Wondered if anyone saw this programme last night? http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/dispatches/immigration+the+inconvenient+truth/1933847 The reporter was Rageh Omaar. He seemed shocked by the strength of some of the interviewees' feelings against immigrants, but I can't say I was that surprised myself, as I believe there have always been people in this country with such views. There was a white author living in Bradford who felt he had become a minority to the Asian immigrant population, a white working class family who believed Enoch's Powell's "Rivers of Blood" prediction would come true, also 2nd and 3rd generation black and Asian immigrants who felt the Eastern European economic migrants were undermining their jobs, and one guy from Brixton who said he could no longer understand people in his own country as they did not speak English (I think he was referring to Eastern Europeans here, apparently one million Poles have arrived here in the last four years). The UK population is set to rise to 71 million within the next (can't remember how long exactly) 10 or so years. In terms of overall population, 71 million would I think present a problem for public services, as well as housing and transport infrastructure. But I am not Nationalistic. I am not "proud" of this country,or "proud to be British". In fact I think the idea of nationhood is generally a very bad one, and as often as not leads to wars. I do not claim any "right of ownership" over this country, and as I see it we should just all try to live together whoever we are, as equal humans on this planet and help each other out. I think my views may well be in the minority in this country, but thought I'd put them down here anyway. For me, Samuel Johnson put it best: "Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel" So: Immigration - Right or Wrong?
I didnt think id give this credit by turning it on...although i did think when i saw the advert for it...i bet J0hn enjoyed it with an extra large bag of popcorn Views like ours are in the minority because people like to be spoonfed and have something to winge about and have everything simple and clearcut with an us and them situation. It comforts them or something, i dont know sorry im in a mood tonight
I'd agree with you Razy, we have just as much right over this land as the next person. It confuses me why people get so worked up over places like Slough having British whites as the minority. It reflects the world at large. So long as they pay their taxes, I'm fine with em.
hmm .. i meant to watch this actually, but forgot about it. you know, being a white, english, speaking immigrant and all, wanted to see what people thought about immigrants ... though i figured it was probably a lot of Daily Mail banter. *ick*
Don't think you're ever going to get anywhere with a question like immigration right or wrong? It's like saying eating food, right or wrong? Regardless of what the Sun reader might think, the country needs immigration. Most immigrants do not come to claim benefits, they come precisely to work, and the majority are young men of working age, many of whom are trying to send money back to their families. With an ageing population and a looming pensions crisis, this is exactly the demographic the country needs more of....
It's not ten or so years by the way, I think by 2050 it the statistical prediction. And I don't think it would place that great a strain on services or housing. Living out in the countryside with about ten people within ten miles, you really do get the feeling there's a hell of a lot of space going unused in the country. It's probably a bigger drain keeping the post offices open for the one immobile old lady down the road :tongue:
Doesn't it? Ah right sorry, I got that implication from an article I read the other day (Guardian) I think it was actually a school in slough that had a white British minority come to think of it.
Cor-rect Finnaz. Whoever said that Slough doesn't have a white British minority, certainly hasn't been there for a while. I went to Slough last week. Believe me, I saw more immigrants(Foreigners) than British white. Slough is one of the fastest growing Towns just outside of London. Apart from immigrants, why do they come to Slough anyway? Don't get me started about Chalvey. Unfortunately I didn't see that documentary last night. Damn, I wish I had my pvr. My views on immigration remain in my head. It is better that way so I speak from experience.
Well that's the problem with speaking from 'experience' then isn't it. It's just not as accurate as census data. You'll find the 2001 census records the White British population of Slough at 56.8%. The next largest ethnic group are Indians at 14.7%. Although we can probably safely assume that the proportion of whites to other ethnic groups has decreased in the last seven years, there's no way that White British are a minority group....
No, the Polish influx would be since the expansion of the EU in 2004. It is therefore quite possible that white British represent less than 50% of the population of Slough. However to consider them a minority, you would not only have to consider all non-white immigrants (Indian, Pakistani, Afro-Carribbean, mixed etc) as a single group, but all immigrants full stop, such as Eastern Europeans and Irish who are themselves white. You cannot, of course, sensibly consider these disparate communities as a homogenous entity. Therefore White British are not a minority group, they are the largest of a plurality of distinct cultural groups in Slough....
Fair enough then hehe. Like I said, humans are humans, we can't claim ownership of any land over someone else. So long as anyone (British born or otherwise) contributes to society then I'm happy.
I watched it today thanks to uknova... another of these documentaries very short on facts and information. Yes, they'd commissioned an opinion poll, but all that tells us is peoples perception of the issue, not the reality. 80 percent of the country think we are in the middle of an "immigration crisis" - does that mean we are? Of course it doesn't. The interesting point that many of those complaining about immigration are the offspring of immigrants themselves demonstrates that this issue is very largely one of misperception and prejudice. 'Personal experience' frequently bears little relation to the facts of a given issue. I would like to see a genuine investigation of the facts and figures with analysis of the predicted population growth rates, taking into account concomitant economic growth and the level of investment in public infrastructure required to deal with a growing population.
Agreed Lithium, ever since 'The Great Global Warming Swindle' C4 seems to enjoy flirting with nonsense documentaries that they know will pull in the viewers.
Things have dramatically changed since 2004, so the 2001 census would probably wouldn't portray an accurate record of the British white population of Slough. Given the fact Slough is one of the fastest growing Towns in Berkshire. It would come as no surprise if Finnaz was infact correct on this one. But then again, things can also decrease. Lately there are polls that suggest Poles are leaving Britain. But that may just be what this government would like us to believe. Though there is nothing wrong with foreigners. I have nowt against them. But it is just the numbers and the change which is infact happening too fast in such a short space of time. Additional: It is well predicted that Luton(Home of the fishmen) in twenty years will see that British whites(Or indiginous population) will become a minority in the year 2027 if I remember correctly.
