Integration is a complex issue and in Europe today, it's a two-sided problem. Europeans were traditionally touchy about foreigners and unlike in America, it was harder for an immigrant to be considered a German or a Frenchman even if he became a citizen.
A few chapters in the book are dedicated to this mentality (there's actually a Dutch term for it; but I can't remember what it is ^_^;).
Bawer talks about how the children and even grand-children of immigrants (kids who were born and raised in the Netherlands and ONLY speak Dutch) are still referred to as "foreigners" and/or "immigrants" by native Dutch people. And he talks about how he was never 100% accepted despite the fact that he learned the language, married a Dutch person, and embraced the culture (up until it literally tried to kill him, of course). Hell, immigrants who embrace and love European culture are often PUNISHED for doing so (see: Ayaan Hirsi Ali). So it's really no surprise that things got so bad over there.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2012-10-25 08:11 am (UTC)A few chapters in the book are dedicated to this mentality (there's actually a Dutch term for it; but I can't remember what it is ^_^;).
Bawer talks about how the children and even grand-children of immigrants (kids who were born and raised in the Netherlands and ONLY speak Dutch) are still referred to as "foreigners" and/or "immigrants" by native Dutch people. And he talks about how he was never 100% accepted despite the fact that he learned the language, married a Dutch person, and embraced the culture (up until it literally tried to kill him, of course).
Hell, immigrants who embrace and love European culture are often PUNISHED for doing so (see: Ayaan Hirsi Ali). So it's really no surprise that things got so bad over there.