Exceptions for Ukraine refugees

[myear]

I would genuinely be happy if someone can explain to me how IABU so I can feel less upset!

I am pleased for the Ukrainians that the EU is making exceptions for them so that anyone can come in, can get jobs straight away, no need for a visa for 3 years etc, but AIBU to feel bitter about my own treatment as an asylum seeker many many years ago? I can’t help but wonder why these exceptions are made for people fleeing the Ukraine, but not for people who fled my country to survive ethnic cleansing and what the UN found was war crimes against my people.

We had to lie to get a visa to Europe, lie to then get into the country when we were taken away for questioning at the border, apply for asylum 6 times as it kept being rejected, and only got approved on the basis that we had stayed too long to be kicked out, couldn’t work for a long time, and no exceptions were made to reduce bureaucratic hurdles. To be blunt, I question whether exceptions are being made for the Ukrainian refugees because they are white and people from my country are black.

My white DH, who is from the European country that took me in, is upset that the UK is not waiving visa requirements for Ukrainians and only allowing those with family in, rather than anyone seeking refuge. But, he doesn’t really see a problem with how I was treated by his country either, for reasons such as:

1. We fled a civil war whereas Ukraine is being attacked by another country. Countries need to deal with their own problems (but incidentally thinks it was right to intervene in NI / ROI - again white).

1. It’s not his country’s duty to help my country as they didn’t cause the war (but neither did his country cause the Ukraine war yet they are making exceptions for them).

1. Ukraine is geographically closer, although not a direct neighbour (so?)

1. Why am I not upset at the people who caused war in my country (but how is that relevant to the differing treatment I’m now seeing?)

1. Why am I not upset at neighbouring countries, they didn’t help either (again, how is that relevant?)

1. No exceptions were made for Kosovo, Bosnia etc so the Ukraine exceptions are not based on race (can't argue against that!)

I am very grateful that we were able to find safety in Europe and have a great life, but this seems to be upsetting me more than I can rationally explain.

[quote User121212121212121212]www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-myopic-focus-on-racism-at-the-polish-ukrainian-border[/quote]
Thanks for sharing. Which is why we all should push hard against such nonsense. It is not narrow and it is perfectly possible to suppress Ukrainians whilst condemning racism.

My worry is that if the western media continues to behave the way they do, and if some countries continue with their culture of f racism, they will find little sympathy with the rest of the world. Quite frankly the west needs rest of the world and the rest of the world like India, China, and Africa are growing closer and their strength is increasing. They will not forget the treachery of the West and how much the West love their wealth but hate them because of the colour of their skin.

@Why2why
But Ukraine or Poland isn't West. They never exploited African and Asian countries like UK, France or The Netherlands did. Racism isn't exclusive to those countries, it's a world wide thing. The media focused on those stories because it sells, and because Polish and Ukrainians are regarded in 'West' as second class citizens. They conveniently omitted the amazing acts of kindness that were done by Polish like the story of 22- year old student that took a family of refugees, including four Moroccan students and an Afghan to Warsaw. You don't hear about this stories. Why? Because it's easier to portray Poland or Ukraine as a racist hellhole rather than admit that other countries like UK haven't done anything to help these people.

Given Europe has a declining birth rate and an ageing population whilst the rest of the world doesn't have this I wonder what they're gonna do. Seems like it's gonna be tough out there.

[quote User121212121212121212]@Why2why
But Ukraine or Poland isn't West. They never exploited African and Asian countries like UK, France or The Netherlands did. Racism isn't exclusive to those countries, it's a world wide thing. The media focused on those stories because it sells, and because Polish and Ukrainians are regarded in 'West' as second class citizens. They conveniently omitted the amazing acts of kindness that were done by Polish like the story of 22- year old student that took a family of refugees, including four Moroccan students and an Afghan to Warsaw. You don't hear about this stories. Why? Because it's easier to portray Poland or Ukraine as a racist hellhole rather than admit that other countries like UK haven't done anything to help these people.[/quote]
But I did not say Ukraine and Poland are in the West. I referred to Western media AND countries with a culture of racism.

And it’s not easier to portray anyone as racist. If they are racist they are racist. Period. Looking across the street and pointing at someone else, saying oh but they are racist too and it’s easy for them to say I’m racist, is pointless. One country cannot excuse it’s horrendous treatment of people of colour by these ridiculous excuses of others are racist and how it’s unfair that their own racist behaviour is being exposed. Is there a competition for who is less racist? Is there a competition for who commit more abuses of people of colour and who started it first?

Given Europe has a declining birth rate and an ageing population whilst the rest of the world doesn't have this I wonder what they're gonna do
This isn't true though. Many, many countries outside of Europe have very low birth rates and aging populations. I read recently that the birth rate in India was now below replacement level.

It means we should use the West's new empathy for refugees to make sure than all future refugees, including non-white and non-Christian ones, get the same kind of treatment the Ukrainians have got, or preferably better

The same kind of treatment? Do you think a temp 1-3 year visa is what someone fleeing from Eritrea needs? Or better treatment for all future refugees even the people who apply for asylum from the US and Australia(all of whom had their asylum claim denied in my country last year)? What do you think an asylum seeker from Australia should get that is even better than the treatment Ukrainian refugees are getting? No quibble permanent visas for anyone that declares themselves a refugee? That defeats the purpose of borders at all really doesn't it?

Does it not make more sense to take things on a case by case basis rather than jumping to all asylum seekers should be given better treatment than the Ukranians because it makes for a good sound bite? Incidently in my country 100% of the Syrian, Afghan, Eritrean cases that were heard last year were granted asylum.

@Kendodd

Given Europe has a declining birth rate and an ageing population whilst the rest of the world doesn't have this I wonder what they're gonna do This isn't true though. Many, many countries outside of Europe have very low birth rates and aging populations. I read recently that the birth rate in India was now below replacement level.

India doesn't need to 'replace' its population. There are too many people already. The main reason it's an issue (apart from the ageing population) is the constant obsession with GDP driven by the consumerist agenda.

@Why2why what the hell is even 'Western media'? Do you mean Anglophone media (US, UK being the main ones)? French? German?
The rich of the world are global citizens. They don't give a shit about politics. The ones from my country anyway (just like the Russian oligarchs) happily launder money in the UK, give business to 5-star restaurants in London and enjoy jetting around with the proceeds of their thievery.

Everyone else is too busy trying to survive to bother.

And don't get me started on what China thinks of Africans.. google 'anti-black' racism.

The blacker your skin, the blacker your drinking water.. the world is united in its hatred of dark skinned people. Yeah, maybe some of it was colonization but not all. Like India's caste bias.

Western media is Western media. I’m not interested in which country is least or most racist.

Or who hates black people the most.