to ask how people who are anti-immigration feel when they hear about migrant boating disasters?

[alma123]

Question sums it up really.

[IamSlave]

"mis" understanding of the issue

[NK493efc93X1277dd3d6d4]

There's an idea. Just allow everyone who wants to come to walk in unchecked and then nobody else would die in trying to do so illegaly. Perhaps lay on free transport to ensure only safe means of travel are used.

[Bananagio]

Don't think anyone is suggesting anything like that NK and it is a pretty ignorant, simplistic and offensive remark to make when half the bodies haven't even been found yet. Italy is having a day of mourning today. Granted some of our lunatic MPs in the Lega Nord are already trying to make political capital out of it but that is only to be expected by them. Everyone else here on all sides of the political spectrum are just recognising it for the human tragedy it is and are pleading for EU help to stop this "massacre of the innocents" as the President of Italy has described it. It is really not often that I look at the governing powers that be in Italy and feel they are taking the high ground over the UK et al, indeed I have spent most of this week despairing of them, but as I continue to be deafened by the silence of the response of William Hague regarding this latest disaster that is certainly the case today!

[CuChullain]

Everyone knows why they try to get here, but it's difficult to see how we can stop this kind of thing happening. Aid is irrelevant to this. It's important, but no reasonable amount of aid is going to lift Somalia and Eritrea up to European living standards - so they will keep coming.

So how do we prevent these deaths? Italy already spends a lot of money trying to rescue people from sinking boats. So do we undercut the crooks by establishing a regular ferry service with good facilitities and no questions asked? Of course not.

Maybe the best thing is to make it as difficult as possible for people to get in once they have landed. Make sure everyone knows that if they come by boat they will be treated well but sent straight back. Perhaps that will reduce the numbers who try, and reduce the chances of something so awful happening again.

[Thumbwitch]

That's what they've been trying in Australia, CuChullain.
They are now putting out tv ads on Aussie tv to say "boat people WILL be sent back again, they will NOT be able to stay" so that anyone here who knows anyone thinking about illegal entry on a boat will try and put them off.
I doubt it will make any difference, tbh. :(

[BurberryQ]

your question seems to assume that anyone who is anti-immigration is an inhumane heartless bastard.
i personally think immigration should be curbed but to hear of a boatload of people dying is just tragic.

[alma123]

Maybe I'm in the minority in that I know people who are vehemently anti-immigration and they are pretty heartless tbh. Guess that's an easy position for some people to take when they're living in comfortable circumstances.

[complexnumber]

Thankfully, yes, I believe you are in the minority.

[Highlander]

I'm very open to immigration for skilled migrants and refuges. I love meeting people from cultures that are widely different to my own. I think it makes our lives in the UK are richer experience.

But I reported a potential student who had breached the conditions of her visa.

[SirChenjin]

Is that why you started such a ridiculous thread then Alma?

[alma123]

You are entitled to your opinion SirChenjin but this is an open forum and it was a genuine question (and I'm not going to stop asking a genuine question because you think it is ridiculous!)

[ModeratelyObvious]

Alma, if you know people who think immigrants drowning is some kind of positive thing, I hope you can avoid them as much as possible.

[alma123]

I wouldn't go so far as to say they would openly say it is a positive thing but neither are they capable of empathising with the circumstances that drive people to take such risks.

[ThingsThatMakeYouGoHmmmmmmmmm]

[alma123]

You don't that people like that exist then do you?

[Donkeyok]

just stupid post

[Thisisaeuphemism]

If we want to have a welfare state then there must be controls on immigration.

This is a terrible tragedy and I feel gutted for these people and their families. I would have been on there if I were in their position.

[alma123]

?????

[SirChenjin]

this is an open forum and it was a genuine question (and I'm not going to stop asking a genuine question because you think it is ridiculous!)

Really? That constitutes a genuine question in your mind? Well, hopefully the posts above will explain in more detail why it was a ridiculous question.

[alma123]

Yes, really and I've read the other responses thank you SirChenjin. I was genuinely interested to canvas opinion rather than to stifle debate which seems to be your intention.

[SirChenjin]

Excellent. So now you will realise that the general 'opinion' is that your question was ridiculous.

[alma123]

I have heard various people in real everyday life express strong views about immigration. I just wondered whether hearing of these disasters altered or had any bearing on people who have such views.

[alma123]

As I've said SirChenjin, I'm not going to allow you to bully or belittle me. Who do you think you are?

[SirChenjin]

As has been explained to you, it's perfectly possible to be against uncontrolled immigration AND feel horror and revulsion at the news that so many have died.

I'm honestly surprised that anyone wouldn't understand that.

[ModeratelyObvious]

Alma, it was a brief and provocative OP, and then you didn't post again for some time.