[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by Cherie

I still don't agree with people 'fleeing' France though, or passing safe countries

How "safe" is it if you don't have access to adequate food or, in the middle of winter, shelter? And little to no prospect of that situation improving? Are people supposed to huddle in their tents and accept their fate because they're not being bombed or shot at? Would you accept it for you or your own family?

Obviously, no, we can't take in all of the world's poor and oppressed; it's not logistically possible, it would destroy our economy, and there have to be sensible policies in place. I think, in general, people understand that. But trying to pass the buck to the people who are living existences that you can't even imagine, as if they have some sort of moral responsibility to "stay where they are because it's safe", is a bit much. It's just disingenuous too because I think deep down everyone knows that in the same desperate situation the vast majority of people would do the exact same thing and try to "find something better".

Also, yes, often they HAVE been mislead to believe that the UK is a "land of milk and honey" and have unrealistic expectations of what life will be like for them here, but that's not their fault either! It's a myth that's spread deliberately by the people who are taking money (often, everything people have) to get them in. And of course as that idea spreads, more and more people decide to take matters into their own hands and make the crossing in small groups in boats that can't actually make the journey, and those people end up needing rescued. The idea that they "deserve everything they get" for daring to try to enter precious Britain is just abhorrent.