It's quite amusing. Have a Polish woman in my group. Being who I am, there's always jokes flying left and right as well as philosophical or political discussions.
I can say just about anything about her home country in jest - as long as it doesn't involve Russians.
She has a passionate hatred of Russians. She even considered the Germans (slightly) above them.
The other group member is a female from Iceland. Turns out they aren't fond of Danes there, due to our rather bullish behaviour in the 16th century, and various economic non favourable deals done in Copenhagen. Was told that if I went to Iceland and talked Danish in the pubs, I'd get smacked on the nose.
Danes and Swedes have been at war for many years in total. The anoimosity is now largely reduced to tongue-in-cheek comments with the Swedes taking most of the heat.
It's kind of odd to be the target of age old hatred - I had nothing to do with what happened in iceland, yet I'll be judged as a Dane, not as a person.
Which brings up another point. This isn't racism. Just stereotyping. Racism is such a mis- and overused word that it's almost meaningless. often when we say racism we mean culturalism.
At any rate, it's sort of funny how much ancient hatred is still alive. Then again, the Vikings weren't known to turn the other cheek. Well, until the Christians got here, and then all the Vikings wussed out and became sissies.
