To think my normally sane DH is in danger of looking like a racist prick?

[FlamingoCrimbo]

DH just forwarded me an email that has been forwarded to him and to other people at his work by one of his colleagues.

I'm hoping he's not forwarded it to anyone except me - it doesn't look like he has.

It's one of those ones called 'border law'. Just found a US version here - swap the US references to UK ones.

DH is just misguided, IMO, sending this on - he ought to know I'd find it offensive. But it's made me wonder if IABU to find it offensive and to think it's probably been written by someone in the US equivalent of the BNP or at least widely distributed by BNP supporters.

So - AIBU and, if IANBU, how would you tackle it with him? He's very lovely, kind, and, sometimes, misguided so I don't want to upset him. I had to stop myself replying with 'you know this email makes you look like a racist prick, don't you' but that's not really very nice, or helpful!

Sorry, tethers, misread your point. yes, thats one reason their policies were so objectionable. I always think the same when I hear american politicians talking about immigrants....you're all feckin immigrants!

And DP - how do you know "mass immigration is costing this country millions". Where do you get this information from? What about immigrants (like myself) who are working, and paying thousands of pounds in taxes. If you do immigrate, you have no recourse to public funds for months, if not years (so no unemployment/incapacity benefit etc.). Visas and all the paper work costs hundreds of pounds. A friend is currently trying to sort out his wife's visa, and it generally costs around £450 a go, and has to be renewed every two years.

Poo, I know! It's both shocking and hilarious...

yes, contraversial, if its funny, but that badly written email is hardly Frankie Boyle, is it?

Rather naive to think that it isn't specifically designed to be a pop at immigration in a nasty way? How is it paranoid thinking to say that lying about what immigrants get to the detriment of natives is not anti-immigrant?

I'll let you get back to your Bernard Manning video there Harpy, don't think too hard will you now? Roy Chubby Brown does your type of satire too, maybe you'll get one for Xmas...

hmm, that post makes less sense than intended. NEED SLEEP....

I'm not going back to the 1950's, we need to deal with the issues that are effecting this country now, it doesn't matter that I am a child of immigrants.

politicians have to make tough decisions, they can't be all things to all people, I believe in putting the people of this country first, why should my taxes go to a peasant farmer in Albania ?

A good Politician will make the best decisions for the country.

I couldn't care less if we had a black diasbled lesbian as PM, if she run the country well i'd support her.

Daftpunk - because the Albanina needs it more? I don't see a reason why national borders make any difference to need.

That's great, daftpunk, but can you address one or two of the points from my previous post?

BTW, I think in order to have that elusive politically astute debate on immigration you are pining for, it would seem churlish to disregard recent history of immigration. I think going back to the 1950s would be a good place to start.

Oh, and they're not your taxes; they're the government's.

Or, if you prefer and it helps you sleep at night, 'your' taxes can go on defence, and 'mine' will go to the Albanian peasant farmer. I don't mind.

Your taxes do not go to a peasant farmer in Albania, thats nonsense from the BNP. Do you realise how much money the UK takes from the EU? A lot. Do you know how much immigrants contribute to the economy? A lot.

Theres plenty of money to go round in the UK, why aren't you angry that it gets wasted by politicians, rather than being used to help people? Of course there must be a foreign aid budget, rich countries have a moral duty to help poor countries. Would you rather people starved so that you could get a penny extra on your tax credits?

daftpunk - what is your moral reasoning for treating people differently based on where they are born?

As I said - the email just shows that we are nicer than those other countries. So it is neither racist nor a criticsm of uk policy. Unless you WANT the UK to adopt some of the policies of those other countries?

So it's now not immigrants the country is allegedly spending all the money on, but Albabian peasants. Where did you get this information from? If you're thinking of EU taxes, Albania isn't even in the EU.

wjhy do people keep on trying to convince dp she is wrong....
it is a waste of time, she hates all minorities
By daftpunk Tue 22-Dec-09 10:58:34
I'm not going back to the 1950's, we need to deal with the issues that are effecting this country now, it doesn't matter that I am a child of immigrants.

just sums it all up really
pure ignorance

My issue with the email itself is not that it is offensive- which it is- but that it was not funny. At all. It is only reminiscent of Frankie Boyle in that Frankie Boyle has fingers and can type words.

It is possible to be extremely offensive and funny, as Jerry Sadowitz proves:

"Nelson Mandela, what a cunt. Terry Waite, bastard. I dunno, you lend some people a fiver, you never see them again."

TBH, I just wanted an excuse to get that one in there. His A-Z of xenophobia is also hilarious, but can't find it anywhere.

"Re immigration point - the e-mail is not critical of immigrants. It does make a mockery of the legislation or constitution present in each of the countries mentioned. Condemning the joke as racism or an incitement to hatred is a tad paranoid and smacks of sanctimoniousness."

I think you are missing the point. It does not mock all the countries mentioned, it admires them, and states & implies (untruthfully) that immigrants get all kinds of perks that they do not deserve. Its all about context and tone.

As for paranoid, you seem to be in the minority opinion here, are we all paranoid and sanctimonius? Are you suggesting that its just a joke with no political intent? Incredibly naive, IMO.

Ahhh Frankie Boyle, he is my favourite comedian.

Referring way back Seeker: there is a reason this has turned into a debate about race. It's because people including the OP cry and cried "racist" and "BNP" at the first sight of the email or any talk about immigration. Without any debate at all.

Anyone want a debate about immigration, then?

daftpunk, I'm not sure why you're ignoring me? Am I being paranoid?

Besides, Frankie Boyle is just the poor man's Jerry Sadowitz

I was going to respond to the OP but can see this has been hijacked by DP the Daily mail

off topic - I watched frankie Boyle on DVD the otehr day and I didn't like it, even though I love him on Mock the Week. Am not sure if I am just getting old or if he is just a one trick pony whos trick is to try and be as offensive as possible.

No, I'm not ignoring you, just dealing with my cat, I think he's suffering from anxiety.

Who's that female muslim comedian, all she does is joke about muslim terrorists, I guess that's ok, like Jo Brand going about fat people.