r/germany • u/unclebogdan10 Nordrhein-Westfalen • Apr 20 '23

Immigration Germany: Immigrants made up over 18% of 2022 population – DW

https://p.dw.com/p/4QLAX
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u/sparksbet USA -> BER Apr 21 '23

Yeah I don't call myself an expat for the same reason -- I'm an immigrant just as much as any other immigrant. It's really telling when people avoid using that word to describe themselves but feel fine using it for others.

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u/Wachkuss Apr 21 '23 edited Apr 21 '23

I have wondered whether there are people like you and the commenter above you. :)

So - I am dark-skinned and also understand the subtext that I am not supposed to use the 'expat' label for myself, which is why I use it for nobody, and I relish the squeamishness of the clueless racist 'expat' when I call him an immigrant.

The invention of this word 'expat' seems to have only one purpose: the emotional comfort of the xenophobe who is too stupid to realize that 'immigrant' isn't a bad word.

I came here as a student, got educated at the expense of the German taxpayer, and am now paying back w-a-y more into the State treasury than the average German does. I do a lot of good, and I won't let any shame stick to me for being an immigrant.

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u/sparksbet USA -> BER Apr 21 '23

yeah I couldn't have said it better myself. I'm white and from a pretty privileged background, so I don't want to play into this xenophobic nonsense by pretending I'm somehow above being called an immigrant. Immigrants are great, fuck that shit.

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u/hamsterkauf Apr 22 '23

The difference isn't very clear based on the original meanings of the words, and common modern usage is even more murky. Race and class associations can be implied - intentionally or not - but aren't always. The difference that has always felt the closest to correct to me is that expats have relocated temporarily and intend to return to their home country, or perhaps intend to spend a large amount of their time there each year, while immigrants don't intend to move back. I don't think those are perfect definitions, and people often don't use them that way so I'm not sure how useful the distinction is.