A Good Thing? Or Not

[Bobbisox1]

https://news.sky.com/story/local-councils-take-home-office-to-high-court-for-block-booking-hotel-rooms-for-asylum-seekers-12735520

There’s already talk of increased taxes across the board which I’d assume will be at local level having cuts made to them

Your thoughts?

[naomi24]

Only in your head, untitled. An invasion is a large influx - and that's what's happening.

[Untitled]

it seems fairly obvious to me that people are using it to mean something more hostile than that...

[vulcan42]

How about "infringement by intrusion" ?

[naomi24]

untitled, perhaps you should re-think it. You're the only one I've seen here who's referring to it in that manner.

[douglas9401]

Can't we just tell them there's no room at the Premier Inn?

We must have enough engineers and doctors by now

[Untitled]

to talk about our country being invaded seems like fairly obvious warlike language to me naomi designed to characterise illegal immigrants as enemy combatants... but people who wish to do that generally won't be honest about it and will hide behind the dictionary definition when their rhetoric is challenged.

[douglas9401]

...or get all verbose an' that.

[naomi24]

untitled, I've challenged your 'rhetoric'. The only explanation you've given is your wonky perception of other people's intentions - which doesn't mean a thing. It's in your head.

[Untitled]

i had thought it fairly obvious that what i write is what i think naomi... the "invasion" soundbite was not plucked out of thin air, it's used to conjur images of war and to categorise other people as "the enemy" and to justify treating them inhumanely.

[douglas9401]

'We' don't treat prisoners of war inhumanely, foreign rogues, thieves, vagabonds and general ne'erdowells are another matter.

We have more than enough of those ourselves.

[ZebuSanctuary]

// An invasion is a large influx - and that's what's happening. //

From another perspective, consider this:

Lots of ants INVADE your kitchen. They mean you know harm, they're just doing what ants do.

Pound to a penny though, you'll either exterminate them or find another method to repel them.

Either way, you clearly don't want them in your kitchen. Does it not become apparent then, the term 'invasion', falls somewhat into the category of incendiary language?

[naomi24]

Your imagination is getting the better of you, untitled. How are we treating them inhumanely and how is that being 'justified'? Absolute nonsense.

[naomi24]

Absolutely right, zebu. I don't want them in my kitchen - but I'm not obliged to accommodate them.

[Untitled]

the conditions at Marston detention centre reached inhumane levels and characterising the people there as invaders is a tactic used to justify or dismiss this problem.

[ZebuSanctuary]

// I'm not obliged to accommodate them. //

The UK is obliged by International Laws; To vet and assess those who might be genuine asylum seekers. We have already heard about the plight of some Albanian women. Surely their cases have to be heard?

[naomi24]

Untitled, the problem isn't being dismissed. That's why you're hearing about it.
'
Zebi, I haven't heard about the plight of some Albanian women. As far as I know the arrivals are overwhelmingly young men.

[Togo]

//but people who wish to do that generally won't be honest about it and will hide behind the dictionary definition when their rhetoric is challenged.//

Words are to be redefined to mean something else entirely then?

""Don’t you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought? In the end we shall make thoughtcrime literally impossible, because there will be no words in which to express it.""

George Orwell

[Togo]

Almost 17% (and rising) of the residents of England and Wales were "born overseas". What do the supporters of unfettered illegal immigration think would be a sensible upper limit? 75%? 60%? They must have some opinion on that mustn't they?

[Untitled]

i think it's fairly obvious why people choose to classify these illegal immigrants as invaders togo...

zebu is right that under international law as presently written the UK like all signatories does have an obligation to at least consider applications for asylum...

there is perhaps an argument that english speaking countries are in a uniquely vulnerable position because of how common English is as a second language globally... this might make countries like the UK a more common destination than other countries although that doesn't seem to have actually happened...

[naomi24]

Croatia is nice... and just next door.