Originally Posted by Livia (Post 8129098)

That's some very evocative language there joey.

I can't see anyone here scapegoating genuine refugees. Should more have been done earlier? Well yes, of course. But that could be said of any country. I'm really tired of this whole "you're all horrible and cold" stance. My own family came here as refugees, genuine refugees. Were they let in with open arms? No. There was hell on in all quarters about the amount of Jews coming into the country. opposition to refugees is not something new, although some people seem to think the 30s and 40s was some magical time when Jews were let in and welcomed with open arms... it wasn't like that at all. There is far more done now for refugees than there ever was in the past.

I come from the East End, where there are more than anyone's fair share of refugees. I works for an FE college that recognised 130 languages, where those refugees were welcomed, taught English, taught a trade if they didn't have one or given academic English classes to follow their profession, all free. They were housed, given medical care and could live freely and without fear. Maybe there aren't a lot of refugees where you come from but there are a lot where I come from. Taking refugees isn't a new thing for us we've been doing it for a long time.

The thing that makes my heart sink is that some people don't recognise the good that this country does. Who was the first to land in Africa when the ebola crisis struck? The British army with field hospitals. Who is dragging refugees out of the water in the Med? The Royal Navy. Are they doing it because some people have shamed them? No.

Should we be doing more? Possibly... but we are just one of many and the UK is already the most densely populated country in Europe with a wealth of social problems including homelessness, poverty, an overstretched infrastructure... Germany have taken many more refugees than us because their birthrate has been falling year upon year.

No one here thinks genuine refugees should be turned away. Certainly not I.

Originally Posted by kirklancaster (Post 8129149)

:clap1::clap1::clap1: I'm sorry Liv, and do not want to be seen as obsequious just because we are friends, but I cannot help it - you post so eloquently and truthfully.

Originally Posted by kirklancaster (Post 8129376)

WE ARE MEAN GREEN KILLING MACHINES

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...LpueX9gtRB8loo

Originally Posted by Livia (Post 8129822)

Yeah, all Tories are killing machines.

Originally Posted by Kizzy (Post 8129129)

Nobody thinks the depression was a magical era, I alluded to that yesterday to highlight that the UK was economically on it's knees and yet as a nation we wanted to help.
Could we have helped more? Yes and some families were lucky to be included in the lottery of selection, it does appear to have some similarities to the situation at the moment where tens of thousands will simply not make it regardless of their level of suffering, the weight of that fact is felt today as it was then.
Suggesting where you come from should denote your level of knowledge and or understanding of the issue is not a fair point to make to anyone least of all anyone interested or involved in politics.
There always will be organisations whose area of expertise is to take action during times of outbreak or emergency, that is separate to the issue in discussion in this thread.
Our involvement in search and rescue was reintroduced specifically due to being shamed after searches were called off last November.
Our country has areas of high conurbation but I don't believe it should be described as densely populated.

Originally Posted by joeysteele (Post 8131266)

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More good points, I agree.
Really strong post Kizzy, well said.

Originally Posted by Livia (Post 8131276)

They can't be good points and wrong points. It's one or the other.

Originally Posted by joeysteele (Post 8131284)

With full respect, I think they are good points and I don't actually agree they are wrong ones from Kizzy either.

Originally Posted by joeysteele (Post 8127311)

Well I am one who is disgusted still at this govts response to this problem.

People who care about decency and I actually consider I do that, I would hate myself if I didn't in fact.
They and I have as much right to say how disillusioned I am and ashamed of the govts and some of my British fellow citizens cold and hardline attitude to these desperate people in turmoil and crisis.

Whether that means because I don't just follow like sheep a hardline uncaring govt and totally useless PMs inaction on this issue and therefore should go to another Country.
Well hey,that thought is indeed very appealing at this time for sure for me.

However,it is in the main, that loud minority,'IF' there is proof it is only a minority, that have in fact helped shame this PM into actually doing more that is more practical and right as to this crisis.

The measures he has announced are indeed welcome but to get applause from me he will need to soften his tone and do far more than this as ongoing into the far future.