Nigel Farage - do you agree with him?

Does anyone remember that tv series from years back; Kangaroo Palace about the Australians in London? I loved it [got it on video somewhere I think]. I'm sure there's a kangaroo statue somewhere in London as well.

How refreshing to hear the word refugee rather than that horrid expression asylum seekers – invariably presaged in the tabloid press with the word bogus. (Incidentally, there is no such thing as a bogus asylum seeker – just successful or failed ones.) The proportions of Kiwis and Aussies in London is probably balanced by the number of Brits on gap years in India and Thailand. As a rule, they don't stay forever – just go to the UK for a couple of years while they are still footloose and fancy free. As far as percentages of white immigrants are concerned, I think you'll find that Americans outnumber all other nationalities, especially in London.

I find the aggressive attitude of some to immigrants, whether they are there for economic reasons –why shouldn't they be – or other reasons, reprehensible. Maybe that's because my father was a first generation immigrant (from the Netherlands), my mother was a second generation immigrant (from Ireland) and absentdaughter and I are both immigrants in New Zealand.

I think Farage is using this to attempt to soften his anti immigration reputation and catch a few more voters. Wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him!

But yes - good to see "refugee" being used.

I agree Ariadne, this is a clever move by Nigel to soften people's views of Ukips approach to immigration. I had only seen the headline, hadn't realised he was segregating refugees into religious categories.
Grannyknot, I have a close friend who emigrated to SA in the mid 70's, as her husband had so many of his extended family there. She was always unhappy about apartheid, her children were active in the anti apartheid struggle. She is now widowed, one of her children lives in the Uk with his SA partner and their child, they left Jo'burg because of violence and find Gtr Manchester peaceful in comparison. Another child in in New Zealand with her family, and a 3rd still in SA but planning an escape. My friend was lucky to come out of a burglary at her home alive last year. She was badly wounded. She loves the country now, but fear the violence, and isn't optimistic about the future there.
Back to the OP - my feelings are similar to those Jingle expresses. But, there are so many war zones, so many in Africa itself. Our public services, and the nhs are being stretched by the arrival of so many refugees or asylum seekers. I know of too many families who have no legal right to be here, and also are not escaping war torn countries. I feel uncomfortable expressing this, because I realise it sounds as though I wouldn't want to help those in need. That isn't the case, but I honestly don't know how we open the doors to Syrian refugees, and close them to folks from other parts of the world.

I am very concerned about the Syrian Christians who have been particularly targeted in this awful civil war if that's what it is. They are unlikely to have any communities to return to and I believe that they above all should be offered asylum here.

Living in London I obviously meet and work with people from all over the world ..... immigrants, tourists, gap years, refugees, transients, whatever.

In the past 20 years or so I've worked with many white South Africans, very hardworking and professional it has to be said, but the vast majority don't disguise the fact they are in this country under sufferance. They make known their disdain for the cramped living, educational standards, weather, etc.

If apartheid were re-introduced I've no doubt the majority would return to SA.

They are very different from Kiwis & Aussies who are here by choice, as are British people who live abroad.

Would it be a safer option, for ourselves, to offer safe haven for Christians rather than muslims? But all children suffer in a homeless situation. Especially in freezing conditions.

Is there a difference perhaps between asylum seekers - (didn't it used to be called political asylum...? - individuals who find their life at risk due to the regime they are living under) and refugees who have been driven from their homes and are the victims of war?
The point about the "colonials" in London is that most of them are not looking to stay here and have no basis for claiming permanent resident rights. Lots of other non EUs are here because of work e.g. their companies move them around the world.

I wonder if taking in the children who have been orphaned by this war would work.

A refugee is someone whose claim for asylum has been successful. An asylum seeker is someone whose case has not yet been resolved. A failed asylum seeker is just that.

Riverwalk I disagree with your statement that if apartheid were reintroduced the majority would return. I don't know any South Africans who would want to see a return to the past - the whole world has moved on since the dark days of overt racism, and South Africa came through the crucible, who in their right mind would think that to be a good idea. Most South Africans are embarrassed by apartheid. Anyway, South Africans love and embrace the Rainbow Nation too much to want to cast it aside. What would have people returning in their droves, is if the crime problem was addressed. Lack of employment opportunities have never bothered South Africans, with their pioneering spirit, they are immensely entrepreneurial - including over here.

Iam64 there are sadly too many stories like that.

As for the OP, we were lucky enough to visit Beirut a few years ago, and we were very excited to find ourselves "on the road to Damascus" when we went to the ancient site of Baalbeck. I am so sad for what is happening there and I don't know what the answer is re the refugees.

Nightowl what do you call the people sitting in camps then if not refugees?

Is n't a successful asylum seeker simply a citizen? Once he has answered questions about cricket.

I was simply clarifying the terms under UN definitions Jess not making any judgments. Of course the terms are used interchangeably but they do have specific meanings. The UN accepts that some claims cannot be evaluated because they involve mass numbers of people, nor do they need to be evaluated because the reasons they are fleeing are obvious - as in Syria. So it's a fact that the people in camps are 'primary facie' refugees.

jingle Rights to residency do not grant automatic citizenship – pretty much anywhere in the world.

No jingl a successful asylum seeker does not automatically gain citizenship, simply refugee status or 'leave to stay'

Sorry absent posts crossed.

Right. I did wonder even as I typed.

But that gives them rights to benefits

No...

Cant believe that jinglebell rocks actually said that about Muslims....

perhaps in the 70's and 80's we should have sent all the Irish Catholics back to ireland and keep tabs on catholic churches? ?

Do you not understand that there are as many types of Muslim groups and beliefs, as there are christian? Why are Christians any safer? I am a born again christian myself, but have seen and met some scary people proclaiming a christian belief who have as fundamentalist views as some Muslims do.

I guess you are less likely to import extremists from amongst the Christians. That's all.

Back to Gary....

Less likely to import extremists from Christians? Er....weren't those from the UK and USA who invaded Iraq and are at war in Afghanistan mainly Christians then? They also claim God's on their side. Or have I missed something?

My father was a Jewish refugee. He came over via Kindertransport in July 1939, just before his Bar Mitzvah, a frightened little boy of 12. He owes his life to the kindness of those in the UK who opened their doors to a few lucky children. Sadly his lovely mother (a nurse in WW1) and his father, a teacher, who won the Iron Cross for Germany in WW1, were both murdered at Auschwitz, along with other members of our family. All I have of theirs are photographs, some desperate letters, and a handkerchief my grandmother embroidered for her wedding.
My father worked hard, got himself an education and a job, paid his way all his life. And all his life he's campaigned to help other refugees and victims of injustice. No one WANTS to be a refugee. Why would you want to leave your home country unless you were utterly desperate?
If I was in that position I'd feel less desperate knowing there was compassion and support from the host country, rather than hostility and hate.We are lucky in the UK that we live, for the most part, in a safe part of the world, with - mostly - enough to eat, clothes to wear and education and health are taken pretty much for granted. I wish that was true for everybody, but it isn't, and when I hear people calling for an end to 'assylum seekers', I keep being reminded of a poem I used to read as a child called 'Mrs Malone'. It's corny, it's cheesy, it's sentimental, but it still has a valid point to make.

Here it is, Rowantree! I see what you mean. Corny, perhaps but makes a moral point.

www.experienceproject.com/stories/Love-Poetry/499374

When I made that post I was attempting to shed light on Farage' s reason for suggesting Christians be welcomed here.

To be fair, I don't think those wars can be classed as terrorism. They were meant to rid the West of terrorists. The way they panned out was a different matter.