Xenophobia At The Next Level

"Xenophobia will continue to increase. Muslims and Mexicans will continue to be the easy targets."
Random Roving - January 1, 2010

Two stories caught my ear last week both relating to the continued increase in xenophobic behavior.  As the contraction phase continues, the masses, due to fear, will tend to aggregate together based on "likeness".  Remember, the "herd" always gets closer when the predator approaches.  Anger will be directed at those that are "different".  Different could come in many forms: race, religion, politics, and many other aspects on various scales.

Arizona passed a law to arrest illegal immigrants. Belgium is attempting to pass a law to make female burkas illegal to wear.  My interest in these topics is not necessarily whether they are right or wrong, but more on the timing and alignment of mass social mood.  When the illegal immigrants were building our homes and office buildings during the "credit orgy", we didn't seem to care.  When Belgium's economy was expanding, burkas were not an issue.  We focus on different issues during expansions and contractions.  The "happy and greedy" era is over and "fear and anger" have moved to the forefront.

"The measure - set to take effect in late July or early August - would make it a crime under state law to be in the U.S. illegally. It directs state and local police to question people about their immigration status if there is reason to suspect they are illegal."
Source CBS News

"Following in France’s attempted footsteps, Belgium is on its way to becoming the first country in Europe to ban the burka. A parliamentary committee agreed yesterday to outlaw the wearing of face-covering veils in public. The full Parliament will vote later this month.  Under the proposals, women could face a week in prison or a fine for wearing a veil in public."
Source: Styleite

We Will Kill You

Migrants leave Italian town amid violence
(CNN) -- "The message blaring out of the speakers on the van was stark: 'Any black person who is hiding in Rosarno should get out. If we catch you, we will kill you.' Abdul Rashid Muhammad Mahmoud Iddris got out. He's one of hundreds -- perhaps thousands -- of African migrants taken by bus out of the Italian town over the weekend after violent demonstrations shook southern Italy. The unrest was among the worst of its kind in recent Italian history, said a spokesman for the International Organization for Migration. 'We have not witnessed such protests in a long time," said Flavio Di Giacomo. "There were several thousand, but I don't know exactly how many people were involved.' Interior Minister Roberto Maroni got involved Friday, declaring an "immigration emergency" and forming a task force under the authority of regional police to guarantee public order. It was the shooting of an African migrant that sparked two days of protests, Iddris told CNN by telephone from Italy. He said the shooting was unprovoked. Police said they were investigating the circumstances of the shooting. A few hours after the shooting, a group of about 300 immigrants poured into to the street where the incident took place earlier. 'They put on an angry demonstration, hampering the free circulation in the streets, damaging garbage bins, hitting with sticks and rocks numerous passing cars,' according to a police report."
Source: CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/01/11/italy.migrant.violence/

"Xenophobia continues to rise at an alarming rate."
Random Roving - November 6, 2009

"Now in the early stages of the “down” cycle, you sell “fear”. Fear of muslims. Fear of Mexicans. Fear that our house value will drop in half. Xenophobia is a powerful force in the down cycle and you are fueling it as much as anybody."
Random Roving - October 9, 2007

"Protests and riots will continue to increase across the world. The mob is getting angrier and angrier. Xenophobia will continue to increase. Muslims and Mexicans will continue to be the easy targets. Which group or culture is next?"
Random Roving - January 1, 2010