What would "Dads Army" do and deal with the Migrants by the tunnel

Is there documented evidence that the majority leaving Syria are young males?

There are many women and children in the refugee camps - perhaps their menfolk have left them there in comparative safety while they try to seek a better life for them all.

Whatever the truth, I would imagine that many of them would still hope that one day their homeland will be restored to peace and they could return there.

Yes Anya, because Iraq and Syria haven't bombed us - yet, and the discussion is people from the Middle East fleeing their countries to seek a new life in Europe and the reasons why

DJ. I read your link Re the Calais family. Like them I couldn't see somebody hungry and cold. But I'm sorry, the moment he started criticising my daughter in regard to her marital status and covering her hair that would be the end of the 'friendship'
This young man is computer savy, he must read what is acceptable or not, in what is acceptable in our culture. He chose to ignore that and in my opinion was very rude to these kind people.
Can you imagine what he thinks, now that he is in the uk.

Nothing unusual in male immigrants leaving their country to find a place to live and then sending for their families . I have seen many,many children in the boats and in the camp

But Petra, many in this country criticise the dress of those from the Middle East ,

So the fact that Assad is bombing and using chrmical weapons against Syrians is completely irrelevant to your point about Syrians fleeing their homes, and the fact that the USA is bombing Deash, on the Syrian border, in an attempt to stop their murderous advance, is to be abhored.

I'm afraid your logic escapes me Annie

Would you critcise somebody's dress if you were a guest in their home, Anniebach? Especially if they were being charitable by taking you in?

I gathered that Anya

I can't help thinking it's easy to be brave from the safety of the UK. Perhaps it's not so easy when the bombs are dropping, the bullets are flying, there is a possibility of gas attack or you might just be picked up in the street and disappear.

Oh I quite agree vamp. Our country faced the blitz and very genuine fear too but our men didn't flee. Is there something about this being the first generation of men who weren't willing to fight for their country? I should say I'm not trying to be argumentative. There are so many aspects to this conflict. Is it in fact WW 3? Many countries involved?

I wouldn't Merlotgran if they were charitable or not, but I don't criticise the choice of dress worn in any country or choice of dress worn by people who live here but wear the dress of the country of their birth.

I do think it is wrong - and worrying- that the young man criticised the dress and lifestyle of the daughter of the people who took him in. (The Guardian link)

To accept someone's hospitality then criticise their way of life is extremely rude - I am sure Dad's Army would not have tolerated it and I don't think we should nowadays either on a wider scale.

WWII and the current situation are not comparable. Nations were at war with other nations. This is governments attacking their own people.

When a country goes to war it provides it's combatants with weapons, training and support. When a government goes to war on it's own people the supply of weapons etc is one sided.

I don't think the current situation is comparable to previous wars. We used to think the enemy was Russia and WW3 would be nuclear. Now we have this ' war against terror'. These fundamentalists are bombing innocent people all over the world -Thailand being the latest. Bad things are happening, nothing much is being done about it. The more powerful countries seem paralysed by fear - based on commercial concerns -oil etc or fear of being politically incorrect - its their choice to genitally mutilate girls etc etc. Meanwhile what do we actually do?

I'm the first to admit that I criticise many aspects of dress worn by Muslim women. But that is purely because of what it represents.
I would no more dream of criticising a family that were feeding me than flying to the moon.

We once offered accommodation to two middle eastern young men. Sitting down for dinner they were angry at me joining them for a meal at all far less sitting at the head of the table opposite DH. They were not ideal house guests and didn't stay long.

Isn't that a tad hypocritical Petra, not criticising because you were getting something

No. Just a combination of pragmatism and just plain good manners!

I read that article too and must admit I was a little surprised that the young man felt he had the right to criticise the couple's daughter for not being married and for not covering her head. The couple said they understood that he found it difficult to comprehend the lifestyle of western women. Possibly he thought he was doing her parents a favour by reinforcing standards that he felt all parents would naturally wish their daughters to adhere to.

I very much admire the couple in Calais, They must be very special people to be able to understand and overlook remarks that would, given the hospitality they had offered, probably anger most people. It seems that although it was not always a comfortable situation they had no regrets about helping someone in such desperate need and no doubt they have the satisfaction of knowing they did something good and kind.

Gosh, Annie. You certainly know how to twist things round, don't you?
You know very well what I meant, so why post that?
And thank you, Jane10

Petra, I didn't twist things, you said you would no more criticised a family who were feeding you than fly to the moon, and if they were not feeding you ? Surely a criticism if deserved shouldn't depend on being fed or not . I didn't know what you meant, I read what you said and replied to that

I'd be interested to know how the young woman in question felt about being criticised in her own home by a stranger brought into it by her parents. Criticised not once, when no doubt cultural differences were explained to him, not twice even, but 'occasionally', whatever that means in this context.

I think vampirequeen got it spot on with her post of Fri 21-Aug-15 19:47:57. Lovely scenario too.

(I'm sorry I'm a little late reading this thread)

I can't see that petra said anything different to me.

If we are to respect other religions and cultures then we should expect the same respect in return - especially if someone is accepting hospitality in our home.