In the school that I taught at in London, our school motto was: “All different, all equal”, and the teachers worked so hard to ensure every child achieved, no matter where he/she came from. I think that every person is special and should be valued. UK statistics are horrifying and reflect innate and institutionalised prejudices in various sectors and I hope that things can change. One thing I have come to realise after living all over the world is — the fact that you have the statistics is a sign that things can be changed, because without evidence, politicians won’t acknowledge a problem. It is when the media and various bodies who fight for human rights are prevented from getting these figures or accessing vulnerable people that we should be worried. Look at the media blackout that the Australian government has put in place in response to its policies of treating asylum seekers.
From Ms Katherine Cox
Doha, Qatar
In the Gulf, yes. In reality, each nation has some superior traits or values. If it wasn’t so, we wouldn’t see Asians, for instance, serving at the highest posts or involved in extensive research projects in Europe or America. In fact, this discrimination is a remnant of the colonial era where the white man was the master.
From Mr Affaf Rathore
Sharjah
Not in the real sense but to those with a colonial mentality, [some nationalities] can be thought to have more value.
From Mr Victor Gonzales
Doha, Qatar
Of course, especially in terms of pay check, as we can see the difference.
From Ms Leena Samuel
Dubai
According to the late Nelson Mandela, no one came to this world with negative thoughts or ideas of hatred, rather it is parents and/or society who teach children whom to hate or how hate. People are identified by their nationalities. But being human, we are entitled to spread love and there should be no space for discrimination.
From Mr Ghulam Nabi Karimi
Sharjah
White is a colour, not a nationality! American, British, Jordanian, and Egyptian etc. are nationalities and yes, some are favoured more for educational reasons. I’m not saying other nationalities are not educated. Their higher institutions are often not recognised as well as those in Western countries. All my medical staff are from the Philippines and India, so their education is 100 per cent recognised. However, business and teaching degrees are more favourable in certain countries.
From Ms Leah Foster
Al Ain
Modern day racism and colourism are forms of mental illnesses rooted in a childhood delusion of one’s superiority and other’s inferiority. This delusion is often fed by parents, relatives, friends, and colleagues. It is a mental disease that causes impairment of function; leading to the loss or prevention of profoundly useful and mutually beneficial relationships, opportunities, and collaborations. Modern day racists have an inherently unsustainable world, which is constantly exposed to external threats posed by people whose achievements and abilities do not confirm their assumptions. In addition to harming the formation of successful relationships, it can also get you banned from all National Basketball Association (NBA) activities for life, even if you own an NBA team — as was seen in the case with American magnate Donald Sterling.
From Ms Danielle Grace Norris
UAE
It shouldn’t be but it is and these stereotypes are extremely hard to eradicate. People who belong to certain nationalities really should stop undermining themselves by comparing them to the Western world.
From Mr Govind Mohandas
UAE
The foremost issue is that some people allow others to be racist by giving them more than what they deserve and preferential treatment. Before we point a finger at people, we should remember that three fingers are pointing back at us.
From Mr Wosim Tahan
UAE
The glass ceiling has already been broken in UK’s evolving culture of eliminating racism — it’s not rampant anymore.
From Mr Toff Ydeo
UAE
I think racism has become a term that is relevant to Caucasians only, because if a person of ‘colour’ says some of the same things, it’s excused as ‘an expression of ethnic identity’.
From Mr Delta Mike
Colorado
It’s the discrimination between the privileged and non-privileged, as well as an excuse for the privileged people to not entertain the non-privileged.
From Mr Xubair Cee
Dubai
Racism is everywhere and we all know that.
From Ms Rea Ladores
Dubai
Racism is purely created by humans and it doesn’t date back to the past, because history is still in the making.
From Mr Zulkarnain Khoso
Dubai
Is it not uncommon in almost all developing economies? Having traveled widely, I have noted that racism is mostly perceived in the Middle East and in some dictatorships, you cannot raise a voice for justice against perpetrators, or else you would be intimidated and finally deported.
From Mr Chand Vishwakarma
Dubai
The truth is that every country says that it is not racist but everybody knows that it’s everywhere…
From Mr Lahiru Mallikaarachchi
Dubai
If people want to be superior they should act superior. No one is better than the other simply due to their nationality as it is our actions that matter the most. In many cases, Westerners don’t see themselves as better, it is the rest that believes so and therefore they are paid more. There are a lot of Asians that would want to go to the US while many Muslim Americans are moving to the Middle East.
From Ms Ayesha Syed
Dubai
I would not call it racism. However, in the international arena, a country is of more value than individual talent. Hence, the situation where Westerners are treated superior to Asians.
From Mr Pravin Sivan
Pune, India
Voxpop:
We all agree with the fact that racism is wrong and should be eradicated from society, but we all face it at some point in time. Working with different nationalities, I have experienced unspoken racism in terms of having wrong perceptions about other nationalities. Westerners are generally given more preference simply because there is a mindset in the society that they are a perfect race. In addition, a person belonging to a less developed country becomes the victim of racism simply because he or she is seen not seen from an individual’s point of view but as a representative of his/her country as a whole. A lot of discrimination that happens today is planted by our economy. Therefore, I feel that each one of us should be given a chance before passing on baseless judgment.
From Ms Sumera Malik
Marketing student based in Sharjah
I was looking for a job for almost eight months and every time, I was told that I do not hold a Western degree or that I am not a Westerner. I struggled to get a job for nine months although I hold a Master’s degree. Finally when I got a job, I was paid less than those with the same experience due to my nationality. I never thought that these differences still exist in the 21st century. I don’t care if you’re black, white, short, tall, skinny, fat, rich or poor. If you’re nice to me, I’ll be nice to you. It’s as simple as that.
From Ms Prachiti Talathi
Intern based in Dubai
Racism is a newfound phenomenon that is initiated and created by privileged extremists to provoke and create gaps in society. Judging by my own experience of living in Dubai, a city with more than 200 nationalities, I have noticed that it is always the less qualified and uneducated people who prefer to provoke others to build racism, whereas others who are educated and literate dislike the term. Racism based on religion is baseless as it is made up of ignorance and assumptions. People assume that just because you are a Muslim, you are an extremist and that mindset is wrong as you cannot judge a whole religion based on a few people. Essentially, racism is a new product delivered by stakeholders to accomplish their own interests.
From Mr Zubair Akhtar Chishti
Branch manager based in Dubai
- Compiled by Donia Jenabzadeh/Community Web Editor
