Asylum Seekers

[diddy]

Anybody know any asylum seekers? Are they all work-shy scroungers infected with aids and TB, who have come to sponge off our welfare state, as it is portrayed by certain newspapers and political parties?

[Bob...]

I think I hear the sound of a big wooden spoon stirring.

[banana]

I know one family from Croatia .They are not allowed to work and have to report to the police once every fortnight. The Mum ( who I know) is a nice person who is very worried about her families prospects.However ,she helps out at the school so she feels that she is putting something back into society at least.

[cobweb]

Despite being a fatuous question, I thought I would answer it anyway. As a volunteer with a campaign group which tries to assist and support asylum seekers (dispersed to the Glasgow area) I have met/worked with a great number of families who have fled their homelands for a variety of genuine reasons, that is due to persecution, rape, torture etc. I am utterly appauled by the factually incorrect way that asylum seekers are represented by the media...and as for the BNP's recent election leaflet it is little more than an incitement to racial hatred which will probably increase the number of racist attacks by fuelling existing fear and resentment within the receiving communities. If you genuinely wish to know more about the myths and facts surrounding the issue of asylum here are some useful websites to look at: http://www.ncadc.org.uk http://www.scottishrefuge
ecouncil.org.uk/campaigns.htm http://www.searchlightmagazine.com/stopthebnp/campainging/CampaingingFrame

[tartanwiz]

I know one. He is Russian, and comes into our office once a week to learn and train. He's a nice bloke, eager to learn, and I like to help him if I can, as do my colleagues. He and his wife and baby daughter live in one of the roughest, poorest parts of the city, alienated and alone.

[diddy]

It was not meant ot be a fatuous question. I admit it was phrased aggresively, but that was to get a reaction.

[cobweb]

Why then phrase it in such a condoning fashion..what kind of reaction were you trying to get? Having experienced first hand the fear and humiliation that some of the asylum seekers i have tried to assist live with, I found it very sad that you chose to use it as a loaded question in the first place.

[kags]

I apologise if I have caused offence, that was not intended, but I have just read something to the affect of the sentiments in the question, and it made my blood boil. Maybe I should have calmed down first.

[katie83]

I totally agree with cobweb, i too am working on a similar project with refugees and asylum seekers. The media portrays them in a way that does incite hatred. A recent poll found that people in Britain are overestimating the number of first generation immigrants by four times the actual amount. The major political parties seem to be engaging in political point scoring to appear tougher on immigration. However, to defeat elements such as the BNP, one must step away from actions that reinforce the stereotype that the British people have economically and socially much to fear from immigration and asylum seekers.

[darth vader]

nope and i find it appalling that we treat them this way in the press and public opinion. If the UK was an oppressive, or non-democratic, or war-raged (etc etc) country and living in proximity to a democratic, helpful, country welcoming asylum seekers then we would be pouring out of the UK quicker than a quick thing in double-quick time (sorry i have no time to find a suitable and non-offensive metaphor). If anyone is undecided on the matter, read the facts of Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Iraq, China, (list goes on...) then thank your own god that you are not living in any of these countries. I welcome them and thank god i am not one of them.

[Miss Zippy]

I think some sections of the media do distort the actual facts and make it appear that the majority of immigrants are 'economic' immigrants, who come to the UK purely to take advantage of our, supposedly generous, benefit system (though try getting any help when you need it if you've worked most of your adult life and have accrued modest savings). I would far rather my taxes went towards helping legitimate immigrants get on their feet in this country, assisting them to find work so they can integrate into and contribute to society, rather than my taxes paying for the keep of work-shy UK born and bred spongers who have no intention of doing an honest day's work and infecting society with their equally useless offspring.

[brawburd]

I was involved with the Kosovan refugees coming to Scotland and what struck me as they came off the planes was that they were tired, frightened, grieving PEOPLE. Folk who had left jobs, homes and families because their lives were in danger. No apologies for that sounding wishy washy. Some have stayed and are contributing within the limits this government allows.

[norfolk boy]

In norfolk there is a large population of seekers / immigrants the only jobs they "pinch" are vegtable pickers or any other low payed job that people wouldn't get out of bed for.When the berlin wall came down and the flood of british builders went over, were they considered migrant low life,or just workers filling the jobs that locals wouldnt get out of bed for !!

[dazer1]

I know Five Iranian Lads who are intelligent and Friendly but refuse To Insure there cars and ride about with no Licences Even though I am constantly telling them it is Illegal. This gets me annoyed, as I am not wealthy and struggle to pay my car insurance.