"First of all I think that generally it is a good idea, because it could be a nice place to debate on the problem.

Secondly I have glimpsed the first quotations and I share most of the opinions except one..that it is not well expressed.

I am referring to Number 5. I think that in some way it is too easy to go against media and politics in general when something happens, and in some cases it could be even acceptable. In my opinion when we talk about racism we have to include several reasons to ask the question why racism is expanding.

So, and I hope to have the occasion to explain my thoughts in a better way in the next days, if a single sentence is put somewhere without any further explanation it risks to be too radical and too vague. We should underline that there are a mix of reasons and causes and all the different parts of our societies are included. I could say for example that it is due by the education system, or by the family or by other things, but in all these cases I am dealing with a partial aspect of the whole problem....

I know that maybe I have been confused in my explanation, but don't worry I can do it better......................"

"I got your interesting paper of questions, statements, infos at 5.5.98. Now I try to answer your questions.

My metaphor: Different=multicultural, otherwise; Shades=dark, protection; of=people of the world; Green= nature, peace, together, life, fighting;

I want to find a diskussion with another social-worker or interesting people for social-problems. More theorie is good for me, because I work 40 hours per week on the front.

It's the first time I hear about this beautiful title "Different Shades of Green."

"When discussing nationalism or racism, we can talk about everyday nationalism and racism, political nationalism and racism, but cannot talk about nationalism or racism that is targeted at specific ethnic groups and is generated by another specific group of people. In other words, we cannot regard this issue as a one-way process, althought a sensible approach is required to get a meaningful and realistic result.

Similarly, it is meaningless and useless to talk about any awareness of national identity without linking it with tolerance and the ability and willingness to accommodate to others. I would caution everyone, however, to avoid the satrightforward application of the principle "if they hit one side of your face, give them the other side as well". Still what Martin Luther King said remains true forever:"...fire will only excite fire, you cannot put out the fire with flames".

"The question is, what is our intention?" If we really want to do something to enable various, sometimes basically different cultures to live together in the same region, then we need to do what one can do for a good marriage: instead of examining what the other personshould do for me, I should be looking at what I can do for him; for us. Naturally, it would be extreme optimism to hope that even in the distant future there can be a system in which Gypsies and Hungarians, or Jews and Arabs could live in perfect harmony. Yet we have a choice in what to add to a certain colour, let's say, to gray. The question is, what kind of a tone we want: darker, orlighter. One thing is for sure: pure white will not be achieved. Still, if we strive for pure white, and that is what we should strive for, then black paint should not be used at all. I hope this figurative example does not confuse anyone, and nobody will think of skin color instead of the purity of intentions.

Therefore, even if our critical observations are absolutely justified, they would have a contrary impact on us and the cause if the were not be accompanied by self-criticism, focusing on other issues which are also part of reality. Obviously I do not think that a flower or any other step symbolizing progress towards each other would touch any extremist, fanatic, narrow-minded and sometimes stupid person.

What makes a difference, a big difference, however, is the extent to which the masses can be oriented. Most people have, and hopefully will continue to have a more realistic approach to this issue, even though that approach is not completely free of prejudice either. True, that even some decent members of the majority would say the word "Jew" or "Gypsy" silently and reluctantly, as if they were telling an indecent story. Yet these people very firmly reject skinhead and other extremist movements targeted at the minority.

Nevertheless, it would be a mistake to underestimate the dangers of racism which is increasing not only in Hungary but throughout the world. I hope my thoughts cannot be interpreted as signs of such underestimation. I believe that the way of events can still be controlled. At least I hope so.

Here are some lines from one of the outsatnding representatives of contemporary Hungarian literature, Laszlo Domotor, for guidance:

"...Racism does not start at hating somebody or putting that person in a disadvantageous position, regardless of whether he deserves it or not, just because he belongs to a certain ethnic group. Racism starts when we protect someone or give him undeserved advantages just because he is of the same breed as us, even if he is not worthy of such help. If we learn to remember this as a basic step in dancing, then there will be less of a risk that we step on each other's feet, no matter what kind of a band is actually playingat the ball."

"I think, that theme your project is very good and also very important to solve. In my mind theme "Different Shades of Green" make ideas to frame with hope and breadth."

"1 - Having in mind the concept of nation and his unitary fundaments, the physical or cultural presence of other ethnies collocate a part of modern societies a collection of interrogations that has been carried away through all the historical process. In a world that we all claim to be as global as possible it continues to exist preoccupying signs of intolerance and violation of Human Rights. The foreigner is seen "as the other", "as the different", "as an invading people". The weakness and the debilities of associations and movements of Human Rights in the western societies are the proof more than evident that the values of equality, fraternity, tolerance and respect for difference have a long way of struggle to go through.

2 - The concept of Patriotism is many times connected to the concept of narrow nationalism. This kind of phenomenon many times provokes situations of extremism like what is national is good, and that is of an exarcebated nationalism.

3 - Humour has always two sides, the valorization of determined aspects and the depreciation or attempt to stain other values considered secondaries. It's extremely difficult to fight this due to the profound roots of the human condition.

4 - Although it is important for people to understand determined realities it will always be more important in the sense of provoking their own change, that is, it's fundamental for the person to pass from a situation of spectator to a situation of actor.

5 - The images often broadcasted by the media takes us to identify determined minorities with crime or violence, that is, the press and the political speech often associate the bad things of societies or the capacity of resolution of problems with the foreigners and cultural minorities.

6 - After all what is politics? Politics is essentially the conducting of the public life (anything that is public it's political) and for that reason there isn't compulsorily art for art. The art will always be a political act.

7 - When we give up to believe in ourselves we can't manage to solve our problems, so how can we solve the problems of others? Often, our problems are the problems of the others.

8 - Another Chinese saying: " Don't give fish, teach him/her to fish"

Paula Correia works for Olho Vivo, a Portuguese Youth Association of national Ambit, funded in 1988, without profits, with 2500 associates, which emprends a fight in the defense of Patrimony, Environment and Human Rights.

The Nucleous of Oporto have been develloping permanent activities, basically in the area of Human Rights just as: Coloquies/Debates about Racism and Xenophobia; Cession of Films, Slides and Expositions to Secondary Schools; Sensitivity Actions for Public in General; Pedagogic Texts Publication; International Games in Primary Schools; Immigrants Legalization Support Center; Legal Inmigrants Social Reinsertion Support, Portuguese Courses for Foreigners, etc..."