Refugees

We have to take. They just need to get on and sort out a fair way to do it.Get their bloody arses in gear. Including Cameron.

I don't actually see why so much outrage at Hungary, though. We built a fence at Calais.

them

Tricia, it was the British who invaded most the countries you list

I concur with all those who've expressed horror, sadness, etc. at this awful news - and it is relentless because the situations are not improving. Absentgrandma, I'm puzzled at your harsh judgement of the French. I gather that you live there...?? I once did, and I found them to be just like everyone else, some kind, some not. I wouldn't say they - as a nation - have less compassion than British people. Who can measure compassion? Perhaps by how much people give to charity? Medecins sans Frontieres originated in France...Or by how many asylum-seekers are granted refugee status in the country? Here are the EU statistics on that: "The highest number of positive asylum decisions (first instance and final decisions) in 2014 was recorded in Germany (48 thousand), followed by Sweden (33 thousand), France and Italy (both 21 thousand), the United Kingdom (14 thousand) and the Netherlands (13 thousand). Altogether, these six Member States accounted for 81 % of the total number of positive decisions issued in the EU-28." So France took 7000 more than Britain. (Granted, it is much bigger!) Tiny Holland, already overcrowded, took 13000; that amazes me.

Vive Le France!

Much bigger! It's over twice the size with roughly the same amount of people.

I don't think that anyone is critical of France, or most any country really, the sheer amount of refugees/ asylum seekers/ economic migrants is simply overwhelming for them to cope with, but many are doing their best.

The British and other western nations have rampaged around the world, in some cases decimating - but always subjugating - indigenous populations, stealing resources and destabilising the social, agricultural and economic structures of these countries for generations to come.

Now - when people flee from the wars and internal conflicts that many believe we have sown the seeds of with our various invasions and incursions into the Middle East and our propping up of "co-operative" but tyrannical regimes - we suddenly decide that migration is a very bad thing indeed and we should not "encourage" it.

soontobe If I were a refugee who had fled war, constant fear and/or dire poverty, leaving with just the clothes I stood up in, making a perilous journey by sea and land across unknown and unsafe territories, I would do my best to get to a country where I had some chance of obtaining the support and friendship of people from my own country, where I had some knowledge of the language and where I believed there were opportunities for employment. I don't think I would be that keen on, as the Any Answers contributor suggested, being rounded up and dumped in the middle of the Russian steppes.

I understand that many people have concerns about the possibility of a large number of refugees entering this country but the sort of dismissive and rather antagonistic sentiments that some people are expressing I find very disturbing - particularly when this country's response to the crisis is, in my view, pretty feeble.

Great post Eloethan

I agree the British have done more than most nations by immigration to other countries - mostly pure greed and opportunism. A few left because of persection.
Also that uk should take her her fair share of refugees from persecution and war.
But I think many folk are frightened by the apparently neverending numbers.
Mamie - people who criticise France's behaviour in WW2 don't realise that the number of french Jews surviving the war was about 75%, nearly the highest among all occupied countries. Most hidden by French families.
It was mainly the refugees from other countries who were deported. which is bad enough - but how would we have behaved if occupied?

From Germany: Yesterday Angela Merkel gave a long interview about the refugee situation.She said we are a industrious, orderly nation which is used to getting things done and succeeding, and we will tackle the refugee problem in a typical German way and will make the whole venture successful. In other words like Obama 'yes we can!

Look at who is coming in from Hungary. Fit, slim young men- they look healthy and intelligent to me and have proved they have resilience and flexibilty.
There are too many old people in Germany and this influx is like a blood transfusion. Fr Merkel warned the anti-refugee lobby to think twice before becoming mean, cruel and brutal, and warned young people to stay away. rather like a good mother. Join the thousands of Germans who are waiting to help. I am ready with my language skills and when they arrive in our small town I will volunteer.

MargaretX what a joy to read your post

triciaf Those people who are worried about numbers should take a piece of paper and write down how many people there are in the Uk - 65 million
Then write down 1 million refugees that is one for every 65 people.

But there are not a million coming there are only 100,000 that is one refugee for 650 people. Up to now there have only been 10,000 that is one refugee for 6 thousand people

At this rate you would be doing well to see one in the course of your life.

Refugees have to be fit, slim, healthy, intelligent, have resilience and flexibility?
Does Germany want the others?

If they want them in Germany, fine.
If they need them in other countries, fine.

But the UK is not Germany.

True soon, the UK is not Germany, the UK is concerned with the lowering of it's standard of living.

I didn't say they have to be fit and healthy but if you consider what they have gone through then that is what they are, other wise they couldn't have survived. You could look at the news pictures in Greece etc.Sick and ailing refugees will be helped in Germany as well. Germany doens't pick the healthy ones out.

You are right the Uk is not Germany, Germany has a government that governs. I am informed about the UK I am English after all and it seems that there is little enlightened governing going on.

My post was to make a positive point.

I think the UK has traditionally given refuge to many people fleeing from terror - and, dare I say it, to people fleeing during WW2. I think Germany is mindful of its past and does not wish to be accused of being less than welcoming to refugees.
That may sound very cynical and I expect I will be castigated for it.
However, it does not mean that their present attitude is not good and kind, whatever the reasons behind it.

What bothers me is just how many of these refugees are fit intelligent young men. Who's caring for and protecting all those left behind? Especially when the Moslem religion in those countries says that women shouldn't leave their homes without a male family member with them. How on earth are they managing?

Why should there be any other reason behind Germany being good and kind , if the war has to be dragged into this lets not pretend the British had an open door to refugees

soontobe - I don't want to be unpleasant, honestly but I do struggle to fit your attitude to refugees with your avowed Christianity. Can you help me understand how Christianity fits easily with not offering food and shelter to those in peril? I'm not being naive here and expecting the UK to take all comers but we surely need to take a more compassionate and constructive, never mind humanitarian, approach than has been shown by our government (and some commentators on this thread) to date.

Yes, many of the refugees are fit, intelligent young men. They tend to be the individuals with the wherewithal to get out. I heard one Syrian interviewed on the radio today who managed to gain asylum in the UK and has now been joined by his family. Good news.

Christ was a refugee soon

He was indeed.

But he only had to leave temporarily. 2 years. Not permanent living. If people were only coming for 2 years, and not for generations, and in such huge numbers, different.

Where does it say he was in Egypt until the age if two soon,

I am surprised at your thoughts on these poor refugees

You appear not to take any notice of the beatitudes, soon. There must be at least three of them that apply in this situation.

How many times do you have to be told that huge numbers do not want to come here, soon?
What has happened to your Christianity?