I agree, just as race is more important in America, ethnicity is valued over race in Europe. Some of the conflicts go back centuries. But when you mention ugly specifics,(government issued discriminating policies, ethnic wars, etc) most of the comments from Americans lie along "let them eat cake" lines. It used to be annoying at first. But in retrospect, I think I'd take these comments any day over the maddening ethnic-consciousness of my no-more-home.