General Chat

The UK has far FEWER asylum applications per year than Germany, for instance, so I am never sure where people get the idea that everyone is making their way to Britain.

Illegal immigrants are usually people who have outstayed their student/work visas.

My grandson's great-grandfather returned to the Carribean when he retired, having paid tax and national insurance here for years. I can't imagine that he is the only one of the 'Windrush' generation to do so.

Thanks Ed, I knew about some of the " incomers", but not all the ones you have detailed so lucidly.

I remember a tv programme two or three years ago. DNA tests were done on various viewers to determine their racial makeup.
One woman insistes that she was Anglo-Saxon, she had the test done and this showed that she had Arab ancesters!
She was very upset, annoyed with the programme makers (as if it was their fault). My brother read that she was going to sue the programme.
I hope that she never lives it down, she seemed obvious BNP material.
Needless to say, it made my day!

T

Yes, this man is a shame on the human race. I agree, we in the UK do have problems with immigration, and yes there are people who do take the mickey and we do get more than our fair share of undesirables from other countries, but taking this stance will not resolve these issues. (I don't have the wherewithal to even begin to suggest what will). I did not, would not and could not vote for the BNP or any political party whos agenda is based on hate and intolerence.

As to me, well, I'm Englishish (no that's not mis-spelt - there is a definite emphasis on the second "ish"). My surname has its origins in an Anglo-Saxon (Germanic immigrants) military title, and my maternal grandmother was German. I also have Hugenot blood in me, along with a dash of Scottish and Welsh - and that's all I know about so far.

Let's not forget either, the "English" are the descendants of the invader: first came the Romans, and a good proportion of their armies were drawn from subject states - there are records of Assyrians serving on Hadrian's Wall! Then came the Saxons, then the Vikings, then the Normans (who I believe were of Norse descent; I was led to understand at school many years ago that the word Norman is an adaptation of "Northman"). The Norman army also contained large contingents of Breton and Flemish warriors. Many subsequently settled and raised families on our fair shores.

We could go even further - during the Wars of the Roses, several English lords hired Germanic mercenaries - "Landschnects" as they were known - to bolster their armies. Soldiers serving in a foreign land will get "intimate" with the local female population and there wasn't much in the way of contraception in 15th Century.

Going back to 1200 BC, the Phoenicians (hailing from the area now occupied by the countries of the Lebanon, Israel and Syria), used to come to Britain to trade for tin (essential in making bronze) - and we all know about sailors in foreign ports, don't we!

So I challenge anyone who proclaims to be "English" to prove that they don't have a little dab of something from continental Europe or possibly Asia in their line somewhere. I have and I'M PROUD OF IT.

Ed

My thoughts, for what they're worth:

There's only one race, and that's the human race, to which we all belong.

Instead of in-fighting, we have a much greater challenge to face together, which won't affect us, it probably won't affect our children, but it will affect the next generation

Nothing to do with politics, just (to my mind) being a responsible human being

Sue x

Most of our bus driver are Polish!. Any question is answered with "straight on".

I am English (allegedly,) living in Wales. Apparently, I am able to eject any Welsh person found within the walls after sunset, by force if necassary (sp?), so I am told.

Mans inhumanity to man exists, sadly, even in this day and age. I do think it is important though that it is a pre-requisite to speak English when working in the public services.

I wouldn't be here either, with an Irish mother, dark genes from somewhere (as yet undiscovered) and I was't born in the UK.

Shalom, to Maggie and everyone else.

What a good idea Maggie, I hope that it got to the bus driver!

My Irish ancestors who fled the potato famine and married with my Scottish ancestors.....well, they would have been sunk without a trace, and I would not be alive to type this.....

That is an awful thought, Tess, a fascist at the door!

I would say the same as I (and I've encouraged my children to say from an early age) have always said to one of the local bus drivers who was quite high up as a member of the BNP - 'Shalom'! LOL

I have heard "BNp- ish" people say "They all should go back where they came from. Not to my face as I would say something, but in the media.

Do these -------- people stop to think for just a moment if everyone "went back to where they came from" Europe would be very overcrowded.
Millions of people from Australia, New Zealand, North America, Canada South Africa and other parts of the world, would come back to little Europe.

I am sure that there are more people of European Ancestry in "foreign parts" than there are " Foreigners" living in Europe.

I dread to think what my reaction would be if a BNP Party Member knocked at my door.

Tess

nice one Rose

Beautifully put, Rose

Sue x

"In Germany they first came for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant.

Then they came for me —
and by that time no one was left to speak up."

a friend of mine employs asylum seekers in the NHS as volunteers - some of the stories she has heard are horrendous - not all asylum seekers are on the scrounge - all hers are mostly professional people who would very much like to work and contribute something to this country but are happy just to be volunteers whilst they wait for admission - happy to just get meal allowance

Hi Igor, all....

now who watched Torchwood? !! ok I know it's hokum ...but actually it had something to say I thought about how we choose who is 'useful' .

10% of the worlds children requested by aliens or the elimination of all mankind.... by what criteria do you choose.....? ( obviously if you didn't watch you won't know what the hell I am talking about lol)

xx

LOL Fiona aka Ruby...that is the best line I have seen for ages :)))

hi Rose
As far as sinking immigant boats goe's well that is beyond belief
but i must (and sorry about this , agree that we are now inundated with universal undesireables ).
We are a dumping ground for the rest of Europes (we don't want them )
come to Britain .
Now we have Albanian gangsters, somali drug smugglers and a whole host of other pillars of the community.
We are now even in the throws of building hi tech prisons in Nigeria to house 4,00 nigerian criminals holed up in British jails because we can't send them back to hellhole prisons in Nigeria .
Beggars belief oh by the way 3,00 of the 4,00 are here illigally
igor

To tie in with your 'green' thread Rose - could Nick Griffin not be recycled, and made into something more useful.

slightly off the subject but a friend of mine was desperately ill in hospital, no one could find out what was wrong with him and he was deteriorating by the day - fortunately a foreign doctor - African I think - recognised the symptoms immediately as it was endemic where she had come from and he was treated and made a complete recovery - that's a plus side of having foreigners in this country

Sorry about the misinformation - just shows how wrong the internet can be!!!
Maz - you've reminded me of an argument between my 2 daughters, when they were 12 and 14.
The younger couldn't understand why X was being called names and racially abused.
'It's because he's black' said her sister.
'No he's not' replied the younger. This went on for quite a while. Elder daughter was getting quite frustrated. Younger daughter wouldn't have it.

He was black - and I was sooo proud that, aged 12, my younger daughter never noticed - to her, he was just a sweet boy who was picked on.

Rose, I suppose that we should be pleased in that every time he looks in a mirror he sees a utter and complete "Rear Orifice" ( Being Polite ) and that s what he is ,and his Ilk.**M**.