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athena

(4,187 posts)
22. France would not be an improvement over the U.S.
Fri Feb 3, 2017, 12:30 PM
Feb 2017

There is lots of Islamophobia, xenophobia, and racism, not to mention a deep, unconscious, and extreme sexism there. Perhaps, if you're white and Christian, you won't be too bothered by the openly expressed French hatred against black people, Arabs, and Muslims. But the xenophobia, not to mention class and nationality-based snobbery, extends to a resentment of Americans. You will never fit into French society; you will always be treated as an outsider. I love France for vacation, but I would much rather live in the U.S. than in France. There is a good chance that this country and its institutions will survive Trump. I'm not so hopeful for France under Le Pen.

After all, France is a country where you're still expected to put a photograph on a job application. It is a place where if you're a woman of childbearing age, you will be asked at every job interview whether you are involved with someone and whether you plan to have children. It's a place where a man forcing himself upon a hotel maid is seen primarily as a question of privacy. And that's just the sexism.

In towns across France, mayors have recently been forcing schools to serve pork for lunch - something observant Muslims and Jews don't eat. In 2004, France passed a law that prohibits girls from wearing the hijab in public schools. There is "extraordinary" discrimination against Muslim job applicants. In France, if you're Muslim or have an Arabic-sounding name, even if you were born in France, many people will not consider you French. This is a level of discrimination that is unthinkable in the U.S. If you were born in the United States, no one gets to tell you that you're "not really an American".

If you can still change your mind, I would urge you to reconsider. The reality is that the rightward move is a worldwide phenomenon. We just happen to be living through it, like millions of people have throughout history. The only solution is to fight it in your tiny corner of the world. No one is truly safe anywhere.

(Edited to add specific examples of anti-Muslim discrimination in France.)

Done. Moving out. Back to Europe. [View all] GoneOffShore Feb 2017 OP
Can I go with you? 2naSalit Feb 2017 #1
Me too? fleur-de-lisa Feb 2017 #17
Say hello to Yamina for me at the Institut Americain BeyondGeography Feb 2017 #2
Feel the same here Jake Stern Feb 2017 #3
Looking that up now oldtime dfl_er Feb 2017 #4
Never would I have imagined actually planning ways to leave America. Jake Stern Feb 2017 #6
I tried to get my husband to buy a condo on Bonaire two summers ago... mnhtnbb Feb 2017 #19
If I didn't have a child I'd likely stay. Jake Stern Feb 2017 #31
I've thought about moving to Europe VMA131Marine Feb 2017 #5
Not thrilled that the citizenship program my partner and I are applying for Jake Stern Feb 2017 #8
I live in the UK FunkyLeprechaun Feb 2017 #10
My stupid bf oldtime dfl_er Feb 2017 #7
This message was self-deleted by its author Jake Stern Feb 2017 #9
Get rid of him and find another citizen ot a Euro country who will. nt raccoon Feb 2017 #14
I really want out, too, but I can't leave my family, and my husband has an excellent job. manicraven Feb 2017 #11
I often wondered True Dough Feb 2017 #12
I don't blame you. NanceGreggs Feb 2017 #13
Are you sure Toronto is safe? Ghost Dog Feb 2017 #23
Given that I am in Canada ... NanceGreggs Feb 2017 #37
I want to leave, too. alarimer Feb 2017 #15
I'm in the same process. Hope to be gone in 6 months. sinkingfeeling Feb 2017 #16
I don't blame you. fleur-de-lisa Feb 2017 #18
my daughter has lived in Paris for the last five years. ginnyinWI Feb 2017 #29
We have French friends in Aix--have known them 30 some years-- mnhtnbb Feb 2017 #20
Feel the same Va Lefty Feb 2017 #21
France would not be an improvement over the U.S. athena Feb 2017 #22
"There is a good chance that this country and its institutions will survive Trump" Jake Stern Feb 2017 #24
This was just sent to me by a friend who lives in Paris. GoneOffShore Feb 2017 #25
Next year JustAnotherGen Feb 2017 #26
Will be visiting Sydney Australia soon.... Should be interesting after Trump's remarks! lucca18 Feb 2017 #27
I have the opposite reaction. I had been planning to move out of New York after 9/11. Squinch Feb 2017 #28
+1 narnian60 Feb 2017 #32
France? AlexSFCA Feb 2017 #30
See my earlier post. GoneOffShore Feb 2017 #33
Bon Voyage pinboy3niner Feb 2017 #34
As the expression goes, I'm getting too old for this shit. GoneOffShore Feb 2017 #35
I don't blame you. You've done your time, you're entitled to seek some peace. pinboy3niner Feb 2017 #36
If I could go it would be Australia. mackerel Feb 2017 #38
best of luck to both of you n/t orleans Feb 2017 #39
Don't blame you one bit, I would blow this pop stand if I could. Not financially able to, sadly. SammyWinstonJack Feb 2017 #40
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