Too sad to talk about really

That's what I said the Christian Brothers do, jingl. They have moved to Freetown and set up orphanages and schools there for the street children.
My son's school sends pupils and staff out there to help build houses, etc.
However, they cannot go there now because of ebola, which, believe it or not, is still rife in West Africa. I can't imagine you would like your children or grandchildren to go to West Africa at the moment.

merlotgran You may well be right that arguing, debating, putting another point of view - whatever you might call it - will not change many people's minds. But the alternative is to hear something that we feel is outrageous or just plain wrong in terms of the facts and just say nothing.

jingl Europe is not the only place where there are large Christian communities.

How does anyone propose to weed out non-Christians? These people rarely have passports, let along confirmation certificates with them. What a Farage of nonsense!

Sigh...

And if you do not mind me saying so, jingl, that is not a very Christian attitude.

What is the reasoning behind it, jingl?
I am not Christian. I would not be accepted in this country.
None of my family are.
I have two members of the family who are foreigners, one Spanish, one Danish. They are not practising Christians either, so they would not be allowed in by Farage.

Isn't it best to help the street children of Freetown in Freetown? Change Freetown?

Although I suppose it wouldn't really work. It would fuel racism and resentment.

Don't know if it would change attitude. But it needs to be said.

Are you sure they wouldn't understand? Not once they realise the reasoning behind it?

But is arguing going to change the hairdresser's attitude?

My eldest son taught at a Christian Brothers school. A few years ago the Brothers all moved to Sierra Leone, and set up a school for street children in Freetown. I am sure they will not think it acceptable to only have Christian migrants taken in by this country.

You're probably right, merlot. I was the one who actually changed the subject, and started talking about my grandson who was sitting there reading a book. I think she was having a bad day anyway, as she scowled when I walked in two minutes late.

I think durhamjen was right to argue with that hairdresser.

We can't take everyone who wants to leave Africa. We can't even manage to take all the ones who need to leave. There has to be some rationing over the years.

But letting them drown is not the way.

It's just the fact that Muslims have other countries they might be able to go to. Christians have less and less places all the time. It's a sad fact. It's nothing to do with religion, not as a policy. It's commonsense perhaps.

She probably hopes you never make another appointment, durhamjen

I had my hair cut on Monday. The hairdresser said if they drowned it would stop others coming here. It was because the radio was on and there was a report on the radio.
I was horrified and argued with her. Not sure if I want her to cut my hair again.

I am ashamed because a lot of people in this country think that it's okay for us to accept Christian migrants, but not other religions in this country, Ana.
If that's a soapbox, I'll stay on it, if it's okay with you.
Hopefully the other 85% of voters do not agree with him.
However, I still feel ashamed of the 15%. That's a lot of people.

I suppose Farage has got a point - Christians haven't got anywhere else but Europe to go.

A spokesperson for Save the Children has just said that they calculate 2,500 children will die in this way this year if the Brussels talking shop does't come up with some practical help.

No.

Why on earth would you feel ashamed because 15% of voters don't think like you, durhamjen? Do get off your soapbox and talk normally for once.

Even with the figures at the moment, it's 90% certain that they will reach Europe safely. So it will not stop them coming. Are you actually implying that 10% of them drowning is acceptable, merlot?

I'm not sure that people will be put off making such a dangerous journey if more search and rescue boats are employed. It will just make them more confident of surviving such a perilous crossing.