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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

You and your family could be asylum seekers by this time next year.

477 replies

Nevermay · 14/08/2023 08:35

Just want to point this out, as many posters seem to be of the opinion that asylum seekers are a different species, with different aspirations, different hopes and fears, different medical biology, and different housing and nutritional requirements than the rest of humanity

It could be you and your family next year.

There could be any number of natural disasters in the UK. Meteor strike? Tsunami? Volcanic eruption? All of these are likely in the UK at some point. There could be manmade disasters, war, famine, there could be something more personal that happens to you, you could be a witness being searched for by a hostile government.

You might be a highly qualified professional, ( many asylum seekers in the UK are) you could have worked hard all your life to pay off your mortgage ( many asylum seekers in the UK have) you could have kept yourself fit and healthy all your life and you may also have an assortment of serious or trivial medical needs. You might have french or spanish GCSE to help you, or you might not.

None of these things will mark you out as special, or different, if you are in a crowd of asylum seekers seeking refuge in another country. You will just have to sit and wait and hope with everybody else, maybe for years, your children with you.

I really wish people understood this, refugees and asylum seekers are no different to our own population, some are uneducated, some are criminal, most are decent people, many are highly qualified and come from affluent and successful back grounds.

When ever you think and speak about them, please just keep in mind, this could be you next year.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
15
WeWereInParis · 14/08/2023 08:42

Not the point of the thread I know, but is the UK likely to have a volcanic eruption..?

user1477391263 · 14/08/2023 08:43

I'm.... not sure that any of the above is very likely, OP. In addition, the situation with Ukraine suggests that when people (men, women and kids) are made refugees en masse as an act of God, the response by other countries tends to be a bit different to the way most countries react to predominently young and male economic migrants. So I do not think this is actually a very good analogy.

Hoppinggreen · 14/08/2023 08:45

While I disagree with the “othering” of refugees and asylum seekers and get the point you are trying to make I think you are wrong

thebellagio · 14/08/2023 08:45

There could be any number of natural disasters in the UK. Meteor strike? Tsunami? Volcanic eruption?

You immediately invalidated your own point.

Please tell me how we would have a volcanic eruption?

Ella31 · 14/08/2023 08:49

It's heartbreaking to see some of the vile responses towards these asylum seekers. The irony is when massive disasters happen be it war of acts of nature, a lot of the same people become activists on social media - adding colours or messages of support to their profile's or sharing messages of hope, I guess the same doesn't apply when it lands on their shores though.

Approaching · 14/08/2023 08:49

I think you’re over simplifying it, sorry. The fact is that if something horrendous happened to the UK, it’s likely that other countries would open their borders, the way they did for Ukrainians. The experience of Ukrainians may not be great, but being able to get on a train or bus and legally enter a country is a world away from that of the average asylum seeker. UK asylum seekers would be likely to be viewed with much less suspicion than those from Asia and Africa. And we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that this would be a massive privilege.

I also think you’re missing the point. Yes there’s some bad feeling towards asylum seekers, but it’s mostly due to the fact that those people believe they’re not genuine, so your logic won’t work on them because they’ll just say “well we would be genuine”.

liondreams · 14/08/2023 08:51

@thebellagio pedantry is not attractive. the OP's point was perfectly clear and valid even if she made a mistake.

HowToSaveAWife · 14/08/2023 08:58

I'm a lapsed catholic but... There but for the grace of God go I. It is sheer luck where you are born, and into what circumstances. Could happen to any of us, particularly as a result of natural disasters.

It always baffles me that the staunchly anti-immigration are always the ones who are immensely proud of Britain's colonizing history and the resulting instability created by the Empire in other nations.

Also usually the same people who voted for Brexit and then went running for an Irish passport if they could.

JaukiVexnoydi · 14/08/2023 09:04

We are very fortunate in the UK that the vast majority of those things couldn't actually happen here.

However the point is still valid because british people aren't qualitatively better or more deserving of comfort and security than those who are forced into thr position of being asylum seekers. They aren't any different from us just because of having been born in a country that is now unstable and unsafe.

There are 37 million refugees in the world out of a population of 7.8 billion (about half of one percent of the world's population)
The UK's "fair share" of that 37 million would be about 320,000 whereas in fact we have 230,000. As a prosperous nation with a culture of freedom and acceptance of diversity we should be doing more than our fair share, not less.

Wellsome · 14/08/2023 09:12

Yes, to help me understand this situation, I wonder what I’d pack. I write a list. I imagine the preparation, ( if I had time), the journey, the fear, frustration and anger at anyone who contributed to this situation , politicians etc. I remember how much the kindness of strangers has helped me at times , especially when I’ve been vulnerable, eg in hospital. I read some refugee stories, sometimes changing their names to my friends’ or family members’. I‘ve met some refugees. I admit I was surprised to hear about the places they’d been to on holiday. Yes, in my imagination and personal writing, although it’s a depressing exercise to do, I know the refugees could have been any of us .

secretllama · 14/08/2023 09:19

user1477391263 · 14/08/2023 08:43

I'm.... not sure that any of the above is very likely, OP. In addition, the situation with Ukraine suggests that when people (men, women and kids) are made refugees en masse as an act of God, the response by other countries tends to be a bit different to the way most countries react to predominently young and male economic migrants. So I do not think this is actually a very good analogy.

I agree

CandyflossKaren · 14/08/2023 09:20

😂

CalistoNoSolo · 14/08/2023 09:28

This reply has been deleted

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frumpyflora · 14/08/2023 09:29

I think this is a very powerful and compassionate message that reminds us of the common humanity we share with asylum seekers and refugees. I agree that we should always keep in mind that they are not a different species, but people like us who have faced unimaginable hardships and dangers. They deserve our respect, empathy, and support, not our prejudice, hostility, or indifference.

So much depends on others' mercy. In WW2, we evacuated huge numbers of our own people to parts of rural UK with mixed results. It involved moving millions of children from urban areas to rural locations that were considered safer. The evacuation had a huge impact on the lives of both the evacuees and their hosts. Many evacuees experienced culture shock, homesickness, or mistreatment. Some hosts were kind and generous, while others were reluctant or abusive.

I also think that this post raises some important questions about the current situation of asylum seekers and refugees in the UK and around the world. How can we ensure that they are treated fairly and humanely? How can we help them integrate into their new communities and rebuild their lives? How can we address the root causes of forced displacement and prevent further conflicts and crises?

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TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 14/08/2023 09:33

I hate patronising self righteous posts especially when they don’t even bother with accurate facts.
There but for the grace of God go I is always the case (and I have a refugee family staying at the moment so I do put my money where my mouth is) but there’s not going to be a volcano in the UK. Really.

Museya15 · 14/08/2023 09:33

But all the stuff you listed why we could be asylum seekers is not the reason why they are. Nobody actually knows why they are, all we ever hear they are running from war but there's no war in Albania etc and anyway man up and fight like the Ukrainians! They were fighting whether they received international help anyway.

heldinadream · 14/08/2023 09:34

@user1477391263 I'm.... not sure that any of the above is very likely, OP.

Really? Droughts, floods, fires, wars, famine? You think you're immune in the UK?
Oh boy are you going to have a rude awakening when climate induced food shortages really start to bite. Or severe drought leading to fires. Or endless rainfall leading to severe flooding. You think Hawaii knew what was coming?

Anything can happen to anyone anywhere.

Great post @Nevermay . Nitpickers gonna nitpick, but it's a failure of their imagination and ability to see the larger picture and historical sweep of human life.

WelcomeEverythingIsFine · 14/08/2023 09:35

Volcanic eruption and tsunami 🤣🤣 I hope you aren’t a geography teacher!!!!!!!! In the UK flooding and wildfire are probably the most likely natural hazards to affect us. Your point is completely lost by how wrong you have got the facts here.

Museya15 · 14/08/2023 09:37

JaukiVexnoydi · 14/08/2023 09:04

We are very fortunate in the UK that the vast majority of those things couldn't actually happen here.

However the point is still valid because british people aren't qualitatively better or more deserving of comfort and security than those who are forced into thr position of being asylum seekers. They aren't any different from us just because of having been born in a country that is now unstable and unsafe.

There are 37 million refugees in the world out of a population of 7.8 billion (about half of one percent of the world's population)
The UK's "fair share" of that 37 million would be about 320,000 whereas in fact we have 230,000. As a prosperous nation with a culture of freedom and acceptance of diversity we should be doing more than our fair share, not less.

Have you seen how tiny the UK is as opposed to USA, Australia, Canada, France?

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 14/08/2023 09:38

WelcomeEverythingIsFine · 14/08/2023 09:35

Volcanic eruption and tsunami 🤣🤣 I hope you aren’t a geography teacher!!!!!!!! In the UK flooding and wildfire are probably the most likely natural hazards to affect us. Your point is completely lost by how wrong you have got the facts here.

Be fair to the op, there was a tsunami in Somerset in 1607.

BungleandGeorge · 14/08/2023 09:39

Just a minute asylum is for those at risk of persecution due to personal characteristics isn’t it? Not for natural disasters or economic migrants

Trixiefirecracker · 14/08/2023 09:40

Actually if an active super volcano erupted ( nearest one in Naples I believe) we definitely would be effected here in the U.K. just listening to a Brian Cox podcast about it! 😉

Museya15 · 14/08/2023 09:40

To be honest with you, from working with people from other countries and people who were immigrants and got education here, the Brits seemed to be despised, so not sure anyone would take them in and give them asylum!! 😀

sotoseek · 14/08/2023 09:41

Is the Ozone layer ok now?

Jennygosoftly · 14/08/2023 09:42

"It could be you and your family next year."

I've never read such a load of horse-manure in my life.

The last Civil War in this country was 1642 and is over. I can't see it happening again any time soon.