Dispatches: Keep them Out

[freakyfun]

I'm just watching the "Dispatches:Keep them out" programme on TV at the moment

I feel ashamed that there are are so many people with extreme attitudes to the asylum seekers shown in the programme - so many NIMBYS.

They are trotting out the usual statements as seen in the tabloid press

I wonder how many of them have actually checked out the information to see if its correct? (on both sides btw)

yuk

FF

(p.s. the bottle of wine has probably made me feel more peeved than I may be usually)

[Mistyeyeddreamer]

I didn't see the programme but it's a very emotive subject. I think you're right, both sides need to check all information before they start shouting.

Misty

[Eskander]

I think one way to look at this is to put to one side everything the media says and ask yourself "Have I ever been put to any personal inconvenience or disadvantage by an asylum seeker?" Then ask yourself whether any of your family, friends or colleagues have ever been out to any personal inconvenience or disadvantage by an asylum seeker?

Then ask yourself "For every 'asylum seeker' who is an 'economic migrant' how many are fleeing real terror or repression?"

Then ask yourself, "Presented with people who are fleeing real terror or repression, what should a civilised society do?"

When you have asked and answered all those question, return to what the media says and then decide to what extent you agree. Different people will, of course, have different answers.

You will note that I have not expressed an opinion on this difficult issue, but doing the above helped me get my head around it

[Chimurenga]

As you probably know by now, I am German (though not an asylum seeker...lol). During my time at school, we have had to regurgitate the Nazi Regime in great detail...fair enough, it was so horrible, it must not be forgotten.

Reading the headlines in the tabloid press re: asylum seekers, I am very uncomfortably reminded of the Third Reich propaganda (anti-foreign, nationalistic to the excess).

One of the reasons those horrors could happen in Germany at the time was that some very devious and clever people used propaganda to instill a deeply-rooted fear of all things foreign into people. The same is happening here.

It frightens me.
Chimurenga

PS: One thing to remember might be that wherever you go in the world you are a foreigner, too.