To wonder why people hate immigration/immigrants so much?

[PeachyParisian]

I don't mean to the UK specifically, but within Europe, worldwide..

Does it boil down to a sense of entitlement? i.e. I was born here so i deserve to reap the benefits of my ancestors hard work.
Also I suppose economic migration is completely different to fleeing to claim asylum although I see no differentiation made in the UK media.
Its always about "benefits tourism"/"generous benefits given to asylum seekers".
I'm an expat, DH is non-EU and we are planning on moving to the UK this year and I'm tired of all the raised questioning eyebrows incredulously asking me if he really is forrin.

I find it hard to get my head around the idea that I am worth more, deserve more etc just because I was lucky enough to be born a British citizen.

& I understand that resources can only stretch so far, but that shouldn't mean we don't "share" but that we do something about the fact the resources are insufficient in the first place.
And if there are more people, and therefore more taxes being paid, is there not more funding for the resources?

People know deep down that our wealth as a country/region is due to our exploitation of other people/countries.

That in order to maintain the lifestyle where we consume vastly more than we produce, and allocate a wildly disproportionate portion of the world's resources to ourselves, we must continue to oppress the vast majority of the world, and have them live pretty much as slaves.

Immigrants that come are crossing over from the oppressed to the oppressor side. The ratios must continue to vastly favour the oppressors or our standard of living will drop.

Therefore we resent those who threaten to undermine it.

We may call it something else, but deep down that is the problem.

I understand the fear and worry. I understand thinking that isn't enough. What I don't understand is the lack of empathy. Do people really think that 'economic migrant' means 'I fancy a bit more money'? People who risk their lives crossing deserts and paying criminals and getting in terrible, dangerous boats aren't doing it because they want a PS3. If I thought my child might die of starvation, or never get to school or be sold because I couldn't feed them, I would do exactly as they are doing. I don't understand people that think they wouldn't.

I agree with everything you say. People forget that 'immigrants' and the like are PEOPLE. Nationalism is just being proud of shit you haven't done and hating people you've never met

Nationalism doesn't have to be like that. it was Canada Day yesterday and my city was full of red and white, happy people of all races, knowing they are lucky. Canada mostly has a different attitude to immigration because the place is EMPTY and knows it was built on migrants. The issue here is more racism towards the indigenous population...

But the people that love immigration are generally wealthy and in a position to benefit from it, whereas the people opposed to it are generally in a position where it is detrimental to them. What is wrong with feeling entitled to the benefits of our ancestors hard work? We worked and fought to make this country great.

I don't think people do generally hate immigrants.

People however generally do not like being dictated too, they don't want a federalist Europe they did not agree too.

People usually are very happy to have immigration, as far as I am aware immigration has never been such a hot topic as it is now...when immigration is slow and steady and people can be assimilated into the country...

Slowly and at a normal pace, which does not present other issues such as over subscribed schools, bursting maternity wards and so on.

I have a few Polish friends who emigrated here at various points and they think our government is bonkers to allow so many people to live here so quickly...

Do people (OP) really not get that the problem isn't individual immigrants but the sheer scale of immigration in what has been a very short space of time?

Most people are quite in agreement that individuals will do what is best for themselves and their family. If the odd family from abroad turned up in their town nobody would bat an eyelid. In fact they'd be a novelty everyone wanted to get to know. It's when suddenly whole districts of a town are completely changed by the arrival of hundreds of immigrants. When your little village primary school is suddenly 75% EAL. That is when people get upset.

It is actually nothing to do with any one group of people being worth more, or being the oppressed, or anything else.

But the people that love immigration are generally wealthy and in a position to benefit from it

depends on what volume of people we are talking about....

Because it makes them feel better about themselves.

Do people (OP) really not get that the problem isn't individual immigrants but the sheer scale of immigration in what has been a very short space of time?

Velvet, seemingly not . Every party, has admitted its a huge problem, but some goady posters on here, still try and turn a matter of volume and economics into one of race and hate.

No, people do really REALLY hate immigration. I'm an immigration solicitor so my job is to help people come here legally or help them to stay here legally.

I've long since learned to lie about my job in social situations due to the rampant abuse I get from complete strangers. Bad enough to be a lawyer but one who helps forriners?

Nationalism is just being proud of shit you haven't done and hating people you've never met
^^YES

Tucson What is wrong with feeling entitled to the benefits of our ancestors hard work? We worked and fought to make this country great.- Do you mean the general rape and pillage of the commonwealth? or the WWs against fascism? I don't see why I should benefit from anyone's hard work other than my own!

But is it really fair to pick and choose who can travel where? Who deserves to make a new life for themselves etc

Trazzletoes Im in the process of retraining to do what you do and i've lost a fair few "friends" so far. It was one thing marrying one, but to help them come to the UK?!?!

What is wrong with feeling entitled to the benefits of our ancestors hard work?

Some of that 'work' involved stealing from, enslaving, killing, raping and colonising the ancestors of the very people who are wanting to come here. I would argue that the ancestors of someone from sub-Saharan Africa or India probably worked harder to make Britain 'great' than yours did (assuming you are British all the way back).

We worked and fought to make this country great.

Except that we aren't speaking German right now in part because of Indian, Nepalese, East European, African, Caribbean, Canadian, Free French etc. etc. people who fought and died as well. My Polish Grandfather died over Europe fighting for the RAF. HTH.

People in the UK who hate immigrants are either ignorant or hypocritical, because there isn't a soul in the UK who is neither an immigrant themselves, or a descendent of immigrants. Every single person on these island is descended from someone (or rather, many someones) who came here from somewhere else.

Hi 5 in solidarity Peachy

I am an immigrant, I have come across some rude comments mostly when I don't wish to conform to the country I live in's norms but mostly I have felt welcomed. I live in a capital city and I think that makes a difference.

I don't understand why British people are so anti immigration as there is such a long history of colonising countries and the british people are such a mix of cultures and ethnicities.

There isn't a huge amount of European people living in the UK, well not when compared to the amount of British people living in other European countries, the number is pretty much equal.

My pd is not British and the experience I have had when in the UK with him and speaking Swedish as a family has been an embarrasing, I do come from a very white British part of the UK so it is unusual to hear other languages.

We would never consider moving back partly because of the way I fear my "forrin" dp and halfling children would be treated.

OP I'm with you. It mystifies me. We're all immigrants. Not one single person on UK MN is pure indigenous Brit. We should all be sliced very thinly and posted back to the various countries our ancestors came from.

Or we could grow up, have a bit of humanity and let people live where they want. If it gets too crowded or dark skinned for some people, they can emigrate.

For starters, how come when you are abroad you are an "expat" whereas your DH will be an "immigrant"?

I understand that you are using that word for us to understand you are not currently in the UK but that you are from the UK, however, it seems strange to me that 99% of British people abroad always refer to themselves as expats, never immigrants, like it's a dirty word.

In other languages there is not even a word like expat, you are either an immigrant or en emigrant (depending on whether you are talking to someone from your native country or from your country of residence but you are never an expat).

ArcheryAnnie even immigrants who have moved to their new home don't like immigration. A case of 'I'm here now so close the door behind me' perhaps.

"a matter of volume and economics into one of race and hate" yes, yes but why does it seem to be the non-white christians that are frowned upon when others are merrily welcomed? And I'm not speaking about the UK specifically but in the case of non-settlement/tourist visas its much much harder for somebody from the East to obtain one than a US citizen. I understand why that is the case, but it is not fair.

Mee if the OP described herself as an immigrant, we would understand that to mean she was non-British living in the UK.

Emigrant and expat are interchangeable but expat is less likely to be misheard.

Tucson that's a spectacularly revisionist version of history. Perhaps some Western European counties are reaping what they sowed in decades and centuries past?

I am an immigrant, but a 'we don't mean immigrants like you' immigrant. Comments like that help me sort out the racist fucks from the just-pull-up-the-drawbridge types.

Pace has been an issue, but there a huge number of people who just don't like foreigners, especially if they talk funny. The businesses immigrants might build, people they might employ and tax they might pay is not relevant to those people.

Here, I am often referred to as an immigrant. At the prefecture I was treated in the exact same manner as my husband for example. I'm not French and therefore no better than anyone else who isn't either.
I have had some horrific experiences in Switzerland but ultimately I am treated with more respect than my DH by authority figures outside of the UK because of the colour of my passport. I imagine that is a theme that will continues after our move too.
Maybe growing up in the UK, the word immigrant does have negative connotations for me but I see being an expat as a more temporary break from your 'home' and immigration as a more permanent move. Expat really is a bit horrible & colonial though isn't it?

I think for some it's hard to see beyond an accent.

Trazzle and peachy that's awful. I know about as many from the UK who have emigrated for a better life as those who have migrated to UK.
If I want to move abroad is that ok?
If people want to move here and build a better life for their family then I don't see the problem.