54 migrants rescued this morning in French waters are brought to UK

MayBee70

foxie48

What a vile thread this has become, talking about rescuing animals when people have died, discussing if British boats should rescue drowning people in French waters, Just vile. I'm out!

Me too. I need a break from this. I’m so ashamed to read some of this.

News reports say 6 of the men who drowned in the channel were from Afghanistan, said to be aged in their 30’s. Those rescued, including children were mostly from `Afghanistan. It’s entirely possible that if we had made it possible for people to apply for refugee status before arriving in the uk, these people may still be alive. How desperate they must be. It bring back the images of people hanging onto planes in their desperation to get out of Afghanistan when the Taliban took over

VioletSky

As I said

Asking anyone you perceive to not be from the UK where they are from is quite often considered rude

Some people were born in this country and are "from" here, some people have migrated here permanently and some people do not know their origins. Some people because they do not know a birth parent to ask them and some who simply do not know their origins the same way many of us don't because they can't trace their ancestry

And as the article explains it makes many people feel like they don't belong here despite living and working here or even having been born here. As if having Spanish great grandparents should mean I belong in Spain... Actually I am British thank you

Asking someone who is on vacation is different as is asking people what language they speak

But people who have moved to the UK to live and work and have permanent residency are now "from" here and there is absolutely no reason to ask what their ethnic origins are at all

And still you avoid my question! 😴

Primrose I am a bit younger than you I would guess and no, people don't ask me "Where are you from"

I sometimes get asked where I live

Violetsky
In my experience of living in an ex communist country and travelling a lot in others, I found that they have no hang ups about being asked where they are from and they are very upfront asking.
It’s in their DNA caused by growing up under the communist cosh and they pass that distrust on to their children.

I am British, my parents are British, one of my grandparents is British. I speak English but I am not "white" If someone asked me where I was from, I'd say the name of the city I live in. If they were meaning "are you British?" That would be saying much more about them than it would say about me. Would they ask the same question if I was white. Of course not!

I'm white. I've lived in Spain and USA. No idea how many times I was asked where I was from. Never once did I think badly of the people who asked.

Privilege at work

Vintagewhine

I am British, my parents are British, one of my grandparents is British. I speak English but I am not "white" If someone asked me where I was from, I'd say the name of the city I live in. If they were meaning "are you British?" That would be saying much more about them than it would say about me. Would they ask the same question if I was white. Of course not!

Thanks for this, you illustrate the point perfectly.
People just need to rephrase their question to ‘Where do you live?’ which is so simple for them to do.

I have a dear friend who would answer that question with ^I was made in X from Y & Z and grown in X, Y, Z & A…

I am saddened and sickened by some of these comments.
People have tragically lost their lives and some posters actually think it's appropriate to use laughing emojis in their comments.
I have no words to describe how very sad I feel after reading this bile

Attlee

I am saddened and sickened by some of these comments.
People have tragically lost their lives and some posters actually think it's appropriate to use laughing emojis in their comments.
I have no words to describe how very sad I feel after reading this bile

I don’t see any laughing emojis Attlee.

The thread has gone off in many directions so let’s get it back on track.

Latest news is that the dead people are Afghans and a Sudanese man and 2 people are still missing.

These people were desperate, my heart aches for their families, I pray for their souls 👃

HousePlantQueen

*Do you really believe that a surgeon would have to pay a criminal smuggling gang to get here on a dinghy don't be ridiculous, he would go through the proper channels if he was genuine*

a swift google would have shown you these as a small sample, and saved you from looking very silly, and uninformed of the difficulties of applying for asylum through what you call legal routes. I can find a few more if you like?

inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/work/nationality-borders-bill-came-uk-refugees-work-nhs-turned-away-1414306

www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/local-news/refugee-doctors-lincolnshire-coronavirus-4288897

Yes my local area. You really think any Dr should be allowed to practice in the UK without due process. A Dr needs to provide evidence. Our medics can't practice in America , or Australia,in fact anywhere without proof of skills and qualifications. A PLAB test needs to be undertaken before any foreign registered Dr can be allowed to practice in the UK. The hospitals in Lincolnshire have a refugee Dr , and Radiographer, orientation programme to eventually allow them to practice. See the Lincolnshire Refugee Doctor project. I believe some of those who worked during covid, have achieved their aims. Pleased to say.

Primrose53, I didn't specifically want to name individuals, but since you asked, just look at your post 20.10 - two laughing emojis.
You should be ashamed of yourself.

Many people have strong feelings about helping our own homeless before housing and feeding asylum seekers. I am one such person

Not often GSM and I agree on something.

I notice you didn’t answer my question about whether you have ever been asked where you’re from or where you live. I cannot believe there is a person alive who has not been asked that whether on a plane, a bus, coffee shop, hairdressers, on holiday, when you move to a new area etc

This is totally irrelevant to the thread topic of people crossing the channel in small boats . Or are you restarting the Buckingham Palace shenanigans?

Attlee

Primrose53, I didn't specifically want to name individuals, but since you asked, just look at your post 20.10 - two laughing emojis.
You should be ashamed of yourself.

Those emojis were nothing to do with migrants! They were about a comment between my husband and myself.

Primrose53

Attlee

Primrose53, I didn't specifically want to name individuals, but since you asked, just look at your post 20.10 - two laughing emojis.
You should be ashamed of yourself.

Those emojis were nothing to do with migrants! They were about a comment between my husband and myself.

Maybe you would like to apologise for telling me I should be ashamed of myself when you got the wrong end of the stick.

I'd just leave it there if I were you...

Foxygloves

^I notice you didn’t answer my question about whether you have ever been asked where you’re from or where you live. I cannot believe there is a person alive who has not been asked that whether on a plane, a bus, coffee shop, hairdressers, on holiday, when you move to a new area etc^

This is totally irrelevant to the thread topic of people crossing the channel in small boats . Or are you restarting the Buckingham Palace shenanigans?

No idea what the BP shenanigans is all about.

I have asked if we could get back on track by the way. @22.07

Attlee

I'd just leave it there if I were you...

So it’s a No then from you, even though you jumped to the wrong conclusion.

Why do people find it so hard to apologise? I never have a problem with that. If I am wrong or need to apologise I hold my hands up.

No self reflection or personal growth

MayBee70

foxie48

What a vile thread this has become, talking about rescuing animals when people have died, discussing if British boats should rescue drowning people in French waters, Just vile. I'm out!

Me too. I need a break from this. I’m so ashamed to read some of this.

Just shameful, so glad I have been out all day and kept away.

I wonder if the Press will one day take an interest in GN and report some of the 'views' on here.

Gransnet threads are shareable and already appear other places but I wouldn't do that or it would add to the rows and people would join just to argue

I'm not wrong though, this is a thread about a tragedy and it was inappropriate to use laughing emojis, whatever the context was
I have no problem with apologising when I am wrong , but I don't think I am, so I won't