there was initial support for Ukrainian refugees, but as I mentioned in another post politicians like Friedrich Merz (likely next German Chancellor) soon accused them of “social welfare tourism.” Same happened e.g. in Poland. The welcome narrative quickly gave way to scapegoating.
This pattern happens repeatedly. We initially welcome groups based on perceived usefulness or cultural similarity, then turn on them when convenient. Polish workers in the UK went from being praised as hardworking to being blamed for “stealing jobs” and straining services.
You’re assuming Americans would be “more easily accepted” because they’re “wealthy and educated,” but this ignores how xenophobia operates. Brexit campaigners didn’t distinguish between Polish doctors and laborers - they lumped all migrants together.
Even well-off migrants become targets during economic downturns. Look at how Romanian doctors and nurses in the UK were treated during Brexit despite filling critical NHS shortages. Or how German refugees after WWII faced hostility from other Germans.
Our immigration policies aren’t based on humanitarian concerns but on economic utility and cultural anxieties. When politicians need scapegoats, they’ll target any migrant group regardless of their contributions.
The Americans who’d face the most persecution under Trump are often the same ones who’d face discrimination here - LGBTQ+ people, religious minorities, and people of color. The idea that we’d somehow treat them better than other migrants ignores Europe’s deep-seated xenophobia.
I don’t disagree, but I do believe there (unfortunately) is a scale of how well migrants are generally treated that is based on their culture. education and economic status.
I also don’t disagree with you saying there is a deep-seated xenophobia, but I do believe if you choose to migrate from where ever to where ever you’ll come across people who act xenophobic and racist. Humans tend to like the familiar better than the unfamiliar. Also, wherever you go you will have people (though politicians more than any) using this basic fear to further their agenda. ‘We’ humans are good and bad, often a curious mix of both and most of us have deep-seated fears and most of us are vulnerable to being influenced by others with a good story. Despite this, I still think immigration in general is a good thing. Not always, not every form; but people deciding to move from a bad place to a good place is a good thing.
No argument here, I think humans are being racist/xenophobic in general. The best example imo is the hatred against Syrian refugees in Libanon and Jordan, where people even speak the same language, have the same food and culture, and mostly have the same religion.
I guess I would just wish that we would actually live those “Western values” we keep talking about. And I definitely wish the best for all those wanting to flee from Trump, I would consider that too if I’d be in the US.
Yea I agree. I try to live my values, feel like that hard enough.
Scientists who are black, hispanic etc. are “more wealthy and better educated than average”, though.