To think the situation in Ukraine has highlighted how racist many still are.

[username99903]

The outpouring of shock and horror at the situation is right of course. I am not trying to take away from that. I have seen some amazing examples of people trying to help and charitable giving. I of course have donated. However I can't help but think why we can not feel this empathy toward the people of Yemen, Afghanistan, Syria etc.

I have heard the most appalling statements especially from US channels talking about how Ukraine is a civilised country that you wouldn't expect this to happen to. It's like people think those from the Yemen etc are some how use to war/don't feel pain the way white Europeans do. We literally dehumanise and devalue people lives.

My work place is holding a charity event which again is great. But we have never thought to do it before for any other war where there was mass migration.

It's not a new realisation I just think it's massively highlighted it.

“stickygotstuck

I really don't think it's s much racism as a case of cultural and geographical affinity. Even allowing for the fact that Ukraine is quite different culturally and historically from the EU or the UK.

In 'the West' we are sadly used to hear about wars in far away lands for reasons that escape most of us. After Yugoslavia we didn't expect to see war on out turf again, and certainly not so soon. It's a bigger shock. It also brings actual danger closer to home.“

I agree with this. The Ukrainian people are just a few steps away from being ourselves. Everyone has been thinking of how WW2 started too.

@bellac11

Yes and there appears to be more public appetite for considering accepting refugees from Ukraine than there ever would be from the middle east or Africa.

That’s because geographically they’re closer, Poland have opened their border to Ukraine like Turkey did for Syria.

Obviously and practically it’s easier for a country closer to open their borders to refugees, that’s geographic not racist.

I dont think it's helpful to come out with sweeping generalisations like "we are a horrible racist country". What percentage of the population have to be horrible racists for a country to qualify?
Please be more realistic and say some people in this country hold racist views but the majority don't, unless those posters genuinely think everyone except them are racists?
Seriously, what does that type of blanket statement actually achieve? It makes people feel defensive and it also makes other people feel apprehensive and pessimistic. Its lazy rhetoric, unhelpful and divisive.

@Justkeeppedaling

However I can't help but think why we can not feel this empathy toward the people of Yemen, Afghanistan, Syria etc

I don't think it's racist. I think it's because Ukraine is in Europe and quite close to home.

This

On further thought I think the other BIG difference between Ukraine and other recent mass exoduses (exodi?) is that this time the refugees are predominantly women and children.
From Syria etc it's been predominantly young men.

It's most likely because we are in the same continent as Ukraine.

When awful things happen in Africa, it seems more remote to us.

I agree with Justkeeppedalling.

I can quite imagine offering to accommodate a woman and her one or two children.

Two or three young men, not so much.

Wherever any of them were from.

@MangosteenSoda

I was thinking about this because, honestly, I feel much worse about this war than other wars.

What I experience is: same level of sadness and empathy (and donations) for children/families etc. in whatever warzone.

Where I feel differently:

1. Selfish reason: I fucking hate war and really prefer it to be as far away as possible from where I and my family are.
2. Historical reason: war is universally awful; war in Europe has historically been terrifyingly, globally impactful on a whole different level.
3. Nuclear reason: Unhinged despot with his twitchy finger hovering over a catastrophic arsenal.

It’s also true that most refugees stay in border countries to their original home and that neighbouring countries usually help more.

All that can be true and racism can still be at play.

I’ve been reflecting on this exactly the same way.

*It's most likely because we are in the same continent as Ukraine.

When awful things happen in Africa, it seems more remote to us*

Completely agree with this.

I can only hazard a guess, but I would be surprised if the war in Ukraine is receiving as much news coverage in the Middle East and Africa as it is in Europe. Not because they're racists who don't care about white people but because they have deep and long-running geopolitical issues and conflicts much closer to home which affect their local economies, livelihoods, neighbours and families directly.

Many people have already astutely observed the fact that people may well be more prepared to perceive women and children as genuine refugees and to treat them compassion than what were predominantly groups of young men who were willing to leave their families behind in the war zones they were apparently fleeing.

Sweeping generalisations about racism are lazy

It is more about proximity.

I live near a large multicultural town. In that town, the Polish community is currently co-ordinating donations and supplies to be sent to Poland, their native country, which is taking in the most refugees from Ukraine. They have had a lot of donations. Some time ago, another group of people from the same town organised a similar appeal for donations to go to Syria. They also had a large response from the local population. People will donate when asked.

Not really a surprise is it.

It's a case of identity really.

100 percent agree.

Disgusting how non whitte people are being treated over there too

IMO this conflict somehow seems worse, because it’s shades of 1939 and Hitler all over again, and we had largely come to believe that such things - relatively close to home - were history.

Even though many of us realised way back that Putin was a ruthless, megalomaniac thug.

It's in the neighbourhood, of course it's going to have more of an impact than one in a far flung country.

Do you seriously expect people to be equally affected over every conflict in the world? It would be exhausting keeping up. I googled the number of conflicts currently raging - there are 20+.

I'm on the other side of the world at present - so it's having less of an impact on me. Nothing to do with racism, a lot to do with distance

I think the main difference is how its happening in Europe and also it directly impacts all the members of NATO.

If you remember back, people did care - briefly - about Syria. There was that awful picture of the little boy found dead on a Greek beach. The same with the withdrawal from Afghanistan and the evacuation of the Afghan's who had worked with us.

People care about the Ukraine people now but like the above it will only be fleeting.

One of the things that does make this feel different is that usually we're the one with the tools and tech and so what we do only affects others. This time the other side has the tech to destroy us.

I know you're correct but I feel it as well. I don't know anyone from Yemen, Afghanistan or Syria. I do know people who are from Ukraine so I can visualise the people and their situation better. It doesn't make it right, but that is how I feel.

There's no doubt we are seeing some things happen because some people are racist but I agree with the majority on this, this is less about race and more about proximity. People are worried and paying so much attention because this is in our own backyard. Hearing the words 'war in Europe' is jarring. It doesn't mean people don't care about what's going on on other continents, but hearing about something happening closer to home is always going to hit harder.

It's because it's in Europe (of which Britain is still part) and might involve NATO. It's because there's been talk of it leading to WW3. It's because Russia supplies Britain with gas, mainly indirectly, and the conflict has affected oil prices.
It's because it's on our frigging doorstep!

It's not often there is a war where we have a side order of our own existential threat to grapple with. If you need to accuse people of something, it's that people find fear very motivating, like when people are far more engaged when their neighbour's house is on fire.

It’s because of fear of the UK being attacked.

Ditto in the US, nukes.