Today’s Washington Post discusses immigration fears both in the United States and in Europe.
Americans and Europeans share deep concerns about immigration, with a large percentage worrying that it can bring crime and displace workers, even though a majority agree that it does not increase the risk of terrorism, according to an opinion survey sponsored by the German Marshall Fund.
People on both sides of the Atlantic express sharply negative views of illegal immigration, and roughly half of respondents said they think immigration in general is “more of a problem” than an opportunity for their societies. The European nations surveyed were the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Poland and the Netherlands.
“Real anxiety about legal immigration exists, but it is dwarfed by concerns about illegal immigration,” the fund said in a statement yesterday. At least 80 percent of respondents in all surveyed countries called for stronger border controls, and more than 73 percent in all the countries called for tougher sanctions on those who hire illegal immigrants.
This video has been around a few years but it gives an overall synopsis of how many Brits feel immigration to their country. Loss of culture, cost, and granting of asylum when unwarranted seem to be chief beefs. Do we see any similarities between the sentiments expressed here and the ones we see expressed in the United States?
Notice where the Brit ‘escape boat’ is headed.
I will ask my Brit friend to drop by and give his opinion.
Warning: Some may find the accompanying video offensive.
Funny how the Brits had no problem with immigration when it was they who were invading, colonizing, and systematically displacing indigenous peoples.
I would think Americans with our history should be more tolerant than Brits.
I dont think we have such a perfect track record, NGL. We have some Indian Wars, Japanese interment, and slavery as a blight on the old national conscience. Did I leave out Salem witch trials and women not voting unti 1921?
FREDERICK COUNTY
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/18/metro-briefs/print/
*Five arrested; cocaine recovered
A weekend drug raid resulted in the seizing of 2 1/4 pounds of cocaine and the arrest of five men on drug charges, according to the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies made the arrest Friday night after getting a tip about a cocaine-distribution ring. The tip led them to a pickup truck and a sport utility vehicle at a McDonald’s parking lot near New Market. Cpl. Jennifer Bailey says the deputies stopped the vehicles on Interstate 70 for traffic violations and found the drugs in three packages inside the pickup.
Four of the subjects are from the Manassas , Va. , area and the fifth is from Glen Burnie . Cpl. Bailey says two of the men are illegal immigrants from Mexico , who will face deportation proceedings after the criminal cases are resolved.
Well the shift from them to we is an interesting one, M-H, from Brits to Americans. I always thought what set us apart had to do with that poem at the base of the Statue of Liberty. After all, without immigration (and the Native Americans) we’d still be Brits!
John Kennedy was right when he observed “people vote with their feet”. The time
to really worry is when thousands of Americans risk their lives to fee to Haiti
or Mexico. America isn’t perfect and never has been, but it is far better than
most anything else out there – every immigrant here underlines that fact.
Pray tell Moon-howler, where is the perfect country and why doesn’t everyone
go there instead or here?
The economic war is underway……. We have no idea what this will do to all of us.
Poor Richard, there isn’t one. I just didn’t want to pick on UK. It’s easy for us to take the high road when I am not so sure it is ours to take.
I think where you go depends on your location and what your needs are. Obviously, Great Britain, Canada, and the United States have much going for themselves, otherwise, there would not be the motivation to go there.
Juturna, you are correct and it is very scary. It could be devastating. We just don’t know. Just thinking about a redistribution with the entire auto industry is overwhelming.
Problems in Sweden.
Sweden has a population of a little over 9 million, yet it has about 80,000 Iraqi refugees. The town of Sodertalje, near Stockholm. with a population of 80,000 has ca 5500 Iraqis living there. It is a problem. The government is trying to avoid ghettos to form, but that’s difficult.
Sweden is also getting many refugees from the poor Baltic countries and Bosnia plus Somalia. I’ve been told the Somalis are the most difficult to deal with.
Sweden has finally realized that it has been way too welcoming to refugees. It’s bending under the expense of all the welfare that’s given to them and qualifications are tightening considerably. As always, the natives are getting restless and in Malmo in the south, where the largest group of Muslims is living, there have been riots – not as bad as those in France – but bad.
My god info. Isn’t it sad how American culture can so corrupt immigrant that they become outlaws like this?
I’m sure the basis of your post was founded on the inherently racist assumption that immigrants are genetically predisposed to criminality. However, there’s no reason to assume that it wasn’t exposure to American culture that was the problem here. Funny how that never occurred to you?
It’s always someone else’s fault isn’t it Mackie. BS, each person, no matter what country they’re from, is responsible for their own actions. The sooner people place the blame in the correct area the better. Another nanny-state supporter I see.
“Your comment is awaiting moderation”
What does that mean? It’s in here already. No comprende!
Punchak, welcome. It means that the first time you comment your post has to be approved by administration. Once that happens, you are good to go.
I might be totally wrong on this, but my understanding is that many european countries have allowed various ethnic civil laws to exist side by side with that countries own laws. Divorce law, and other social laws muddle the works.
The United States has not caved into this habit. The United States Law or state law is the law. Is this when I shrilly shriek, Rule of Law, Rule of Law.
A NYT article, Britain Grapples with Role for Islamic Justice, explains how European countries have perhaps gone too far in being inclusive of other customs.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/world/europe/19shariah.html?_r=1&th&emc=th