Percy

<< I know plenty of people who have been to Prague and all of them experienced a rude waiter or shop owner at some point.>>
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And I know plenty of people that have been to Prague and can't wait to return.
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<<I wonder if the Czechs would start behaving nicely if tourists stopped going to Prague. Tourism brings $4.5 billion to the country.>>
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Yes they would start behaving nicely. When tourism in my city goes down, we all suck it up quickly and the tourists turn around and come back.

We all say Whew!!!!
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<<I'll give you some examples. Croatia was fined a hefty penalty because Croatian fans made monkey sounds and threw a banana on an Italian black player (Balotelli).>>

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Let me see now, Croatia was fined, is Croatia a person or a place or a country.?
And who has the power to fine Croatia.?

If 20 fans are hooting and hollering how do you fine a large group of individuals.?

If one person throws a banana peel do you fine all of Croatia.?

IMDonehere

Who cares?

All that really matters is that Giorgio Armani on Pariska Street still offers Champagne service.

Know what is worse than racism?

Shopping for frocks without a cocktail on hand!
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AH, always the man of the people.

bilboburgler

The issue is important. But we are conflaiting a number of different issues

1) Roma racism; yes, probably institutional but getting better; there has been a movement of Roma out of Central Europe as a result into Western Europe.
2) Other racism; possibly more due to lack of experience and as new generations get out from behind the iron curtain it is getting dispelled (note that cultural changes take generations)
3) Customer service; really not an issue, I've never seen bad service, even had free bottles of "champagne" sent up to our room on birthdays, helping hands on ferry crossings etc etc.

Of course living under a spying state for a few generations does mean that you may fear a stranger, so, for example, cyclists don't say hello on canal paths as they do in Western Europe.

bilboburgler

Just in case there is any confusion I have suffered racism in the Dominican republic and it is a terrifying experience. I've also seen it take place in the US, Saudi and Isreal.

Whathello

Loacker, you seem to have a very weird view of the world.

Cathinjoetown

I didn't notice any racism and was with two mixed-race people. Lots of taxi scams (six years ago).

The place is heaving with tourists, all things considered, they cope fairly well.

Loacker

Whathello, perhaps you should take off your rose-colored glasses.

danon

"make monkey sounds when they see a black person. "

A taxi driver in Rome said something similar when we passed a group of
African men .
Racism exists everywhere.

BritishCaicos

Is this just a passing interest in racism or are you actually visiting Prague? Could you be in a position where you may suffer from racist behaviour?

basingstoke2

We went to Prague with another couple for seven days. We were all treated well and with courtesy with no incidents of rudeness. I would love to return.

Whathello

I go to Prague about twice a year. Never found anybody less nice than in any other touristy city. And if you are nce towards them, they tend to be nice towards you.

Take off your dark glasses, Loacker, you'll stop seeing run down areas, ugly kebaps and unfriendly people.

Life is much better if you try to see it with a positive attitude. Try, you might be surprised. What do you risk ?

PalenQ

Things you claim to be true in Prague could be said of many other European countries and cities and has been - about Paris for example, rightly or wrongly.

I've seen racism so blatant in England it was like I was at home. One ethnic Brit got up on a double-decker busand yelled at the mainly immigrant looking other passengers - "GO HOME WE DON"T WANT YOU"

But I would not judge any place on a few incidents or 2nd-hand stories as you only seem to have.

I have French in-laws who regularly use the 'n' word - in jest...kind of - like one said "Belgians speek 'n' Frendch"= yet they are not blatant racist though they lament the losing of a Frenchness in France with all the immigrants of non-French ethnicity.

Whathello

They are right about Belgians speaking French.

Now. Who is the racist ? The one saying a full country is racist because of second hand stories or the country incriminated ?

PalenQ

All countries and cultures have their racist bents - you've seen the Tintin comics like Tintin Au Congo? Blatant racism by a Belgian but kids in France still read those- point is we are all a bit racist - some more than ever.

Whathi- If you were of a certain ethnic background your welcome in Prague or other places could be different - hard to tell these days as the current situation has indeed inflamed some anti-immigrant sentiment I think. Same in many European countries however and Prague is no doubt no worse nor better in that regard.