It’s so typically for all societies. There are many types of prejudices (racial, sexual, religious ...). Soon or later, all of them become discrimination, xenophobia. I want to talk with you about prejudices which touch some nationalities.
I was born in Serbia (precisely in Yugoslavia) in 1987. I saw and felt, consciously or unconsciously, dramatic events which means: war, breakdown of the state, NATO bombing, breakdown of the state, again… Believe it or not, in the nineties average monthly salary was about 5 euros. Yes, you heard it well. Fertile land for all kind of prejudices, isn't it?
Stereotypes about neighboring nations grew up, at first. So, Bosnians are foolish, Montenegrins are lazy, and Croats are born to serve. On the other hand, Serbs are, mildly speaking, aggressors. None of these features it's not even close to the truth, of course. But if you ask some man about national characteristic in Sarajevo, Zagreb or Belgrade, you could get this type of answers (except about his own nation).
Prejudices about foreigners are almost the same in Balkans. Germans are very strong, unemotional, and before everything-enemies at gate. English are cold and cynical, and Russians are emotional and drunk.
This story looks funny, but that is the main problem. If you intend to make some serious problem, you have to use underestimated power of prejudices, and that's it. It doesn't matter who starts first. Just imagine, how easy it is to apply this way of thinking in everyday life. Let's think about causes!
P.S. What do you think about Serbs?
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