The refugee crisis.

[stfc1975]

Of course Honkytonk,  practicalities make it almost impossible to house someone yourself.

But if the government suddenly decided to open a hostel next door to you , I am sure you would scream blue murder. Hence the hypocrisy.

Let them all in as long as they don't live by me.

[Red Frog]

Are you thinking of the likes of Sterling here....the UAE spend this summer could probably help refugees already here let alone those to come, that the Emirates as pointed out by Amnesty does next to fuck all does raise questions.

Amnesty International recently pointed out, the "six Gulf countries -- Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain -- have offered zero resettlement places to Syrian refugees."

I'm also curious as to why no-one so far appears to have suggested that America might take some of the refugees.

[Pax Romana]

Why on earth should America have to do anything? This is a European issue.  America aren't responsible in any way for this problem arising, why should they be expected to ride to the rescue yet again?

[Ardiles]

That'll happen when we start taking our fair share of Mexicans.  You have to draw the line somewhere.

[4D]

What about Turkey?

[PetsWinPrizes]

the issue of refugees has nothing to do with football, and I think banners like this are pointless  - sorry if that is being blunt, but it's just an opinion.
If people want to help, better to donate things like clothes, toiletries, funds etc setup to help these people integrate in the country they end up in - language courses, job training and so forth.

Can we not do both? I know some non league clubs have set up donation points for clothes and food at their grounds (I sent a mate with some of my clothes to one near me yesterday as I was going to be at Crewe), could a local charity collect at the CG.

It's easier for people to take stuff to somewhere they are already going rather than make a dedicated journey, does anyone know any local charities who are organising collections in the area, could they be contacted. I don't as I'm not local to Swindon.

[Red Frog]

Why on earth should America have to do anything? This is a European issue.  America aren't responsible in any way for this problem arising, why should they be expected to ride to the rescue yet again?

Why are more than a million refugees in Lebanon and Jordan a European issue? Whether or not you think America is any way responsible for the crisis, it has been heavily involved in the region. Why shouldn't it be part of the solution?

I don't think the Mexico comparison holds - we're not talking a refugee crisis there, and we haven't sought to be involved in that region.

[Red Frog]

What about Turkey?

You really need to read the news 4D.

[donkey]

V Hi

I'm also curious as to why no-one so far appears to have suggested that America might take some of the refugees.

Give me one statue based reason why they should.

[Red Frog]

V Hi
Give me one statue based reason why they should.

Here's one: because they're part of the civilized world. Why should the Middle East be more of a European than an American problem?

Here's another: the US has been more involved in shaping regime changes in the region than any other country in the past two decades. They might want to help alleviate the crisis that regime changes have caused.

And one more: US bombs are currently destroying houses in Syria. Whatever the rights and wrongs of that, they might want to help out the people that they, among others, are displacing.

Apart from the issue of refugees turning up on Europe's doorstep, I don't see why people are so keen to characterise this as a uniquely European problem.

[RobertT]

Are you thinking of the likes of Sterling here....the UAE spend this summer could probably help refugees already here let alone those to come, that the Emirates as pointed out by Amnesty does next to fuck all does raise questions.

Amnesty International recently pointed out, the "six Gulf countries -- Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain -- have offered zero resettlement places to Syrian refugees."

On that I concur, provided they are free of their threat to life. every country in the world should be chipping in and should have been well before some kid washed up on a beach. 

It's strange how we fall over ourselves to help people suffering from famine because they live in a country which has a tendency to have droughts, but ring our hands for months and years about people wanting to leave a war torn area that we helped create.

[RedRag]

Look, shorthand the power vacuum created by the invasion of Iraq and the unplanned and ultimately naïve occupation and handover to democracy (ie religous, sectarian and nationalistic fighting) has allowed the present refugee crisis to flourish under the unenviable ISIS v brutal dictator scenario in which the USA feels at liberty to bomb Syrian national territory and discuss (yes, once again and as usual without reference to supra national bodies) invasion.

There are multiple causes for the present situation but the USA can hardly claim "nothing to do with me, Guv" given its history of interference (benevolent or not) in the region.

There are no statutes I can think of obliging USA to take refugees from Syria just as there were none obliging it to take European jewish refugees in/after WW2

Its about a universal concept called humanity and in Europe AND the USAs case also something we call western civilisation, innit?

[donkey]

Here's one: because they're part of the civilized world. Why should the Middle East be more of a European than an American problem?

Here's another: the US has been more involved in shaping regime changes in the region than any other country in the past two decades. They might want to help alleviate the crisis that regime changes have caused.

And one more: US bombs are currently destroying houses in Syria. Whatever the rights and wrongs of that, they might want to help out the people that they, among others, are displacing.

Apart from the issue of refugees turning up on Europe's doorstep, I don't see why people are so keen to characterise this as a uniquely European problem.

Sorry fella, I thought you'd just quote the bit at the bottom of the Statue of liberty about poor, huddled masses. That was the angle I was driving at. Don't disagree with you btw.

[RedRag]

Sorry fella, I thought you'd just quote the bit at the bottom of the Statue of liberty about poor, huddled masses. That was the angle I was driving at. Don't disagree with you btw.

Oh, you really did mean statue based

Her's a statue based justification, then

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/06/isis-destroys-ancient-assyrian-site-of-nimrud#img-2

[donkey]

Oh, you really did mean statue based

Her's a statue based justification, then

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/06/isis-destroys-ancient-assyrian-site-of-nimrud#img-2

Nothing to worry about here, I need no convincing. This country gave my parents and grand parents a new home as they escaped Stalin. I don't think anyone has ever blamed the UK for Stalinism, but help was still offered.

Mind you the meeting in which the Social Democrats split into the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks did take place in London...