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

It’s completely inappropriate for children to contact or correspond with people they don’t know. If adults wish to welcome people into their community they are free to so even if most people would think it was extremely ill advised.

This Green councillor sounds immature and naive.
Hopefully the young men will just think it's nice that children have sent a card.
Any pedophiles amongst them would be looking out for children whether a card was sent or not.

What sort of Granny puts her grandchildren in this sort of scenario.
Granny knows nothing of these men in the camp; they could be innocent AS's or Economic migrants with any kind of agenda. Highly dangerous ground to plant Valentine cards.
These so-called well meaning, kind people are a menace because they refuse to see the whole picture.
Life is not a sweet fairytale.

Good grief, Allira. Why are people so eager to make children grow up so fast?

I wonder what the parents of these children think? Do they get a say on the matter?

JenniferEccles

Tells you everything you need to know about the Greens.
Shockingly inappropriate.

Yes, I agree

sharon103

JenniferEccles

Tells you everything you need to know about the Greens.
Shockingly inappropriate.

Yes, I agree

Tells me everything I need to know when somebody admires Trump and his strong borders.

Would this woman invite them to stay over in her house with her grandkids I wonder?

sixandahalf

sharon103

JenniferEccles

Tells you everything you need to know about the Greens.
Shockingly inappropriate.

Yes, I agree

Tells me everything I need to know when somebody admires Trump and his strong borders.

An assumption.

Oreo

The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.

As someone who is very welcoming of immigrants who want to make their families lives in the UK, integrate and contribute, I’m really, really struggling to see what the good intentions are, here. Children giving cards representing romantic love to grown men is just wrong on every level.
I wonder whether anyone is questioning this politician’s capacity? If a member of my family suggested this, I’d certainly be doing so.

I imagine the ‘hearts’ are the orange ones, as described in the quotation below from the attached website -

togetherwithrefugees.org.uk/about/

“Orange heart
The orange heart represents compassion for people fleeing war and persecution. Inspired by the refugee nation flag created to mark the participation of the first ever refugee team in the 2016 Olympics, it is the colours of a lifebelt and the heart symbolises hope and kindness. By sharing the heart – whether on your social media, in your windows or on your website - you can show your support for refugees.”

She has six grandchildren and says they painted cards themselves so it seems highly unlikely that they would know about orange hearts or that the recipients will understand what they mean either.

Good try though! 🤣🤣🤣

Orange hearts?
Sounds more like Halloween to me. Those men are going to be very confused by the artwork - be the hearts red, orange or sky blue pink.

A daft and dangerous thing to do.
No child should think it is ok to send romantic cards to men. Just what kind of message is this woman giving to these grandchildren?

The Greens really are a bunch of hippies who don't live in the real world.

Cumbrianmale56

The Greens really are a bunch of hippies who don't live in the real world.

Actually most are very level headed. This might be the exception…probably meant well but misjudged.

Orange heart
The orange heart represents compassion for people fleeing war and persecution. Inspired by the refugee nation flag created to mark the participation of the first ever refugee team in the 2016 Olympics, it is the colours of a lifebelt and the heart symbolises hope and kindness. By sharing the heart – whether on your social media, in your windows or on your website - you can show your support for refugees.”

That makes even more reason for letting them make the cards.and makes even more nonsense of some previous posts.

Well, it is not nonsense because those cards could be sent at any time, but these were delivered on Valentine's Day so confusing messages were being delivered.

Ms Cross announced it at a public meeting and said 'My grandchildren and I painted some Valentine's Cards at the weekend which we are going to be presenting to the men at Crowborough as a welcome.'

Not welcome cards which would be fine.

It was a foolish thing to do.

The MP for that area is herself the daughter of immigrants and she has said that the idea is disturbing.

It is confusing the idea of welcoming people with romantic love.

Fallingstar

A daft and dangerous thing to do.
No child should think it is ok to send romantic cards to men. Just what kind of message is this woman giving to these grandchildren?

Why are you obsessed with these cards being "romantic". Cards are sent for many reasons. Do you think everyone who sends Easter Cards is pushing Christianity or even a Christian themselves or those who send Christmas cards the same. Do you that all the children going from house to house on the eve of All Saints' Day think that's what it's about?

Why are you obsessed with these cards being "romantic"

Because that is the whole concept of St Valentine's Day. Romantic love.

Would I send a Valentine's card to someone who was a friend who moved house on 14th February, who had just retired, who had a birthday?
No, I would send a card appropriate to the occasion.
Would I encourage my very young grandchildren to send Valentine's cards to anyone, especially men they do not know?
No, I would not.

Silly and dippy are the two kindest words I can think of to describe Ms Cross. I expect those in her ward can think of others.

From Together With Refugees X account -
“Happy Valentine's Day from Together With Refugees🧡”.

Although I agree, this may be a confusing message in some people’s eyes, it is intended as an expression of our common humanity. Many of our popular festivals carry multiple messages.

I can’t find any information on whether Councillor Anne Cross’s grandchildren’s cards were linked to the Together With Refugees movement. Maybe she will respond to the criticism.

Allira

^Why are you obsessed with these cards being "romantic"^

Because that is the whole concept of St Valentine's Day. Romantic love.

Would I send a Valentine's card to someone who was a friend who moved house on 14th February, who had just retired, who had a birthday?
No, I would send a card appropriate to the occasion.
Would I encourage my very young grandchildren to send Valentine's cards to anyone, especially men they do not know?
No, I would not.

Silly and dippy are the two kindest words I can think of to describe Ms Cross. I expect those in her ward can think of others.

"Because that is the whole concept of St Valentine's Day. Romantic love." Not any more it isn't. The days of "courtly love" are long gone.

In modern times (especially in countries like the UK, Canada, and the US), Valentine’s Day has broadened to include:

Expressions of affection for friends
Family love (e.g., children giving cards to parents)
“Valentine’s Day” celebrations among friends
General appreciation messages

Because that is the whole concept of St Valentine's Day. Romantic love is historically narrow and socially outdated.

Allira

sixandahalf

sharon103

JenniferEccles

Tells you everything you need to know about the Greens.
Shockingly inappropriate.

Yes, I agree

Tells me everything I need to know when somebody admires Trump and his strong borders.

An assumption.

Absolutely. I assume anybody who admires Trump and his " strong borders" may be a certain type of person.

Just as others here assume Greens are hippies and the person at the centre of this story is a fool.

I'm not sure you can just wipe out romantic love as being socially outdated because many people worldwide still use Valentines Day to express this passion and intensity. Even the most outwardly frigid of souls surprise themselves on Valentines Day!

We are, after all, human beings and to remove romance from our veins, you'd have to remove our hormones, our adrenaline, our neurological responses etc.

Romantic love and the expression thereof, is not relegated to history, it is timeless and universal, and a lasting physical phenomenon. Do a bit of background reading to learn that it not courtly love at all.

Orange hearts can be used every day of the week to express whatever their kind message is all about, but Valentines Day, February 14th, is completely different and its meaning is here to stay.