“Send them back where they came from!”
I met a man a long time ago, a wise and smart man, a man of ideas and principle. He was a Jew and came from a family with a name still recognizable to many around the world. I had the honour of spending some time alone with him and got to talk about what made him tick (there’s a pun in there for anyone who knows who I’m taking about). It was during that conversation I first heard the name Oscar Schindler and began to understand the esteem that name is held in, and why.
ErnstThis man left Germany in the thirties, so I imagine one might be able to describe him as a refugee. He settled in America, lived a long and fruitful life and he affected positively many thousands of people. Myself included.
It galls me when I hear people here using the word, the wrong word, the word much of the media uses, migrant, to refer to people currently running for their lives from war. These people are refugees pure and simple. We should be offering help, we should be showing compassion to other people’s husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, children and grandchildren. We should be treating them as we would hope others would treat us and ours were the situation reversed.
migrant
[mahy-gruh nt]
adjective
1. migrating, especially of people; migratory.
noun
2. a person or animal that migrates.
3. Also called migrant worker. a person who moves from place to place to get work, especially a farm laborer who harvests crops seasonally.
Origin
1665-75; < Latin migrant- (stem of migrāns), present participle of migrāre.refugee
[ref-yoo-jee, ref-yoo-jee]
noun
1. a person who flees for refuge or safety, especially to a foreign country, as in time of political upheaval, war, etc.
2.political refugee.
Origin
1675-85; French réfugié, past participle of réfugier to take refuge.
Every single one of us Brits here in Spain is a migrant, without exception. We moved here, quite legally, for a myriad of our own reasons, be that work, business, quality of life or even something so simple as the weather or the food. To use the word migrant compares the plight of these refugees to whatever our selfish motives were for relocating ourselves to Spain. It’s wrong. It’s very, very wrong. The word migrant is being used to somehow make the unacceptable sound acceptable, to turn victims into something far more sinister in the eyes of idiots.
Why can people not bring themselves to use the correct language? Why can people not call a spade a spade? Why can people not see the irony of sitting on their terrace in this safe and wonderful county sipping their gin and tonic whilst moaning about migrants flooding the country they left through choice? How can so many people be so bloody stupid?
Right now I’m ashamed of my country, the UK government, most of Europe, and I’m especially ashamed of the racist expats I see and hear every day. Their attitude to me is pretty much the definition of ignorance.
If you’re one of those people, I challenge you to put down the Daily Mail, turn off the BBC or Sky News and look at these photographs (click here or on the image below). Picture these kids as your children or beloved grandchildren. If you feel nothing you really aren’t fit to breathe the same air as me or the victims of this horrible and barbaric war. Hang your head in shame and hope your world never crumbles around you.
…and on to the ultimate racist irony! A Britain First – Spain Battalion Facebook page (link omitted for obvious reasons). Yes really, it’s a thing!
It will continue to get worse until the silent majority shut down the bigots, including those in government.
Alan, along with Elle, is the owner of Spain Buddy. He was born in the North of England (Lancashire) and travelled extensively before eventually settling in Almería. Alan has 3 sons from the first of his 18 marriages, (Sam, Joe & Ben) who are all now adults. You can read more articles by Alan on his personal blog at AlanGandy.com and see more of his photography on his photography website as well as on Instagram.
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Information correct at time of publication.
Vicki
October 9, 2015 @ 6:10 pm
I completely agree that we should show compassion to the refugees. However, I do believe that a large number of people which are being classed as refugees are in fact economic migrants. In fact, this has been proved to be the case when being interviewed by the international media – many of these people have made statements to the reporters confirming that they are indeed not from war torn areas and are simply looking for a better life. I do not blame them for this – that is why my partner and I moved to Spain. The difference between us and the current tide of migrants from Africa and the Middle East coming into Europe is that we do not expect the Spanish government to support us in any way. We have in fact brought money with us which is now going into the Spanish economy.
Alan Gandy
October 10, 2015 @ 9:57 am
With all due respect, referring to media reports is a large part of my point. You have seen what they, the politicians and Rupert Murdoch want you to see. I’m no conspiracy theorist, but I do have a good understanding of communication, the media, and propaganda.
This article was mostly about Syria, these people are indisputably refugees, there’s a war on. So where are else are people coming from? Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, Libya, Algeria, Eritrea, Somalia….. Lots of bullets and bombs there too. Which make them, you guessed it…
Vicki
October 9, 2015 @ 6:14 pm
….and before anyone starts accusing me of being racist, I am in fact Jewish.
Chris Gamble
October 9, 2015 @ 7:17 pm
They are either thick as sh*t or psychopaths or both.
Hugh Jass
October 9, 2015 @ 7:56 pm
You compare a person who had ethics, high moral standards and compassion to these welfare seeking oxygen thieves? And you attempt to decry ignorance? Get a grip, your own standards are out of order on a monumental scale so there is little point in your rant.
Alan Gandy
October 10, 2015 @ 10:01 am
I’m sensing a distinct lack of ethics, high moral standards and compassion on your part. And lets add to that list of things missing in your response, understanding or a soul.
If you’re going to gob off, how about you have the balls and integrity to do it in your own name. I thought not.
To quote, well, myself from the article “If you feel nothing you really aren’t fit to breathe the same air as me or the victims of this horrible and barbaric war. Hang your head in shame and hope your world never crumbles around you.”
Matthew Smith
October 10, 2015 @ 1:01 pm
You have no basis whatsoever to call them ‘welfare seeking oxygen thieves’ and yet you do. You sir are a f****** c***.
Sam
October 9, 2015 @ 10:22 pm
Totally agree with everything said. How do we immigrants (expats) have a right to complain about the number of people going to a country we choose to leave. I always find it not only incredible but frustrating when I hear expats complaining about the amount of immigrants in the UK. Do they not see that we are those immigrants here in Spain and the majority of refugees do not leave their home land by choice as we have. Help those who need it and If you have left your country by choice you can not complain about those who want to live there for whatever reason.
j Bentham
October 10, 2015 @ 8:37 am
Of course the child needs and will get help What I am ashamed of are the bigots that start to preach when they are thousands of miles away from the reality of the problems that arise from so called “migrants”.
Starting now are the problems in Germany where not only the locals are starting to complain but the various groups that make up the “migrants” rape robbery theft,read the reports. Eighty percent are deemed economic ,so that leaves twenty percent that can safely be re-located when the war ceases.
Non-integration is the norm across many Muslim dominated towns and cities in the UK, welfare bill information obtained by FoI states all or most are on welfare,will not/or are incapable of work
I for one pay my way,not dumping myself on a different culture expecting everyone to change for me
Vicki
October 10, 2015 @ 9:50 am
Very disappointed that my reply to this article has been removed.
Alan Gandy
October 10, 2015 @ 10:08 am
It hadn’t been removed, it was in moderation. Even I have to sleep sometime! ;)
Stu Bradley
October 10, 2015 @ 10:43 am
It’s typical of the racists that they’ll deign to leave a comment on a ‘blog, using a false name and no profile picture. Brave.
A few points.
I’m an economic migrant. I’m British and live in France. We get that sort of hypocrisy here too. We also get “Why can’t they speak English?”.
Until such time that all countries have a similar standard of life, brought about by an increase in their GDP, we’ll have economic migrants. But we’ll never have parity until we stop the bombing and the killing and the maiming. That’s a fact.
I really don’t care that some are classed as ‘economic migrants’ if that’s what they are. Bloody good luck to ’em. The western ‘allies’ have probably been the cause of their decision in any case, having seen the destruction caused to non-compliant neighbouring governments, such as the one they’ve just left, and decided to pre-empt yet another western attack.
I do get shitty about the mixing up of migrants and refugees. Just because they have a smartphone and decent clothes, doesn’t mean that they’re not refugees, and therefore not worthy of our sympathies. They’re escaping a war, not the 1920’s.
The media hype surrounding all of this, and the recent tory party rhetoric by Teresa May is just shocking.
Well said, Alan…..well said!
Karen Young
October 10, 2015 @ 10:57 am
Oh dear me Vicki, just because someone is Jewish, or Christian, or anything else doesn’t mean they can’t be racist! Not that I’m saying you are, I’m just querying the logic of your comment.
Stu Bradley
October 10, 2015 @ 1:06 pm
I would suggest that plenty of Jews are racist. Witness what they’re doing in Palestine. That may be a whole other question, but it’s all related.
That’s not to suggest in any way that Vicki’s at all racist, but to reiterate the point made by Karen.
Deb mc
October 10, 2015 @ 9:10 pm
We just got lucky to be born where we were, this is all about greed of countries and making people feel threatened. If all these refugees come to the UK Spain etc, it should be allowed we are only fighting because we are segregated by controlling greedy governments. One day….One day in the distant future we may, if we don’t blow the planet up first, live side by side in whatever country.
Compassion and kindness at all times with all people….it is the only way….argue all you want but in the future is there waiting for us to catch up….this beautiful planet should hang it’s head in shame at the small mindedness of some human inhabitants.
In the meantime we can all make tiny differences for our fellow planet dwellers….start today…we will all be gone so very quickly…..why be mean…live each day thanking your lucky stars you have what you have and helping everyone you can x
Joaquin
October 11, 2015 @ 9:55 am
Racism is a disease installed in weak and poor people, poor in the worse sense possible. All the problems with the refugees have been created from the countries that are suffering that process. Nature is wise.
Tim Bastable
October 12, 2015 @ 9:22 am
Really good thoughtful post – the constant use of the word “migrant” for refugees fleeing a desperate situation – and one for which we bear no little responsibility – is infuriating.
It’s a classic example of Orwellian newspeak – shame a lot of the trolls on your comments pages don’t have enough brain cells left after regular Daily Mail brainwashing to get it. The double standards are mid boggling
Alan Gandy
October 13, 2015 @ 5:45 pm
I was expecting more trolls to be honest Tim.