Immigration comment from colleague, AIBU

[user2726182]

Name changed.

Myself and a couple of colleagues were talking about the upcoming general election, just about the debates that were on television last week.
Colleague stated she was voting conservatives because she wants brexit (fair enough) but then went on to say it's because of immigration and doesn't want anymore people coming in to the UK because we're a 'small island' and can't home any more people, she went on to say refugees are fine but that's it, then said 'I'm not racist' but just my opinion.

Now my grandparents were immigrants and I wouldn't be here without them coming from Asia, I was a bit offended by her comments.

Aibu?

YABU, she's an idiot.

Yanbu.

Fucking vermin.

As an immigrant myself, this would offend me. YANBU.

Sorry, meant yanbu.

Why have you changed your name for this?

Ask her how she feels about UK immigrants living in other countries.

Oh, sorry, I forgot, to your colleague's dim mindset, these people aren't immigrants, they're "ex-pats". With a perfect right to squat anywhere in the -empire- world they desire, so long as the natives speak English to them, what?

Thank you, when she said it my other colleague looked at me a bit shocked and then the subject was swiftly changed.

As an immigrant myself i don't feel offended that some people hold these views

I'm very pro immigration, to the point of open borders, but not everyone thinks like that and if they can articulate why, then i can respect that as a view

My views are also not for everyone

@BIWI I have some previous posts that could be outing to my place of work

Anyone who has to say “I’m not racist but” is most definitely 100% being racist. Yanbu.

Is there any point pulling her up for a chat about it?
She's pretty senior to me slightly intimidating.

I don't think anyone would say YABU to be offended by having to work with an openly proud racist like that.

Best thing if you're all stuck together is whenever she tries to start the conversation again cutting her off with a 'yes we all know what you think, no need to repeat it thank you'.

She is entitled to her opinion and to be offended by someones opinion when it is n't harmful to anyone else does seem a bit unreasonable.

Like many of the others here I owe my life to immigration with my family coming from Eastern Europe amongst other places.

But the fact is that many people believe that the Country is "full". It's not hard to see why they think this, roads are bad, full of cars, can't get appointments at hospital or doctors, no dentists, ageing and decaying infrastructure etc.

While these are complex issues and are largely/partly down to huge underinvestment, all the papers blame immigrants so lots of people are going to believe that reducing immigration would help.

Let people have their own political beliefs without being offended. It will greatly enhance your life.

I don't think anyone would say YABU to be offended by having to work with an openly proud racist like that.

Oh do get a grip. She has said she would like curbs on immigration not work camps for black people.
This kind of attitude towards the debate really does no one any favours. In fact if we'd had a sensible rational debate instead of crying racists to anyone with a differing view on immigration we'd more than likely not be leaving the EU in a couple of months.

Just because she doesn’t agree with you doesn’t mean she’s racist.
I honestly think this country should close the borders and only allow in educated individuals or ones with a trade like Australia.
Open borders lead to anybody coming here, peadophiles/murderers/criminals, country has enough of them already.

I can understand why you feel that this was a borderline personal attack and why you would feel offense. It doesn't sound like she was particularly subtle of nuanced in debate and didn't have much concern for her audience. However I worry that anyone who opposes a complete open door policy or questions its effects on already strained public services are immediately labeled a racist.

I've spent years listening to my British in-laws in New Zealand moaning about 'bloody immigrants'. They never seemed to see the irony.

Now my family and I are immigrants in Britain. My daughter was having a time of it last Friday with a young man in her class having a go at her about being an immigrant, who can't even speak English because she's from New Zealand and a Maori (she's not, she's through and through Ngati Pakeha (white New Zealander) consarn it, not a drop of Maori Iwi blood in her!). Oh, and she excels in English, including having recently been published in the junior publication of a major news journal.

The irony? This kid and his family came over from Spain a few years ago. . .

As I said to her, you just can't argue with stupid. . .

YABU.

She didn't look you in the eye and say she wanted you and your family removed from the country.

She has a perfectly valid political opinion.

@messolini9 don’t really “squat” though do they? Most people are retirees who take their money and buy or rent a property and contribute to the economy abroad. A lot of people do come here for benefits and free healthcare alone, NOT ALL before anyone rushes down my throat. But a lot do.
There’s a reason why immigrants go across other European county’s like France and end up in the uk. I don’t see what else is so appealing here for them?

euuuugh here come the 'sensible discussion to be had' people.

YABU. I’m an immigrant. I believe that almost unfettered immigrant lion with no access to public funds is ideal. But that’s just my political opinion. Other people are just as entitled to their own opinion. It’s not unreasonable to be concerned about population growth (especially in a country like the U.K.) and to view curbing immigration as a solution. Unless it’s about limiting immigration for x race or for everyone except race (see white Australia policy for example) you don’t need to bring racism into it.

A lot of people think like this it's why we had the unexpected Brexit result.
I can see what you'd be sensitive to it and she clearly hasn't much of a filter. My brother in law is son of Jamaican immigrants and he openly says pretty much the same so it isn't always a race issue.

I have never had to preface anything I have said with "I am not a racist but"- funnily enough, possibly because I try very hard to not say racist things (of course, I am only human and may offend people occasionally so I won't be as bold as to claim to have never done so).
IMO, those six words are only ever followed by something at the very least ignorant or xenophobic.

Petroclas

euuuugh here come the 'sensible discussion to be had' people.

??? Really, you think people shouldn't discuss their opinions sensibly? Prefer the dictator approach eh?