Cannot believe this bigotry

WilmaKF- yes I remember a story about asylum seekers not being allowed to use the local swimming pool, in one of the very traditional conservative parts of central Switzerland. Not sure what the situation is now- but there was an outrage, that is for sure. We have a couple of asylum seekers centres near us, and this is certainly not the case. They go as they please, and the reaction of the poplulation is generally positive- although some people are very anti- as in the UK. We live in a rural part of Switzerland which has never experienced immigration from other parts of the world than Southern Europe, and different races- until very recently. Unlike FRance and the UK due to Colionalism.

If only they would understand jingle , poor little mite

OMG. Bloody bloody world.

I suppose when you think about it ( and I don't think this excuses them) if you are on the housing list and are living in crap accommodation you may well be cheesed off if someone walks in and takes a house. The trouble is like so much in this world the poor are the ones who pay/are inconvenienced every time. The wealthy are untouched ( yet again).

perhaps if they read things like this they might understand.

Yes rosequartz me I have been to Cheltenham , one of my favourite cities is Chester but I don't stay overnight, there was talk in June that the law which allows shooting a Welshman with a bow and arrow in Chester after midnight is to be abolished

I'm not sure it's 'bigotry'. It's probably quite understandable. No one thinks this refugee problem is going to be easy.

I agree too, blinko. If there is a social housing shortage in Aberdeen (and I've read a couple of newspaper articles saying there is a severe shortage), I'm not sure it's bigotry for people who are on a long waiting list to feel not altogether happy about refugees possibly pushing them even further down the list. I think that kind of fear, unless properly addressed (not easy) is actually reasonable and I don't think it's fair to call people bigots when they express such fears, even if their fears are unfounded. If they don't know their fears are unfounded the fears will not be dispelled.

My Mum lives in a small town on the west coast of Scotland and there's always a quick response to what ever crisis is in the news. I think schools and churches there are quick off the mark too, pooling their efforts.

No, I haven't, but you catch my drift....

I didn't say that at all anniebach that it is only church groups that would help. TWG, WI are not church groups. People in small towns are often those that swing into action when help is needed.

Ps have you ever been to Cheltenham?

Sadly my two friends would say "Yeah, well..." and look away from me. I don't like seeing this attitude in them, but they've always been like that and it doesn't define them as my friends. In other ways they are kind and always helping others. But if the person isn't white and British that's a different matter. Charity begins at home is a fitting saying for them and so many others.

Compassion is a much undervalued emotion.

Its so interesting reading all the views regarding bigotry re the Syrian refugees. I suppose it is natural to feel strongly about what might affect us personally.

I just keep going back to the awful situation the Syrians find themselves in. I cannot imagine what it must be like in places like Aleppo and Damascus. I am astonished by the bravery of people who walk miles with their families, including the elderly and babies, and dare to risk their lives on flimsy dinghies to escape the Assad regime and ISIS. And the young men fleeing conscription - what would we do in their position I wonder? As for the refugee camps in Lebanon and other surrounding countries, which of us would want to live in places like those?

granjura I remember reading that in some parts of Switzerland asylum seekers were being restricted to certain areas and not able to mix with local people. Is this still happening?

I've lived in Warwickshire for almost 30 years and last week the local paper had an article on a refugee family settling in the area. My problem with this is we're in North Warwickshire - the old mining industry part - and my perception is the local community is not tolerant of immigrants. We have marches in the town by the far right parties and their candidates in local elections too. They don't get elected, but they don't lose their deposits either. Two of my close friends are bigots (their partners too). The prevailing attitude is we can't house our own people and refugees should stay in the country they first arrive in because they're only coming here because of the benefits system.

My first thought when I read the article was the poor family will be a target.

Blinko, and there we totally agree. Complicated it certainly is, and fear is certainly part of the reaction of some too.

As much as we feel and empathize with many of the refugees, especially te families with children- it is clear that the UK, nor Switzerland (which has a very high % of immigrants) - can abosorb all the miseries of the world - even if colonialism and war for petrol and other minerals have caused much of it.

Greyduster I don't think Cheltenham is quite as middle class as you think. I recently got lost in a huge council estate which didn't look like many of the houses were privately owned. It was a surprise to me!

granjura during the Ugandan crisis we lived less than an hour from the airport those people were flying into and we offered to take in a family. We were instantly rebuffed with no questions asked. I have often wondered why.

My view is that it all depends on each individual's experience of the migrants who come to any country.
SPF

rosewuartz, the government are to decide where the refugees live not the church groups , surprised you think aid to the refugees is only for church groups to give , I see it a human crisis

May not be bigotry pure and simple. It's a difficult one to unpick, but I do think that bigotry is rooted in fear. There's the threat of IS infiltration in all this. Then there's the problem of processing so many people, and down the line, the issue of integration when they get here. It's complicated, that's all I'm saying.

The only 'mass' immigration I've ever 'experienced', from a short distance however, was the of the Ugandan Asians expelled by Idi Amin. There was outrage from many people when they arrived in Leicester. I remember the Council's decision to bus some of the newly arrived children to the suburbs for schooling, to avoid a concentration in inner city schools. Many people were so much up in arms, they took their children out of the local schools and sent them to private schools instead- to keep them apart.

They settled in the old Victorian and Edwardian terrassed streets which were falling apart- and did them all up- then moved further out to the slightly large homes, and so on. Many of them now have massive homes, some of them have been given the Colonnial look (oh the irony) large wrought iron fences with golden tips and porch and colonnades- big business men, lawyers, surgeons, GPs. They needed help at first, then have brought massive wealth to that city.

Within a few years, many of their kids joined the others at those private schools... and were queuing to ask for private health care, etc. It was ... very interesting to see this develop. Some will argue it has changed Leicester for the better, some will not.

I have no idea, anniebach.

I am sure the WI, TWG, church groups etc would be rushing to help them if they were sent to where you call 'middle England'.
though, middle England is further north to me, more Birmingham, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Leicestershire and round there.

We are living in extraordinary times and we must behave more generously than our present government is allowing. Our behaviour is quite shameful in the face of such human stress and tragedy.
I am somewhat ambivalent however of the fact that 80% of Syrian/afghan immigrants we have so far received (though in fact only about 200) have been sent to Bradford.
And whereas the majority Muslim community there are very welcoming a spread of immigrants across the land would be fairer and safer for community cohesion. Other councils and authorities must make firmer offers of support and not just leave it to Bradford.
My stated ambivalence rises from the feeling which may be wrong that maybe these new Muslim migrants will be good for Bradford as they are different from the predominately Pakistani Muslims and will perhaps broaden the faith which can be somewhat fundamental there. Flee-ers from da'esh and Assad meeting those that wish to join them?
Whatever we must take in across the whole section, the able as well as the dependants. Giving the whole families a chance to thrive. I feel that the high moral ground that Cameron is claiming by saying only the most vulnerable will be taken from the camps over 5 years is half hearted and not sustainable. Give the young and strong a chance to thrive.

Mamark, have you every spoken to people who came here on the Windrush? they met with racism I assure you. To ring an estate agent enquiring about properties only to be told sorry it's sold yet a British person ring later in the day and an appointment to view in arranged . To look for lodgings but see signs in windows - no Irish, no blacks, no dogs. Not racism ?

Rosequartz, Middle England to me is the Cotswolds, Oxfordshire, the affluent parts of England , I hope you will tell me refugees will be living there