The Xenophobic Parasite: The Silent Twin of Racism: (a truthful essay)

There exists a form of discrimination so quiet, so disguised, and so socially acceptable that many do not recognize its danger. It is not loud hatred. It is not open rejection. It is not explicit racism. It is its silent twin, a shadow that stands beside racism and feeds off the same root of stereotype and fear. This silent twin is the xenophobic parasite.
It begins with a stretched and insincere performance of curiosity: ＂Oh, you are from...Ru -SS-ia, I’ve never been there (smile)?＂ The tone changes, the face tightens behind a smile, and the individual becomes an exotic curiosity instead of a human being. The parasite hides behind charm. It disguises prejudice as politeness. It shows its true face only at the end, in the practiced language of rejection: ＂We have decided to move forward with someone else.＂