Other Sources of Racism
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Almost any society can find a good reason to consider itself predominant, at least in a particular activity. A simple claim to competence in any sphere-be it painting, football, chess, or cooking-is often sufficient to imbue a people with exaggerated importance.

One's daily routine, which is subject to both individual and cultural influences, is filled with superficial comparison of one's own habits with foreign, often significantly different, habits. Even if we do not know the sources of these differences, the simple fact that they exist can be enough to inspire fear or hatred. Human nature does not welcome change, even when we're dissatisfied with things as they are. Perhaps this devotion to habit and fear of melioration encourage a conservatism that could lead to racism.

There are unquestionable differences among peoples and nations. Language, skin color, tastes (especially in food), and greeting all differ among cultures and lead us to believe that others are essentially not like us. We typically conclude that our ways are the best, and too bad for the others. To the Greeks, all those who did not speak Greek were barbarians. Of course, when a person is unsatisfied with life in his home country and migrates, he might more easily tolerate uncertainties and strange living conditions in another region or continent. He might even accept the necessity of learning new things. But in general, he prefers the cocoon in which he was born, terrified of discarding what is familiar.

Many other factors nourish racist sentiments. One of the most important is the desire to project one's unhappiness onto another Everyone knows that self-alienation in modem society is often a very serious cause of irritation and angst. These feelings can arise from the fear of unemployment, being forced to perform inhumane work, the reality and experience of poverty and injustice, and the feeling of powerlessness which often results from the jealous observation that vast wealth is possible only for the very few. Everyone, even those who feel victimized by their superiors, can assume authority over those lower on the social ladder. The poor can always find somebody poorer.

Because of all these factors, racism is widespread. It is less apparent during times of peace and civil order. But hostilities about mass immigration from poor countries exacerbate it.

 

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