Quote:
Originally Posted by theunbrainwashed
Europeans don't even use the word ghetto anyway do they? Isn't the English translation, "socially deprived neighbourhood"? That's what the UK calls high crime, double digit unemployment, high benefits use, high drug abuse neighborhoods.
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Of course we use the word ghetto. We often describe those city districts with high rise residential buildings, high unemployment rates, many people living on social benefits and so on as a ghetto. But ghetto is a colloquial description.
In Düsseldorf we have a city district that was completely build at the beginning of the 60s. The name is Düsseldorf-Garath. Population is 18,000. It's the poorest or second poorest district in Düsseldorf (out of 49 city districts).
Some friends and relatives live there. The whole district is very green and it's very child friendly, because playgrounds are everywhere and they can walk easily through the whole district on sidewalks without encounter a car. The district looks somewhat park-like. The district is not more dangerous than other parts of the city. Mostly low income families live there, but nothing wrong with that. The district has the reputation for beeing a ghetto. Because of those shoddy multi-family housings from the 60s. But it's actually quite nice there. It's easy-going there. People don't feel the need to dress up for grocery shopping.
And high unemployment rates has not much to do with a higher crime rate or more drug abuse.
I am pretty sure, that those "ghettos" in Germany are very different from a ghetto in the U.S. I think Irene-cd was quite right with her description of a ghetto in Europe. But maybe it's a little bit different in some parts of the UK or the Banlieues of Paris.
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