One man and the 'immigrants go home' advertisement.

[NicholasTeakozy]

Pukkah Punjabi asks the Home Office to pay for his taxi from Harrow to Willesden. What an enterprising chap! :o

[MurderOfGoths]

Alright, so the phrase has traditionally been used to tell people they aren't native and that they don't belong (even if they do) that's pretty racist and offensive right? And was it meant in a derogatory way?

The phrase can be used in non-racist, non-offensive ways as you've shown with your cemetery example. And the reason it isn't offensive there is because you aren't using the phrase with the same meaning. Follow me?

So if the phrase is being used to say that people aren't native or welcome would you say it's reminiscent of the first or second example?

Now bearing in mind the english language is wonderfully varied and full of nuance, would you say it is sensible to use a phrase traditionally used in a derogatory way?

[justanuthermanicmumsday]

We all know wat context is in the context of illegal immigrants it has racial slurs. If you are not an ethnic minority or cannot see the bigger picture then you won't see the racial element. I see it.

One family member grew up in the 70s she was legally here as a child and all her life she got racism thrown at her the classic was paki go home. Funnily she's not Pakistani so what is she is? but if you have brown skin you're a paki so you should go home. Can you understand why she's racist today. She thinks all whte ppl are the same. Course I had a different experience i was born in the uk never experienced racism until i started wearing the hijab in my mid twenties. Even today i would say i don't get racist comments i don't live in fear. She does, she says she has to be careful where she goes coz of her skin colour. She would not hold these narrow minded views had those ppl never said go back home and such like.

It's sad to see ppl here perpetuating the problem with such language, but its been drummed in and sadly some folks seem to think its acceptable in their anger against illegal immigrants. The bnp and other such groups don't help either

[fuzzywuzzy]

I was told to 'Go home you fucking paki' by a boy whilst waiting for the bus a couple of weeks ago.

I was shocked, mainly as I've not heard that since I was a child, vivid memory of a skinhead on a bicycle screaming it at us as I walked home from school with my mum, he stole me wooly hat, it was winter I must have been about six I think.

It is offensive, it validates the use of this phrase on the streets by racists, if the government is saying it, then clealry people on the streets can too, to people like me....who's grandparents lived and worked here (paying loads of taxes thank you very much) and are buried here (all legally)

[filee777]

But without the 'fucking paki' aspect of the insult it's just telling someone to 'go home' which might well be happening at a bus stop.

[BMW6]

Anyone, whatever their sex, race, religion, skin colour, political views etc etc is not welcome here and do not belong here if they are here illegally.

They should therefore go home and if they want to come here, apply through legal channels.

If they are denied access to this country, for whatever reason, then they must be prevented from comung here illegally. Anyone who is found to be here illegally should be thrown out. To their home country if known, or if they won't say where they are from the middle of the Sahara would do for me.

[Chubfuddler]

Murder filee understands perfectly the associations of using this phrase in this context. I wouldn't bother.

[MrTumblesBavarianFanbase]

filee you are being deliberately obtuse - why would somebody randomly shout "go home!" to a stranger at a bus stop without any meaning beyond "Do exactly what you are doing, catch the bus back to your house"

[fuzzywuzzy]

The advert is using deliberately loaded phraseology, the implication of the 'fucking paki' bit is there.

It is a popular racsit hated filled phrase, just because these vans don't have that last bit on the van doesnt mean the implication isn't there.

Wonder how many illegal immigrants have handed themselves over since these vans were rolled out

[MurderOfGoths]

chub I was giving the benefit of the doubt, but you are right.

[Forgetfulmog]

Good to see Racism is well & truly entrenched in this country

[BMW6]

Racist my arse! As I have said, I don't give a hoot what colour an illegal immigrant is - the point is they are here illegally and are therefore, by definition, a criminal.
I don't want a lot of criminals coming into this country - we have enough home grown ones already.

[BMW6]

If I applied to move to, say, Canada and was refused entry, then went in illegally, was found out and thrown out - are Canadians being Racist??

[MurderOfGoths]

BMW No one is saying it's racist to get illegal's to leave. It is a well known racist phrase though, and in combination with the utter uselessness of these billboards it comes across as nothing more than "eurgh forriners".

Totally behind getting illegals to leave, as you say they have to break the law to get here. Which is never a promising start. But this isn't a solution, it is however pandering to a certain demographic.

[BMW6]

I doubt that "go back to your point of origin" or "return from whence you came" would be readily understood .......

And as they are criminals I don't give a toss if they are "hurt" by a slogan!

[DoubleLifeIsALifeHalved]

Thread makes me despondent. Alot of deliberately missing the point and pretending its ok.

[TabithaStephens]

It is ok. Illegal immigrants should not be here. They do not benefit the country by being here.

[MurderOfGoths]

BMW And "go home" is going to make them leave?

Ignore their feelings, people who live here legitimately are uncomfortable about the use of a traditionally racist/derogatory phrase being used by the govt.

[MurderOfGoths]

tabitha Has anyone said they should be here?

[TabithaStephens]

Most people support it. Which is why the government is doing it. Do you think they want to lose the next election? The people who are "uncomfortable" with it wouldn't vote Tory anyway.

[TheFallenNinja]

I'm intrigued how essentially the offer of an amnesty and assistance with repatriation equals racism.

Just saying something or someone is racist doesn't make it so.

Cutting and pasting someone's misguided take on a poster doesn't make it racist nor does the desire to rid the country of illegal immigrants.

Using a phrase and saying that its racist doesn't make it so.

[Episode]

All those intentionally missing the point of the article are not doing themselves any favours in making their points appear intelligent as far as the OP goes!

What happens if an illegal immigrant gets caught?

Dun Dun Dun........ They get arrested!

How can anybody believe that this is not a piece of BS propaganda aimed at the undercover racist or far right at the very least?

If you were an illegal immigrant would you hand yourself over for fear of being arrested or wait it out until you were PERHAPS, wait for it........ Arrested!

The government have paid A LOT of money for this campaign. The first rule of any campaign is to identify your target audience.... How in 2013 would we have a campaign for not paying tax with the main points of the advert being the HMRC will 'shock horror' send you a form in the post if we find you . Point being, they do this anyway! Let?s not forget the advert is the wrong language for what, 95% of the target audience.

On the brighter side, at least our taxes have not been completely wasted. Reading this thread validates my point. This campaign has made an impact on the exact people it was intended too!

[TheFallenNinja]

I can perfectly believe that this is not racism in all the guises quoted because I see the article for what it is, ill thought through guff and mischief making.

People are beginning to rightly challenge being labelled racist when they happen to agree with immigration policy.

Alluding that those who disagree with the op's link are racist themselves speaks volumes.

Why must we race to the bottom all the time?

Dun dun dun

[Jinsei]

I seem to recall Lenny Henry making a joke years ago about the National Front or whoever wanting to pay big sums of cash to people from ethnic minorities to go "back to where they came from". He said it was a great idea, as a bus fare back to Birmingham would only cost him a few quid.

The advert is vile, but predictably, it appeals to your average DM reader. Grim.

[TabithaStephens]

Who should the government be appealing to? Guardian readers?

[Episode]

"because I see the article for what it is, ill thought through guff and mischief making" Targeted towards who exactly? Illegal immigrants?

If not why are you happy for the government to spend money on a PR activity to satisfy the need for people like you to have a platform to discuss your issues with immigration whilst doing very little to address the actual issue!

Money and time has been wasted on this campaign and I assume this is exactly why you dislike immigration, money and time, no? How many illegal immigrants do you think this campaign has managed to send back or at least identify?

Dun dun dun, is this not waste? Is this rocket science?

"People are beginning to rightly challenge being labelled racist when they happen to agree with illegal immigration policy". I think the vast majority of people that give the racist label, myself being one of them, do so because these opinions always come out as a knee jerk reaction to propaganda.

This follows on from my original point!

Why are people happy to ignore the fact that money and time is being spent on a PR activity which does not address immigration in itself?
Is it because that waste goes along with their own beliefs and wants? Immigration is discussed in terms of space, time and finances. Why is it okay for the Government to create waste? Why do you ignore that?

This was the point of the OP!

The vast majority of us who challenge these views do so in response to what is said by the supporters of bullshit! I have listened to people say they think the campaign is a good idea and is not offensive but the point being, from those of ethnic minorities, legal immigration and with half a brain it is!

This campaign was made for you which is why you feel it is okay for the government to waste millions on satisfying your wants whilst doing nothing at all to address the issue of illegal immigration. If you care so much about this issue you would be angry that this money has not been spent on strengthening the borders! Instead people are happy for money to be spent offending (not scaring) whole communities whilst going largely unnoticed by illegal immigrants!