The refugee crisis.

[herthab]

what the actual fuck

It's not his fault. He's just a div.

[4D]

Surely the vast majority of people on this planet want a decent and untroubled life, it's the dictators of hate that seem to have created a bandwagon.

[JayBox325]

There's a story of a refugee fleeing syria and someone picked up on him stating he wants to get new teeth up here. So the natural response of someone in England was "What a greedy prick, wanting a nice smile!".

Yet what he ignored was the fact that ISIS ripped his teeth out.

They're not escaping a dictatorship that offers them a comfortable life with a roof over their heads. They're escaping having them and their families being tortured and killed

[A Gent Orange]

I don't think these people could cope with democracy and freedom (what ever that is) and you give them more credit than they deserve.
If a few middle class "students" hadn't kicked up a fuss Syria would still be a peaceful well run dictatorship, where most people could keep their head down and have a roof over their heads and a full stomach.
If that's not a third world utopia, I don't know what is.

Wow. Just wow.

[BruceChatwin]

I don't think these people could cope with democracy and freedom (what ever that is) and you give them more credit than they deserve.
If a few middle class "students" hadn't kicked up a fuss Syria would still be a peaceful well run dictatorship, where most people could keep their head down and have a roof over their heads and a full stomach.
If that's not a third world utopia, I don't know what is.

This reminds me of one of Dave Gorman's 'found poems.'

[Ginginho]

This reminds me of one of Dave Gorman's 'found poems.'

Haha, just read it in that style, makes it quite funny

[Reg Smeeton]

I don't think these people could cope with democracy and freedom (what ever that is) and you give them more credit than they deserve.

It's certainly true that there is little history of democracy in Islamic lands, and trying to impose western style democracy on them appears futile.

Turkey is the sole beacon.....which came about through the endeavours of Kemal Ataturk at the break up of the Ottoman Empire.....personally I regard Ataturk as one of the great men of history.

Turkey's democracy though is under threat in the current crisis....Erdogan is most keen to ensure no prospects of self determination or even a country for the Kurds.

David Cameron has stated his enthusiasm for Turkey acceding to the EU....it's easy to understand why, a democracy and NATO member on the borders of failed states probably needs our support.

The same was felt about NATO expansion into Ukraine and the borders of Russia.....that's not worked out too well either.

[Amir]

Malaysia? Indonesia?

[Reg Smeeton]

Malaysia? Indonesia?

Indonesia.....fragile democracy after years of military dictatorship.  Malaysia...more of a history.   Still think it's a valid comment that historically and currently in largely majority Islamic countries, that democracy isn't well developed.

[Amir]

Indonesia.....fragile democracy after years of military dictatorship.  Malaysia...more of a history.   Still think it's a valid comment that historically and currently in largely majority Islamic countries, that democracy isn't well developed.

I wouldn't call Indonesia a fragile democracy personally, although I wouldn't disagree with the last point. That's a little different from referring to Turkey as the sole beacon mind.

[Reg Smeeton]

I wouldn't call Indonesia a fragile democracy personally, although I wouldn't disagree with the last point. That's a little different from referring to Turkey as the sole beacon mind.

It's a fair enough point, I'll withdraw the word sole and replace the definite with the indefinite article.

[Not that Nice If I'm Honest]

There's a story of a refugee fleeing syria and someone picked up on him stating he wants to get new teeth up here. So the natural response of someone in England was "What a greedy prick, wanting a nice smile!".

Yet what he ignored was the fact that ISIS ripped his teeth out.

They're not escaping a dictatorship that offers them a comfortable life with a roof over their heads. They're escaping having them and their families being tortured and killed

I don't think France is threatening to take anyone's teeth ?
Why not stop there ?

[herthab]

I don't think France is threatening to take anyone's teeth ?
Why not stop there ?

I would suspect a lot of it's to do with the language?

[Skinny Pete]

Did anyone else shudder slightly when Germany announced they were preparing to process the refugees?

[singingiiiffy]

Split on this, for those fleeing war they are passing through say a choice of 13 European countries where there is no war, to get to England and Germany. A choice of better life is obviously the main priority for these people not safety.

We can and should also be doing more to help those in need but I agree with Cameron's first pledge. You have to sort Syria out which is the root of the problem. If you let more people in, they will all have the incentive to keep coming in. And there is an obvious limit.