SHORT TOPIC:

Most European countries have multi-racial societies owing both to historical

and geographical factors. Military conquests, persecution and economic
hardship have all contributed to waves of immigration.

Early Spanish history highlights the influence of the Goths, the Celts, the
Romans, and the Arabs. More recently, we have opened our doors to people
from our former colonies seeking jobs, refugees seeking political asylum and
other members of the European Community as well as from northern Africa.

Racial integration has been successful in many areas of Spain. Intermarriage

between people of similar cultures is now very common. The popularity of
Chinese and Indian food show a further acceptance of cultural differences.

However, good race relations have proved more difficult where there has
been large-scale immigration involving dissimilar cultures, especially in areas
of social deprivation - for example, where there is poor housing and high
unemployment. Not only do immigrants become scapegoats for the problems
of these areas, but they, themselves, may be reluctant to integrate for reasons
of religion or cultural identity.

As far as sexual discrimination is concerned, women have been and still are
first hand victims. Even today, when women have advanced so much we find
discrimination. There are some jobs which pay less to women than to men
regardless of the fact that they do the same work. We can also find
discrimination in the media and in commercials where more often than not it is
the woman who is in the kitchen while the man is out there bringing in the
bacon, thus reinforcing the attitude towards the female as the "housewife".

Needless to say, women continue suffering savage and archaic discrimination

in Arab countries, where they are not allowed to leave the house
unaccompanied, just to mention one example.

SUGGESTED QUESTIONS TO PONDER ON

1.Have you ever experienced discrimination?

2.What should be done to stop discrimination?
3.Are males and females equal?
4.Do you know anybody who has fought for equal rights?
5.Are you a member of any humanitarian organization?
6.What will happen in the future?
7.Would you let your child marry a person with a different skin color?
8.Would you let your child marry a person with a different religion?
9.Why do men earn more than women?
10. Do you have any prejudices?
11. Would you adopt a child from a different culture?
12. Why do we treat people differently?
13. Why do white people think of themselves as superior?
14. Should it be illegal to publish racial information?
15. Is it OK to discriminate against gay people? Why or why not?
16. If you thought your son or daughter was gay, what would you do?
17. Do you know any gay people?
18. How are gay people treated in your country?
19. Should gay couples be allowed to marry? Should gay people have
equal rights? Why or why not?
20. "Cultural differences cause problems. It is better for people to stay in
their own countries rather than to migrate to other ones." Do you
agree?
21. Would you prefer to live in a monoculture or a multi-racial society?
Why?
22. "It is better to study major international languages like English rather
than to spend time on minority languages for the sake of regional
identity. Do you agree?
23. "Governments should give regions in their countries more autonomy so
that they can protect and enjoy their own cultures rather than serving
the centralized policies of the capital city." Do you agree?
24. Is it better to marry someone of the same cultural background?
25. "Religion as a school subject should include all the major world
religions - not only the majority religion in the country concerned." Do
you agree?
26. How do you think "Spanish Culture" differs from "N. African Culture"?