Green councillor gets grandkids to send Valentine cards to immigrants at Crowburgh

Allira

^Never mind the Valentine card and its mixed message maybe some instruction, is there ever any? about how to behave in a respectful way around host communities^

I suggested that on another thread but it was not well received!
As well as English language lessons, some lessons in the cultures and norms of the country which they hope will become home would be a good idea for them and for the wider population too.

Perhaps this Councillor could set about arranging that instead, rather than sending them the wrong message.

Who would teach the "respectful behaviour"? Those who don't apply the same rules to themselves?

It's 'kind' to send valentines cards from children, it's kind to let children be their 'true selves', it's kind to let people buy children so they can be parents, it's kind to let men into women spaces, and on and on. Many awful things are done under the mantra 'be kind'.

DaisyAnneReturns

Allira

Never mind the Valentine card and its mixed message maybe some instruction, is there ever any? about how to behave in a respectful way around host communities

I suggested that on another thread but it was not well received!
As well as English language lessons, some lessons in the cultures and norms of the country which they hope will become home would be a good idea for them and for the wider population too.

Perhaps this Councillor could set about arranging that instead, rather than sending them the wrong message.

Who would teach the "respectful behaviour"? Those who don't apply the same rules to themselves?

You're putting words into my mouth which I did not say DAR
(Not for the first time.)

I said cultures and norms.

respectful, then, if that is what you think is appropriate

Syracute am I right in saying you are in the US ? If so you are fortunate enough to have a President who has been successful in securing your country’s borders, unlike here in the UK.

I would like to see this Valentine’s story given the maximum possible publicity to enable people to see just what the Green Party stands for.

JenniferEccles

Syracute am I right in saying you are in the US ? If so you are fortunate enough to have a President who has been successful in securing your country’s borders, unlike here in the UK.

I would like to see this Valentine’s story given the maximum possible publicity to enable people to see just what the Green Party stands for.

And who chucks people in detention centres, lying on bare concrete with many others in a room then deports them in chains for misunderstanding the rules, as happened to a young Welsh girl.

JenniferEccles

Syracute am I right in saying you are in the US ? If so you are fortunate enough to have a President who has been successful in securing your country’s borders, unlike here in the UK.

I would like to see this Valentine’s story given the maximum possible publicity to enable people to see just what the Green Party stands for.

There is a middle way, a civilised way, neither as daft as this Green Councillor sending wrong, possibly dangerous messages, nor people being treated brutally.

Allira

DaisyAnneReturns

Allira

Never mind the Valentine card and its mixed message maybe some instruction, is there ever any? about how to behave in a respectful way around host communities

I suggested that on another thread but it was not well received!
As well as English language lessons, some lessons in the cultures and norms of the country which they hope will become home would be a good idea for them and for the wider population too.

Perhaps this Councillor could set about arranging that instead, rather than sending them the wrong message.

Who would teach the "respectful behaviour"? Those who don't apply the same rules to themselves?

You're putting words into my mouth which I did not say DAR
(Not for the first time.)

I said cultures and norms.

respectful, then, if that is what you think is appropriate

I did not put words in your mouth. In fact you quoted your own post with those words while telling me I was misquoting - unless that was you quoting someone else while not attributing it?

Galaxy

It's 'kind' to send valentines cards from children, it's kind to let children be their 'true selves', it's kind to let people buy children so they can be parents, it's kind to let men into women spaces, and on and on. Many awful things are done under the mantra 'be kind'.

That explains nothing. Direct cause and effect is needed to explain.

DaisyAnneReturns

Whitewavemark2

The most sensible thing to have done, is to send a card of welcome, and not associated it with St Valentine.

Welcoming people in distress, poverty and homelessness is rather a kind thing to do I think.

At least we have not yet gone down the USA road of modern day concentration camps. Listening to an Irish person who has spent the last 5-6 months in one of these camps, the conditions are horrendous, they do not have enough to eat, no access to fresh air or outside and kept in a single room, - tinies are being kept in a “baby jail”

Let us pray that we never get to that stage, although frankly I’m not holding my breath.

Some comments on this thread are notably unpleasant, and rude.

I saw the descriptions from the Irish man Whitewave. I think it would be unwise to think it couldn't happen hear under certain conditions. I'm afraid threads such as this shatter my belief in reasoned thinking.

In any online forum, it's vital that we maintain a space where thoughtful, respectful, and constructive dialogue can take place. We come together to discuss a wide range of issues, some of which can be sensitive or polarising.

Unfounded accusations, exaggerated and inflammatory language, disrespecting people or groups, inciting fear or division should surely not be part of our conversations.

Exactly so.

We see so much rhetoric, that 10 years ago would have been totally unacceptable.

Our society and it’s acceptable norms are degenerating.

I don't know how to explain it to you any more. Often under the guise of kindness people do things which compromise safeguarding.
I am sure this woman thinks she is being kind, compassionate whatever.

Galaxy

I don't know how to explain it to you any more. Often under the guise of kindness people do things which compromise safeguarding.
I am sure this woman thinks she is being kind, compassionate whatever.

What I am asking for is examples - at the moment all I have is your opinion.

Witzend

Yet another reason not to vote Green. But I wish I didn’t feel, the need to say this, or to feel that Greens often have lunatic ideas.

It needs saying tho.The Greens would do far more harm to the UK than Reform ever would.Not that either of those would be in power by themselves, it would be Labour and Greens , possibly with Lib Dems, or more likely Reform and Conservatives sharing power.

Allira

^Never mind the Valentine card and its mixed message maybe some instruction, is there ever any? about how to behave in a respectful way around host communities^

I suggested that on another thread but it was not well received!
As well as English language lessons, some lessons in the cultures and norms of the country which they hope will become home would be a good idea for them and for the wider population too.

Perhaps this Councillor could set about arranging that instead, rather than sending them the wrong message.

These are really good ideas but it’s the Home Office who would have to arrange them surely. The right wing press would then have a field day fulminating about tax payers money being spent on ‘men of fighting age’ .

The motive behind the sending of Valentine's cards was kindly meant but not appropriate.
Unfortunately these days people think pedophiles are lurking everywhere which is understandable because of Epstein and grooming gangs which makes the sending of the cards feel unsafe.

Whitewavemark2

Galaxy

I don't know how to explain it to you any more. Often under the guise of kindness people do things which compromise safeguarding.
I am sure this woman thinks she is being kind, compassionate whatever.

What I am asking for is examples - at the moment all I have is your opinion.

Well what do you think the Green councillor meant? All we have are opinions, you don’t seriously think posters can pull things out of their hats like rabbits do you?
I can’t immediately give examples but we can all google them can’t we?
The family judge that grants custody of a child to an abusive Father or dangerously addicted Mother, the prison panel who give the benefit of the doubt to a rapist and allow him out and so on.

The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.

Reply to TerriBull Sat 14-Feb-26 11:37:08

The use of terms like “useful idiots” and the broad generalizations about immigrants or asylum seekers create a narrative that fosters division rather than understanding. While it’s true that safeguarding children and ensuring community safety is essential, we should not assume criminal intent based on immigration status alone. I'm sure some grannies are criminal but we don't tar all grannies with the same brush!

It’s important to recognize that immigrants are not a monolithic group, and many have already been exposed to values and social dynamics similar to those in Western societies. Rather than using fear-based rhetoric, we should focus on effective policies that protect all citizens, regardless of origin.

Finally, while it's crucial to acknowledge the concerns of the local community, using isolated criminal cases to justify sweeping generalizations about an entire group of people is both unhelpful and unfair. Data-driven approaches, coupled with meaningful community dialogue, can help reduce tensions and create safer, more cohesive communities for everyone.

Some people seem to see Valentine's cards very differently from how I do. Many children make them for family members, and I always thought of them as a way to show love rather than anything sexual. It seems that for some, Valentine's Day takes on a more complex meaning.

There are distinct cultural differences between where many of these men have emanated from that have played out adversely towards women, not only here but in mainland Europe.

Incidentally, the argument from the "Be kind" fraternity, I've never seen those thoughts extended to the victims who have been assaulted, raped or in worst case scenarios murdered. These incidents are never factored in.

JenniferEccles

Syracute am I right in saying you are in the US ? If so you are fortunate enough to have a President who has been successful in securing your country’s borders, unlike here in the UK.

I would like to see this Valentine’s story given the maximum possible publicity to enable people to see just what the Green Party stands for.

I cannot believe I'm reading that. I apologise on behalf of those in my country who would not agree Syracute. You have to live in the USA; the poster does not.

The green party haven't had a lot of scrutiny, I hope that changes, sunlight is a good thing.

Trump, successful?

What a pity he has had people killed along the way.

No worries.

Valentine cards are not new, they've been with us for ages in the context of our culture we understand the nuances that they are, or can be ambiguous in their message or misleading in their intention, as in Thomas Hardy's, 19th century, Far from the Madding Crowd, exemplified by Bathsheba Everdene's explicit message to Farmer Bowood with tragic consequences.

Children may well be encouraged to write them to family members, that's just a way of making them feel included, it's not their original or actual purpose though which is one of a romantic intention whether serious or quite frivolous and open to interpretation.

TerriBull

There are distinct cultural differences between where many of these men have emanated from that have played out adversely towards women, not only here but in mainland Europe.

Incidentally, the argument from the "Be kind" fraternity, I've never seen those thoughts extended to the victims who have been assaulted, raped or in worst case scenarios murdered. These incidents are never factored in.

I’ve lived in many places as a young girl, and I’ve never been treated with disrespect by those who considered it their home. The only instances where I felt disrespected came from a very wealthy Arabic Sheikh—whose behavior was more about his wealth than his culture—and from public school boys, who carried that sense of entitlement. I'm stunned that you don't see this is part of our culture too. That sense of entitlement is just as common in America and other European countries as it is here.

Culture can vary greatly from region to region—east to west, north to south—and if you’re raised wholly within one, it can be hard to feel at ease in another. But, at the end of the day, we’re not so different from people in other countries. We all have our issues, but they’re not rooted in any one culture.

Galaxy

I don't know how to explain it to you any more. Often under the guise of kindness people do things which compromise safeguarding.
I am sure this woman thinks she is being kind, compassionate whatever.

And you really think that everyone we try to help is bad and everyone else is good?

No, because that isn't what I said.