Refugees

I don't think it's impacting our country at all, though with my hikikomori tendencies, I wouldn't really know if it did.

Personally, I think it's a horrible idea for those on the receiving end, but I can't really blame people for seeking a better life.

How this is ultimately gonna impact the economy, I can't say. I don't imagine it'll be healthy.

 

Personally, I believe that Germany is committing suicide. The German population is not large enough that it will be able to remain the majority. The past twenty five years have shown that 3rd world immigrants do not have any interest in assimilating and taking on the culture of the nations they move to. Instead they wish to supplant the culture with their own. Considering (as Tal mentioned) that many of them are not actually refugees, I think a more appropriate term may be "invasion".

It will not surprise me at all if in the next ten or so years there is a second wave of immigrants from Europe trying to get to North America to escape what is happening now. Tal, if you need a room until you get on your feet let me know.

 

What level spell is that?

 

It's an epic level spell only available to rulers of domains.

 

Chuckled when I saw this:

 

A friend on FaceBook who lives in England posted this.


Personally I find the Western attitude including in particular the USA's disgusting. The USA has a quota of 12,000 we could stick those in Texas and no one would even know they were there. What has happened to humanity? We spout hyperbole of tolerance, of freedom of rights but in the end actions do count louder than words.

I applause Germany.

 

I'll admit, it's a nice appeal to humanity. Unfortunately, it's easy to feel empathy for a boy who washes up dead on a shore. It's not easy to feel empathy for millions of people that you don't know. To most people, these "refugees" are only a statistic and the only thing they can be sure of is that they bring change to their lives. Change they never asked for and are not prepared for.

 

There are seven billion people inhabiting our world. Four million is but a puddle in the ocean of our population. It isn't a matter of empathy in my opinion. It is simply a matter of simple human decency. We in the USA or at least our representatives spout off a bunch of rehtoric about human rights, freedom, morality and such garbage but when it comes to the wall it's seems the truth is the slogan. "Shoot the bastards." Yes I know that is a bit strong but we place a quota of 12,000. We are a large country with a large population that has absorbed to some exten or another many different cultures .

People are making judgements without facts. People are passing on cliches they have heard or read. Do not judge others if you are not willing to be judged by the same criteria. The very least the more affluent countries could do is provide food, clothing, water, shelter to those refugee camps. The very least countries with resources could do is try and find a solution. "Not in my backyard" is a dangerous attitude. If the situation was reversed and it could easily be so then it is best to remember that our judgement was negative and expect only the same. How many of those 4 million are children? Do only children matter? Who does matter? Europe went through two World Wars in the 20th century. There are still people alive today who can remeber WW II. There are people whose parents and grandparents told them about it. Who wants to live in a war zone? Who wants to live in constant fear for their lives?

I can remember when we took in Hungarian refugees. OH, sorry they were Europeans so that makes them one of us. Big difference, cynicism intended.

 

Tal, you are there and I am not. I believe that many do take advantage but the thing is what is being done to help those who need it? Where is the UN in solving this problem? People are reacting because of prejudice. They, the refugees, are not Christian, they are from a completely different culture than the majority in Europe and North America. The fact that other Muslims have been absorbed successful into our culture doesn't change peoples minds.

I am critzing my own country harshly. We could take in a lot more than 12,000 without a problem.

Did you see my post just prior to yours? Posted about the same time.

 

We have a problem. Is there a solution? I think so. Maybe not an easy one, maybe what I think is not the best one. If so many of the "refugees" are not from Syria it might not hurt to consider who are the most needy. As I understand it the camps are not well maintained.

The heads of the European countries should get together along with the USA. There are resources available and the camps should be cleaned up, minimal provisions and shelter given to people. This is one time that I would use armed force if necessary and it sounds as if it is necessary. This armed force is readily available and of course should be strictly supervised. Medical treatment of at least basic kind should also be provided.

Hokay, I won't throw a rant about the third largest geopgraphical nation in the world taking in the gigantic number of 12,000 when the UK a smaller nation is taking in 10,000.

True that many, many people die each year in both natural and man made disasters so maybe we have become hardened to that fact but this is causing problem right in our own back yard. The USA connection is very close to Europe and we do bare blame for the problems in the Middle East along with several other countries. So we should be part of the solution.

A probably factious thought just crossed my mind but there is a bit of wishful thinking in it. Could we send all our wanta-be Presidential candidates to Europe to sort out the problem?

 

There is no "human decency" without empathy. If you feel no empathy toward someone, you have no reason to treat them well unless they provide you with a clear benefit.

The only thing a massive group of people like that represent is a threat to most countries, whether it's a question of economic stability or simply a question of security.

 

Keneth, I think we are using or defining empathy in different ways. The Online dictionary defins empath as

IE: I simply cannot feel empathy for a person who has been raped or abused as a child because I have never been raped or abused. After discussions with those who have had this happen I can understand, sypathize with them but I cannot identify with them. Even if I think of how I might react under similar circumstances those would be my reactions and not theirs.

IE: Someone who has reasonably normal vision cannot empathize with me and can be actually very annoying and cause problems if they try to. I have had people try to fix something so it is easier for me to use and all they do is make it harder for me.

Being empathetic can actually be harmful. It is subjective and not objective. We have a problem and it is not going to go away simply because we don't like it. The more emotonal our reaction the worse we will make the problem. This is a time to be objective not subjective.

I can understand the fears of others but that does not mean I think those fears are correct.

Dare I point out that Hitler used the fears of the German people to justify torturing and killing millions of people?

 

I see sympathy as a result of empathy. As someone who is incapable of either, that is how I perceive it.

Regardless of how you choose to interpret the traits, both are a vital part what we call "humanity" or, as you put it, "human decency".

 

The "fake" refugees might not be from Syria but it is not like they are moving from one gravy train to another. They are mostly Afghans or east Africans both places not really known for their peace and quiet. I work with many of these young men as a teacher and from my point of view everyone is more or less correct. Except for Snook who has absolutely no idea whatsoever. The problem is what are you supposed to do when there are a bunch of hungry desperate people knocking on your door? I don't think we are willing to shoot them all so we have no choice but to help as best we can.

I must also say that the view of humanity expressed here by some people is quite revolting. You are aware that even people from other countries with darker hair are humans right? They care about themselves just you care about yourself. They want a decent life. They can't have a decent life where they were born so they try to seek one out. Many of them have very conservative views which clash with liberal western values so that is a problem but it isn't really an invasion. The problem as always is a matter of distribution of resources, I am sitting here writing on my 1000€ computer in my dedicated computer room and later I wll go watch some Doctor Who on a big screen TV laying in my big sofa in my living room, tonight I will go to sleep in my big bed which I have to myself while watching TV on my other big screen TV. In a short while I will take my car and go out and buy some food and I can buy any food I want. That is my life, I am a lower middle class public servant in the western world. There are lots and lots of people who would view me as kinda poor but for the vast majority of humanity I am unbelievably rich. We have the money, we have the resources to give EVERYONE a decent life if we were just willing to share. Sadly, we are not instead we view people with nothing as dangerous threats while we keep hoarding our resources and blaming the poor for being poor.