Gransnet forums

News & politics

Immigration and migrants

(682 Posts)
Cossy Wed 01-May-24 10:50:14

I have to comment on a new thread about some of the comments on here relating to immigrants, entering either via illegal means or via correct channels.

Those entering our country illegally, for whatever reason, make up just 1% of our overall population.

Often, but not always, they've made arduous physically and emotionally demanding journeys just to reach Europe. Often, but not always, their second language is English and sometimes they have links to the UK.

1% of our population!

Yet so much time is given to portraying them in the media as men pretending to be boys, criminals, exploiters, scroungers etc etc etc

Perhaps before swallowing all the "bad" stories about immigrants portrayed in our media, encouraged by our govt., you should, a) remember these people are human beings, b) we are here safe and sound only due to an accident of birth.

If you must "blame" someone for this situation, blame the corrupt govts from which many of these people come, blame the traffickers, blame our inept govt.

We could (not saying we should!) have housed every single asylum seeker in the last two years using the money our govt has so freely given to France and Rwanda.

Think and research before you negatively comment about immigrants.

Wheniwasyourage Wed 01-May-24 10:54:39

Good post Cossy. It’s also worth remembering that there is no such thing as an illegal person. We have made it very difficult if not impossible for people to use legal routes to get here, but that makes the routes, not the people, “illegal”.

Nannytopsy Wed 01-May-24 10:54:50

Hear hear!

Namsnanny Wed 01-May-24 11:05:59

Sheesh! This is Grans net.
Not a lectern in a church.

NotSpaghetti Wed 01-May-24 11:08:32

Thank you Cossy.

Cossy Wed 01-May-24 11:08:55

Namsnanny

Sheesh! This is Grans net.
Not a lectern in a church.

Any decent person will call our tosh and nonsense regarding human beings when they see it!

Sheesh yourself Namsnanny grinflowers

keepcalmandcavachon Wed 01-May-24 11:13:01

A timely post Cossy, agree with every word.

Namsnanny Wed 01-May-24 11:14:04

I've have no idea what your last post means.

eazybee Wed 01-May-24 11:21:46

Namsnanny, I'm with you.
Virtue signalling.

LizzieDrip Wed 01-May-24 11:24:44

Thank you Cossy. This needed saying. I support every word in your post.

Wyllow3 Wed 01-May-24 11:32:31

Thank you Cossy.

Grantanow Wed 01-May-24 11:34:49

I agree. The gutter press and the Tories demonize immigrants. Almost all immigrants are here legally and many are doing essential jobs.

Oreo Wed 01-May-24 11:42:18

Naive virtue signalling.

Cossy Wed 01-May-24 11:42:27

eazybee

Namsnanny, I'm with you.
Virtue signalling.

It’s not virtue signalling at all. I’m simply sick and tired of the bigotry and ignorance constantly posted. These people, whether they are right or wrong, are humans, just like you and I. Calling them “illegals” and rejoicing about them now trying Ireland and spreading misinformation is simply disgraceful.

Call it virtue signalling if it makes you feel good!

I call it telling the truth, showing empathy and compassion and understanding that our current govt love to deflect and blame anyone other than their inept selves for our “illegal” and “legal” migration situation!

Cossy Wed 01-May-24 11:43:38

Oreo

Naive virtue signalling.

“Naive” Have you worked with, or even met, even one asylum seeker? I have, so I’m hardly naive!

Oreo Wed 01-May-24 11:45:17

Legal migration is one thing and illegal migration is another.
Stop mixing them up.
Calling other points of view other than your own ignorance and bigotry shows how intransigent you are.

Oreo Wed 01-May-24 11:46:03

Then you’ve met one asylum seeker, so what?

LizzieDrip Wed 01-May-24 11:47:11

It has become popular to describe certain behaviour as ‘virtue signalling’… As popular as it is, it’s a stupid term that misuses the concepts it invokes, it encourages lazy thinking, and it’s hypocritical. eazybee

This is from The Adam Smith Institute. The author goes on to explain in further detail - I can post a link, should you wish to read it.

Germanshepherdsmum Wed 01-May-24 11:47:41

Couldn’t agree more Oreo. Our resources cannot cope with this influx of people.
Here are some figures:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53699511#:~:text=As%20at%2021%20April%2C%206%2C265,to%20the%20UK%20this%20way.

choughdancer Wed 01-May-24 11:49:47

Very well said Cossy.

I think your 'point b) we are here safe and sound only due to an accident of birth.' needs particular attention. What would any of us, fortunate enough not to need to seek refuge elsewhere for now, do if we needed to in the future?

Oreo Wed 01-May-24 11:50:24

LizzieDrip

^It has become popular to describe certain behaviour as ‘virtue signalling’… As popular as it is, it’s a stupid term that misuses the concepts it invokes, it encourages lazy thinking, and it’s hypocritical.^ eazybee

This is from The Adam Smith Institute. The author goes on to explain in further detail - I can post a link, should you wish to read it.

We’re not in an Oxford or Cambridge debating society, it’s a forum to dip in and out of.
Virtue signalling describes the OP quite aptly.

Cossy Wed 01-May-24 11:53:04

Oreo

Legal migration is one thing and illegal migration is another.
Stop mixing them up.
Calling other points of view other than your own ignorance and bigotry shows how intransigent you are.

I’m not mixing them up!

Stop being so patronising! I’ve worked with asylum seekers, I know the difference. Funny though isn’t it that the figures for “legal migration” are far far higher than those arriving here through legal routes and are likely to be far more of a drain on our resources than those coming on small, dangerous boats.

I have no issue at all with differing opinions, I have issues with SOME of the bigoted, misinformed comments on here.

I have no issue with carefully controlled immigration either.

I’m neither ignorant nor bigoted but thanks anyway for your extremely helpful post!

MaizieD Wed 01-May-24 11:53:49

Namsnanny

I've have no idea what your last post means.

I think there is a typo in this sentence:

Any decent person will call our tosh and nonsense regarding human beings when they see it!

'Our' should be 'out' (t & r being next door to each other on the keyboard) It makes perfect sense then.

I agree with Cossy

Oreo Wed 01-May-24 11:55:20

You certainly sound very angry.Calm down and realise that there are posters with other views on the matter to yours.

Casdon Wed 01-May-24 11:55:40

Well done Cossy for telling the truth, uncomfortable though that clearly is for some. Chat forum or not, nonsense should not be tolerated.