Me, Racist?
My four grandparents were English, Irish Scotish and Welsh. My Welsh, sheep farming Grandfather was the son of a German. My English Grandmother was the daughter of a French woman, while her grandfather was an Italian. My Irish Grandfathers father was born a Romani.
When the Fair comes to town, my children (and grandchildren) still get free rides, due to the family relationship, (even after all these generations). I know a group of travellers that return to Essex every summer. They have a small plot of land (on long term lease from the church). They carry out work such as mending stone walls, maintaining hedges, sharpening lawnmowers and garden shears. They are welcomed by the local community and their neighbours even maintain the site for them, in their absense.
Like it or not, though, there are groups of "travellers" that use criminal activities as their sole means of income. They rely on the fact that, our police do not hold people in custody for minor offences. Being of "no fixed abode", there is no point prosecuting them. They simply wouldn't turn up for a court case.
My personal friends hail from nationalities including, Spanish, American, Israeli, Arab, Morocan, Indian, Pakistani, Chinese, West Indian, Serb, Croat, Greek and Turkish. I'm not particularly well travelled, just par for the course, being brought up and working, in and around the East London and the home counties.
On the issue of Assylum seekers, the way our government deals with them is a big part of the problem. Did you know that Assylum seekers are not allowed to work during the first six months of their occupation of this country. Furthermore, the state handouts they get (contrary to popular belief) is pittiful. Most assylum seekers I have known would be more than happy, to do the most menial of jobs, to earn their keep. In fact, most end up doing "cash in hand" work, just to make ends meet. Any system that stigmatises someone, for earning a living has got to have some serious flaws, don't you think?
Unfortunately, on the other side of the coin, I have also known several "Assylum seekers" that play the system for everything it is worth. They have a busy schedule, visiting a different Job Centre, each day, with a different name for each of them. Excuse me if I find this repulsive.
As a suggestion, what would be the problem with allowing (even compelling) assylum seekers to take on menial jobs, while their application is being dealt with. It would reduce the burden on our tax payers, reduce the power that vice rings have over their victims, and maybe even reduce muggings in areas such as Folkstone and Dover. Furthermore, it would reduce the animosity directed towards them. Coming over here to play the system, would also become a pointless exercise. (No point having five names, if it means doing five full time jobs).
We obviously have a problem with our image. Some foreigners see us as the land of milk and honey. You have to wonder, why would someone with such limited means, want to traverse the whole of Europe to arrive here, when Poland, Austria and Germany, are all right on their doorstep. Come to think of it, Romanis on Aeroplanes?
Slightly off thread:
A few years back, one of my mates (a college lecturer) was called into the faculty office to be confronted by two policemen. They had arrived as a complaint was made, that he had discriminated against a Pakistani, by not allowing him onto a course. The ligitimate reason was that there were no places left. The complaint was dropped as, my mate, is Pakistani. (can't tell from his accent over the phone though, it's broad cockney).
Another of my mates (a Spaniard by birth) was recently reprimanded for referring to the "Blackboard". Yeah, OK, so it should have been a Chalk board, but, for Pete's sake, how on earth can anyone find this offensive enough to make an official complaint. Ironically, his audience were all student mental health nurses. They're going to have to toughen up a bit if they are going to survive in their chosen occupation. As it happens, he sometimes calls me "white trash" while I call him "a greasy dego", in light hearted banter. Just as well we're best of buddies eh?
