Racims without the coloreds

Polish racism is a fascinating phenomenon: it is entirely theoretical: it serves no purpose; it is entirely disinterested.

Western-European racism of the past several centuries had a purpose once: it was a useful ideology with which to justify foreign conquests: the coloreds were stupid, and therefore the White Man had to intervene for their own good. Today, in Western Europe racism appears on the wane -- mainly because the traditional roles have changed: Asians and Africans are today our customers, and increasingly -- investors. And customers, well, you know, our customers are our masters, as the saying goes. Therefore, the dominant mainstream ideology in the West today pretends that we are all equal, whether white or colored. What's more, it leans towards the sycophantic: after all, if you are trying to sell somebody a product, it's a good idea at least to say that you admire their culture.

Polish nineteenth century antisemitism, as ugly as it was, made sense, too: if you are a poor, lower-middle class semi-professional and find it difficult to compete with others on the basis of job skills alone, antisemitism can be a useful tool: the anstisemite says -- just as the South African racist did -- "Don't hire the dirty so-and-so, hire me". It's ugly, but it works.

But today there are neither Asians nor Blacks in Poland (and only 7,000 Jews). Hating them therefore serves no purpose. It is entirely theoretical. It is -- disinterested. It is, as it were, racism pure, unsoiled by self-interest.

Its source is probably the very strong desire not to be a B-class nation anymore; imagining oneself member of the Great Ruling White Race probably helps us with low perception of our own worth and status. Perhaps, also, a strong desire to join the imagined Western Team (which, basically, means The A (for American) Team) also plays a role. For people who have not thought about the issues much, the Western team seems to be European, Christian, and white. (The idea that the Western Team may really be about law abiding, human rights and personal liberties is probably too sophisticated for most of us). Strongly desiring to be on the team, we want to be European, Christian and white. And, a little like the new boy in the playground, we feel that expressing strong animosities towards those who aren't on the team will somehow buy our way in.

Ironically, our outspoken racism has the opposite effect: it embarrasses precisely those into whose sympathies we wish to creep.

Symbolically speaking, our racism is a retread. Economically, we have graduated from driving previously-owned German cars, but only in time to test drive some previously-owned German ideas.