Syria, Migrants and Online Comments

[RED-DOG]

I think it's also a bit 'empty vessels rattle loudest' - and I can't possibly think that most people think like this. Still, how important is it to stand up to this wall of hate and push back? Do we need to? Or should we just accept that such idiots have always existed and will always exist?

BTW- People have been saying and writing comments like those about Gypsies for the last 600 years.

And Jews and Muslims and Irish and Sikhs and Poles and Indians and Pakistanis and every other minority that has ever existed.

At least people use upper case letters when they wish other minorities were dead.

Anyway, this is one particular thread I don't want to derail.

[The Camel]

I think it's also a bit 'empty vessels rattle loudest' - and I can't possibly think that most people think like this. Still, how important is it to stand up to this wall of hate and push back? Do we need to? Or should we just accept that such idiots have always existed and will always exist?

BTW- People have been saying and writing comments like those about Gypsies for the last 600 years.

And Jews and Muslims and Irish and Sikhs and Poles and Indians and Pakistanis and every other minority that has ever existed.

At least people use upper case letters when they wish other minorities were dead.

Anyway, this is one particular thread I don't want to derail.

I don't think it is a derail.

The innate and ingrained racism of so many people in this country has allowed the UK government to do next to nothing, while the horror of this crisis has escalated and spiralled out of all control.

I'm ashamed of my country.

[leethefish]

So are we saying we should allow hundreds of thousands of refugees into this country ?

[StuartHopkin]

So are we saying we should allow hundreds of thousands of refugees into this country ?

Yes

[kinboshi]

So are we saying we should allow hundreds of thousands of refugees into this country ?

Absolutely Lee.

Surely that's what our armed forces fight for, to ensure people's fundamental human rights wherever they are in the world?

There are millions of people forced out of their country, many are starving, lacking permanent shelter, lacking access to safety, work, education, medical care, etc.

Just because they had the misfortune of being born in a place that is what, a seven-year hour flight from Heathrow? The UK has taken in a few hundred of these refugees. Surely there's enough space and resources in this rich nation for every town and city to take in 10-20 refugees? Hardly a swarm migrants that will destroy this green and pleasant land.

[nirvana]

So are we saying we should allow hundreds of thousands of refugees into this country ?

Not even a question I think, unequivocally yes.

[leethefish]

And we feed and house them also ?

[StuartHopkin]

And we feed and house them also ?

Yes

[RED-DOG]

So are we saying we should allow hundreds of thousands of refugees into this country ?

Absolutely yes.

Why not this country along with all the others?  is it because this is the one that you live in and having them here might make some small difference to your life?

I'm sorry if that sounds a bit confrontational Lee. It wasn't meant to. But you have children, imagine how bad things must be to make those parents take such risks. They are starving and dying, our biggest problem is we eat too much every day.

Could you be the one to turn them away? I couldn't.

[mulhuzz]

If you think the UK attitude sucks, here's the Czech approach. Fewer than 900 asylum applications a year and this is how they react. It's chilling when you think of the history - especially of the Sudetenland.

http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-eu-34128087

Likely these reactions are based on the Roma population here, who face unspeakable discrimination every day. Even those who aren't Roma but 'look like it' are subject to discrimination. At least until they speak English or Czech with a tourist accent. Then everything is fine again and your money is good here once more.

[tikay]

So are we saying we should allow hundreds of thousands of refugees into this country ?

Yes, & NOW.

[tikay]

And we feed and house them also ?

Yes, not without some inconvenience to many of us, but that won't kill us.

Just over 40 years ago, & at very short notice, 30,000 Asians, expelled from Uganda, came here. There were forebodings of gloom from many, "who will house & feed them all, how will the NHS cope, what about our jobs?"

For the most part, they turned out to be a great asset to the UK, hard working, proud, successful, &, after a while, popular. Life without them here now is unthinkable.

We'll cope Lee, we will. The Government can't just turn it's back & pretend it is not happening.  I actually believe the vast majority of people in the UK want us to carry our share of this problem.

[Doobs]

If you think the UK attitude sucks, here's the Czech approach. Fewer than 900 asylum applications a year and this is how they react. It's chilling when you think of the history - especially of the Sudetenland.

http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-eu-34128087

Likely these reactions are based on the Roma population here, who face unspeakable discrimination every day. Even those who aren't Roma but 'look like it' are subject to discrimination. At least until they speak English or Czech with a tourist accent. Then everything is fine again and your money is good here once more.

does it not make you want to live somewhere else.  I lived in a small town for a while several years ago, and the attitude of many people there to other races was something that stuck out and was high up on the list of reasons to leave.

[leethefish]

@ Tom ...
 I did not say that we shouldn't I merely asked should we feed and house them !!

@ tikay
I've no doubt we will cope

@ boshi
Are armed forces fight for fundamental human rights....yes

@ everyone.......

DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY OF OUR EX SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN ARE HOMLESS AND HUNGRY RIGHT NOW

Yes we should help refugees and no we shouldn't let them starve .....but shouldn't we be helping our own first

[mulhuzz]

If you think the UK attitude sucks, here's the Czech approach. Fewer than 900 asylum applications a year and this is how they react. It's chilling when you think of the history - especially of the Sudetenland.

http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-eu-34128087

Likely these reactions are based on the Roma population here, who face unspeakable discrimination every day. Even those who aren't Roma but 'look like it' are subject to discrimination. At least until they speak English or Czech with a tourist accent. Then everything is fine again and your money is good here once more.

does it not make you want to live somewhere else.  I lived in a small town for a while several years ago, and the attitude of many people there to other races was something that stuck out and was high up on the list of reasons to leave.

I can either move away or I can stay and try to be a positive influence. That's what I decided to do. I'm involved with some charities that some Czech friends are starting to try and change the perception of foreigners and do more for those Czech society in general shuns - particularly single mothers (double bad if you're Roma and a single mum)

Of course, Prague is very different to the rest of the country and attitudes here are way more tolerant than say, Breclav on the Austrian border or any number of Moravian towns and villages.