Yet, Bicicleur, call it what you will, but people do judge who "belongs" and who doesn't in their society based on things like phenotype. Distrust and even hatred of "the other" is part of the human make-up whether we like it or not. It has always been a factor. The failure of "multiculturalism" in Europe is not just because new immigrants refuse to adapt themselves to native culture. It is also because the natives don't want to integrate them. They are too "foreign".
Look at the difference between the attitude toward immigrants in Europe and in the U.S. In the U.S., if you show the slightest willingness to adapt you're accepted by most people almost immediately. You don't have to give up your headscarf or turban or eat pork or whatever, although it certainly helps. In Europe, I have two first cousins who were born in Switzerland, and they're still not considered "Swiss", and one of them is married to a Swiss German, speaks German better than Italian, and on and on.
Even in countries like the U.S. that are built on immigration, the path to acceptance was easier the closer the incoming group was to the "natives". The Germans had an easier time than the Irish, who had an easier time than Jews and Italians, etc., and believe me, Italians of those generations were desperate to become "American".
we've been over this several times
and I know about your family in Switzerland
I don't think it is the same here in Belgium, and in most places in Europe
you say Italians were desperate to become American
the main problem is that for decades the EU has allowed people in who were not desperate to become European, yet gave them all the benefits for which they gave very little in return
and I admit that through these experiences native Europeans have become quite suspicious and even prejudiced against newcomers
there was no policy toward immigration in Europe
there was a big leftist lobby who would let everyone in
first thing about immigration is that immigrants know very well what to expect and what not to expect and to be very firm in this
if the immigrants would have to give a proper return for all the efforts and benefits given to them, and the natives knew this, they would be accepted quicker
I agree that Europe still has to learn a lot about immigration
and the U.S. is not a 100 % succes story either
those who wanted to come to the U.S. knew the rules and knew that they had to make it themselves and they did
that is a succes
there is those who got in the U.S. without wanting it themselves, and there are the natives
the black slaves didn't chose to come to the U.S.
and allthough slavery has been abolished long time ago, they feel - rightly or not - that they are discriminated and 2nd class citizens, still after all these years