This article by Jere Longman in Sunday's New York Times on the rise of racism is worth a read. He makes many of the main points effectively, however, there is one important point worth mentioning: when it comes to the problems in Germany, virtually all of them are taking place in the former East Germany.
Say what one will about Germany's past, having lived there for three years I can tell you that the former West Germany did a much better job dealing with its past than the former East Germany did. This, of course, should come as a surprise to no one.
As for the article itself, American international, Oguchi Onyewu sums it up quite well:
"I'm anticipating a more professional environment in Germany because it's the World Cup," Onyewu said. Even so, he said, although antiracist efforts could restrict public behavior, "that's only helping the exterior."
He added, "The interior mind thinking, you can't really change that."
That is so true and so sadly so.
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