The difference between Xenophobia and Racism

I one time remember the Veronicas (2 white girls from Australia) call this white girl from America racist. The girl (I don't remember her name) was supposed to open at one of their concerts. She got dropped and she basically blogged about how America was superior to Australia and etc etc.

The Veronicas responded by saying that she was a racist for her comments against Australians.

But the thing is, racism has to do with race. This isn't a race issue, nor is it an ethnic issue. Its a nationality issue.

All the girls involved were white. All of them come from European descent. The only difference was the basher was from America and the Veronicas were from Australia.

This is a case of xenophobia. To be xenophobic has to do with hating someone on the basis of their nationality.

When it comes to Mexican illegals entering the United States, some cases are due to racism (Neo Nazis have stated they are okay with Sweden Immigrants but not racial minority immigrants). Some cases are due to financial issues and the mistreatment of Americans at the cost of illegals (this group usually has no problems with legal immigrants). And then some cases are simply due to xenophobia, which in this case, they don't want any immigrants legal or illegal coming at all. Usually the xenophobic type are like this with the French and the British too (can you blame them?)

Speaking of which the French and the British are known for being xenophobic. In fact in Britain, they are very xenophobic against America.

Almost every country is xenophobic to an extent. No country wants to just let everyone in and change their culture. Xenophobia usually does go hand in hand with racism.

In Europe, if you are a white American, you are more likely to be forgiven for being American than if you are a Black American (although, as much as Europe hates America they thrive off our money through tourism so their tune may slightly change if you are American while being black than if you are African).

But you also have the xenophobes who aren't racist. Their reason is more legit. With the Racist Xenophobe, they will assume because of your skin tone that you will bring your culture there and ruin it. They will not get to know you and they will just hate you. But the Xenophobe who isn't racist, just merely hates the idea of people not assimilating to the culture of the country one is moving to.

Case in point: English as the language of the US. Many Americans hate the fact that Spanish people won't learn English and are trying to change the culture of America (and yes America does have its own consumer culture). They aren't racist for wanting English to be the language of America, they just want to protect the heritage and culture of their country. Why should those born in America have to learn Spanish? Shouldn't the people coming here learn English instead?

Sometimes the only thing that makes a person xenophobic is when they feel their own culture is diminishing and becoming something foreign because of immigrants. Its not asking much for those who want to move in to assimilate to the culture of that country.

But usually the most popular form of xenophobia is Racist Xenophobia inwhich they go hand in hand. It is very rare to find the xenophobia that isn't racist.