I write to complain in the strongest terms possible about last night's „Immigration: The Inconvenient Truth” documentary shown on Channel 4. In opinion of Polish people living in UK, this documentary programme was irresponsible, poorly researched and casted aspersion on Poles.
As any kind of racial intolerance in UK is illegal, broadcasting such programmes clearly encourage Britons to racial abuse. There has been several incidents of racial character where we were the victims including a murder based on nationality and violent attacks. This sort of thing happens quite regularly and we are fed up with making complaints about stereotypical comments about us in words that we find racist or offensive. Furthermore, the programme was not telling the truth, and I strongly believe it will make things worse and as such will not help with integration of immigrants.
I think it is a great shame on british television.
We all know the truth. I think that majority of people complaining about immigrants are unemployed because they choose to live like that.
Everybody knows that if you want, there are dozens of institutions that can help with finding job moreover they even paying for education and courses.
So saying that Poles came to Britain and are taking peoples jobs is a misunderstanding. It is a good reason to start a public debate and find out if the issue really exists. In my opinion hard working Poles are paying taxes for those living of benefits for all they lives and we shouldn't judge them because of a few accidentally happened events.
Frankly I’m disappointed to read in this thread that yet again the law’s of this country namely the race relations act and the anti-discrimination legislation has been interpreted in a way that would advantage one group over another in an attempt to prevent reasoned debate and to silence the personal opinion of members of the communities living or working in this country that the dispatches program has tried to represent. Before you label me a racist read on.
None of us have the right to say that we own this country we all or at least our ancestors migrated here from other shores.
This government is removing interpreter services in an attempt to force integration it just will not happen! Take a look around the world there are British communities in most countries who live together in small pockets just as those who migrate here do. What is I feel wrong is the way that local authorities are providing services specifically for one group of migrants over another, in many local authorities services for Asian communities are provided by or specifically for Asians, I do not see services developed in the same way for other groups, why is this? This encourages segregation and promotes tension.
We as a country cannot afford financially to produce services specifically aimed at each group and what is wrong with the services already available to all regardless of colour, race, religion or culture.
With regards to Mr. Powell’s speech have you listened to it all the way through or did you stop when for you it became uncomfortable. Mr. Powell in the first instance was carrying out his duty to his constituents and voicing their concerns, he was also expressing the importance of the family within all backgrounds. In the latter part of the speech he recites a letter from an elderly widow who had lived all her married life and into old age in the same place. She could have I agree let her rooms to the people that where moving into her community but out of fear did not. Did anyone from the ethnic community attempt to reassure her put out the hand of friendship, No instead the children taunted her and called her racist heightening her fear. May be as a way of giving her a way out the people who offered to buy her property. But what they didn’t do is try to include her.
We will only break down barriers if we are prepared to offer the hand of friendship or of understanding and by seeing the others perspective.
We now talk of banning religious studies in school, I would ask why? I learned to accept those of other faiths and understand other cultures because we discussed and debated them at school. Lack of understanding breads division and fear.
On the subject of British culture here is a simple example; Sunday when I was a lad the shops where closed, and this was a day for the family when parents spent time with their children, at dinner, at play, on the streets, in parks, climbing trees and learning from the life experiences of our parents and grandparents. Today unfortunately many parents on Sundays spend time with their kids at shopping centres or leave them to fend for themselves while they go shopping, I wonder where this all began! Where, where you today and where are the kids.
During the last word cup many flew the George cross from their cars and windows (an expression of patriotism and of pride in this country) many of us where told not asked to remove the flags because we may offend those of other cultures. Yet even today when those who have come here from afar have a grievance they are without retribution allowed to fly their national flag. I’m not suggesting that this should not be the case. But maybe just maybe we should accept that this country has its own traditions and culture which should be respected by those who come here after all wasn’t it this that attracted you here in the first place.
Like it or not British culture is being diminished and please don’t talk about rights when in Rome we do as the Romans Do, and respect the culture of that country we do not attempt to change it or prevent debate about things that concern us. What are you afraid of?
Hi Arek, I remember seeing at least one from Zimbabwe, and it was only the first episode. I will be watching again on Monday. The debate needs to be had and people need to feel that they are able to have their say not just on this subject but on many others without the political correctness Police trying to put gags on us all. The only way to find a solution upon which there is a general concensus is to have the debate.
I did not see the programme but am I right in saying that certain Eastern European Countries get all the tax that they paid while in England, refunded on showing their P60 on return to their homeland?
Be Yourself Coz Those Who Mind Don't Matter and Those Who Matter Don't Mind.
just as a matter of interest, a Friend of mine has set up her own business and put in for a Goverment business start up grant. Bear in mind, she is English born and bred and paid taxes and stamp all her working life..guess what she was told? SHE DOES NOT FIT THE CRITERIA!!How do you think that makes her feel?Her Neighbour who came over here 2 years ago and claimed political asylum has set up her own business and put in for a goverment business start up grant and guess what? SHE FITTED THE CRITERIA!! and got the grant. I rest my case
Be Yourself Coz Those Who Mind Don't Matter and Those Who Matter Don't Mind.
hi, bagel queen, first of all I'm glad you found your cat. On the subject of your friend and the grant situation, we have no way of knowing if ethnic origin was indeed part of the criteria for the grant. Real or percieved however this is exactly the kind of thing that needs to be debated openly along with percieved preferential treatment in social housing and many other issues. The government is constantly banging on about transparency but isn't always seen to practice what it preaches. It is the local authority that decides on grant allocation has your friend asked for a copy of the criteria and details of which bit of the criteria she didn't meet.
Thank you Rich and btw Little Lost Cat is my name for a poster on here lol! we leave messages in community for it hehe. Yes I will ask my Friend,I have no objection with people coming over from other Countries and wanting a better life but what I do object to is the way the Goverment is not putting the needs of our own people first.I do not blame Immigrants in anyway because at the end of the day, they are not the desicion makers, the Goverment are. I used to have an Employment Agency and there are some English people who would be worse off if they came off their benefits, especially if they have children, so I am looking at both sides of the coin here. Sorry I did not get back sooner, I have been working all day..
Be Yourself Coz Those Who Mind Don't Matter and Those Who Matter Don't Mind.
Hi Begel Queen, I also have been hard at work today. I do agree that the government has very badly let us down. I also have no problem with immigration. I do feel though that our culture and traditions are being erroded, and that our laws are mis-quoted by some in an attempt to remove our right to freedom of speach or to advantage one group over another.
I am British and proud of our culture, traditions and heritige so why should we be made to feel that this is wrong?
I know what you mean Rich..its as though we can not have freedom of speech without being accused of saying it in the wrong context, which I must admit, does not stand in my way if I feel the need to voice my opinion, as long as I show respect, but unfortunately it is others attitudes that automatically assume that they are being attacked, when all most people are doing is voicing what others fear to say. Are you new to the forum, or have you had another user name before?
Be Yourself Coz Those Who Mind Don't Matter and Those Who Matter Don't Mind.
I am new to this, I joined last monday after the progam on imigration. I looked in only to see what reaction the progam had provoked, but when I saw what I had expected to see couldn't help but add my opinion.
Originally posted by Rich1: I am new to this, I joined last monday after the progam on imigration. I looked in only to see what reaction the progam had provoked, but when I saw what I had expected to see couldn't help but add my opinion.
aww welcome to the forum! I mostly go on General and the rhyme thread in Off Topic..I love rhymes lol! But immigration is very close to my heart because I really do think its down to this Goverment and the pickings they have on offer for say, a Family living in a Country and being persecuted. I know that if I was in their position I would do the same, especially if I had children to think of and knew that there was another Country who would pay ME for being there..it is too good to miss. This Country is being taken over and Enlish is becoming a second language
Be Yourself Coz Those Who Mind Don't Matter and Those Who Matter Don't Mind.
I will be watching dispatches tonight, and will probaly tape meet the migrants on the beeb (I need the beauty sleep). and I agree, I would come here too if I were in their position, I have and do occasionally still work with mirants, as I have said before I don't have a problem with them.
Originally posted by Rich1: I will be watching dispatches tonight, and will probaly tape meet the migrants on the beeb (I need the beauty sleep). and I agree, I would come here too if I were in their position, I have and do occasionally still work with mirants, as I have said before I don't have a problem with them.
oh well if I do fall asleep I will read your posts tomorrow if you post after programme. I have to be up at 0500 tomorrow so had better get some beauty sleep myself and yes! I do need it haha..bye for now
Be Yourself Coz Those Who Mind Don't Matter and Those Who Matter Don't Mind.
As long as those people who come over here to settle down etc respect our cultural heritage & embrace the ethos of freedom which we have nurtured here, then, there does not seem any problem exist. However, some people who have come here seem to think that their cultures & values are "superior" to our own which is not quite right in my mind. It was totally wrong that the British Empire imposed our values etc upon peoples of different cultures/values in their own lands that it is also wrong of those people who come & settle down to impose their cultural values etc upon our society.
It seems that there are many "immigrant" people who are not so educated, regardless of their racial groups or nationalities. They appear to be of the lower classes of their own countries & they appear to be prone to cause some public disturbances because of their lack of education etc. This also applies to our own white people who are of that station.
Whatever race or nationaly it may be, as long as a person is educated & has a greater degree of "common sense", then s/he should be welcomed into our society, however, when that person is so ignorant & socially disturbing, then, maybe, we should reject his/her entry.
General Public Opinion I have to agree with the first paragraph or opening statement of your contribution. However On what evidence do you base your last two paragraphs? in my own experience we the British make the asumption that people are uneducated because we don't understand or cannot make ourselves understood. an example of this is the migrant who came here to work in an engineering firm and was given a job as a labourer when he asked his forman for a more responsible job, his forman assumed because of his broken language that the migrant was unskilled and uneducated he gave him a brush and told him to sweep the shop floor. In fact the migrant was a skilled and qualified engineer and in his counry of origin was a lecturer in engineering. I am glad to say that a few years on the migrant has settled, he is now once again a lecturer, respects our culture and sees those in his home land as forigners, this is real integration.
Originally posted by Rich1: Frankly I’m disappointed to read in this thread that yet again the law’s of this country namely the race relations act and the anti-discrimination legislation has been interpreted in a way that would advantage one group over another in an attempt to prevent reasoned debate and to silence the personal opinion of members of the communities living or working in this country that the dispatches program has tried to represent. Before you label me a racist read on.
None of us have the right to say that we own this country we all or at least our ancestors migrated here from other shores.
This government is removing interpreter services in an attempt to force integration it just will not happen! Take a look around the world there are British communities in most countries who live together in small pockets just as those who migrate here do. What is I feel wrong is the way that local authorities are providing services specifically for one group of migrants over another, in many local authorities services for Asian communities are provided by or specifically for Asians, I do not see services developed in the same way for other groups, why is this? This encourages segregation and promotes tension.
We as a country cannot afford financially to produce services specifically aimed at each group and what is wrong with the services already available to all regardless of colour, race, religion or culture.
With regards to Mr. Powell’s speech have you listened to it all the way through or did you stop when for you it became uncomfortable. Mr. Powell in the first instance was carrying out his duty to his constituents and voicing their concerns, he was also expressing the importance of the family within all backgrounds. In the latter part of the speech he recites a letter from an elderly widow who had lived all her married life and into old age in the same place. She could have I agree let her rooms to the people that where moving into her community but out of fear did not. Did anyone from the ethnic community attempt to reassure her put out the hand of friendship, No instead the children taunted her and called her racist heightening her fear. May be as a way of giving her a way out the people who offered to buy her property. But what they didn’t do is try to include her.
We will only break down barriers if we are prepared to offer the hand of friendship or of understanding and by seeing the others perspective.
We now talk of banning religious studies in school, I would ask why? I learned to accept those of other faiths and understand other cultures because we discussed and debated them at school. Lack of understanding breads division and fear.
On the subject of British culture here is a simple example; Sunday when I was a lad the shops where closed, and this was a day for the family when parents spent time with their children, at dinner, at play, on the streets, in parks, climbing trees and learning from the life experiences of our parents and grandparents. Today unfortunately many parents on Sundays spend time with their kids at shopping centres or leave them to fend for themselves while they go shopping, I wonder where this all began! Where, where you today and where are the kids.
During the last word cup many flew the George cross from their cars and windows (an expression of patriotism and of pride in this country) many of us where told not asked to remove the flags because we may offend those of other cultures. Yet even today when those who have come here from afar have a
