Kotchanski
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No, it's not.
For some Americans, though, it doesn't have the same emotional impact because we don't have Gypsies here and a lot of people have never experienced racism against them.
Let's say I walking down a dark street alone with no one around and I heard footsteps behind me and felt afraid because I know that this is a dangerous street and I'm a 100 lb Asian woman. If I look behind me to see who is back there and react with more fear if I see a young black man who is dressed in an urban style than if I saw a young white man dressed in a button down shirt and tie, then that's racial profiling, which I consider to be racist, but would that racist reaction be mitigated by the fact that it's a fear reaction caused by the fact that I know that in this area, most of the violence is committed by young black men? Or would I be naive to assume that I'm safe because I'm unfairly judging the young black man, not having gotten to know him?
That's what I mean about not really knowing where I stand when it comes to judging her based upon this one circumstance. Yes, I find what she said to be undoubtedly racist and that it was wrong, but I'm not entirely sure that what she did was unforgivably wrong.
I appreciate what you're saying, and what you're trying to prove with this post petite, but for your example to hold true in this situation, we'd have to assume more about the OP than she has given us...
In your example, you base it on knowing your surroundings and knowing that the majority of crimes committed in that area are by young black men.
No where does the OP state which airport she was at, or that she has knowledge that MOST of the crimes committed there are by Romanian gypsy pickpockets.
All the OP has given us (in the best chronological order one can achieve from the multiple posts adding additional information) is:
1. Woman spoke to her in Italian
2. Replied to woman in Italian
3. Women didn't understand Italian
4. Woman was behaving oddly - Standing too close for comfort
5. OP has been the previous victim of pickpockets
6. OP was concerned by behaviour and combined with previous experience was obviously concerned about a possible repeat of the event.
7. OP observed that woman was Romanian
8. OP stipulated that most gypsies come from Romania and are pickpockets
9. BF got pissy with stipulation but let it drop only to bring it up again weeks later
10. OP came here to, well, I'm not sure, she doesn't want opinions, she's made that pretty clear.
From this the only things we can learn are:
1. The OP is stubborn and not looking for opinion, just people to side with her over the BF
2. The OP likes to add to her comments at a later date (no bad thing, most of us do it!)
3. The OP considers ALL gypsies to be pickpockets - you'll note she didn't stipulate that she considers some of them to be.
4. She used that fact that this woman was carrying a Romanian passport to verify her previous feelings of unease and concern that she could be a pickpocket.
5. She has had amply opportunity to explain that she worded it badly and didn't mean that all Romanians are gypsies or pickpockets, or that she didn't mean all gypsies are pickpockets, and she's chosen to do neither.