With
the recent success of UKIP in local elections it is no wonder that
everyone is keen to get on the immigration bandwagon, except those
that the current government are trying to send home of course, by way
of the van they have trawling through the streets of London telling
them to go home. Another hair brained scheme funded by the tax payer;
it might be cheaper to offer to pay their air fares.
Personally, I have no particular view as long as those I live and work alongside pay their taxes like the rest of us, and make some effort to integrate. However, it seems that the whole issue of immigrants, along with the threat posed by an ever expanding EU, is a real and very live issue, even in deepest darkest Somerset.
Using inflammatory language like 'Bongo Bongo' land can only serve to alert us all to the lack of understanding of those that wish to represent us. I was interested to discover that the leader of UKIP, Nigel Farage, apart from being married to a German, is himself descended from Georgius Ferauge who lived in the Ardennes, a region that straddles France and Belgium. He has also carefully cultivated an image of being a pub going, chain smoking man of the people, where in fact he is a millionaire stockbroker; 'Just like all the rest', you might think.
What concerns me most though are programmes like the recent one aired by Channel 4, and entitled 'Why don't you speak English?'
I believe it is right to expect those that choose to live here to learn our language and appreciate our culture, and as an English teacher I certainly do my part to help make that happen, but let's not be hypocritical about it.
I am reminded of all the middle aged, middle class people I know who have been fortunate enough to own and live in properties abroad, often in France or Spain, and who after 20 years still don't speak the language, insist on eating fish and chips, and move back here once their health starts to fail, so that they can receive treatment on the NHS. Pot, kettle and black are words that spring to mind.
Personally, I have no particular view as long as those I live and work alongside pay their taxes like the rest of us, and make some effort to integrate. However, it seems that the whole issue of immigrants, along with the threat posed by an ever expanding EU, is a real and very live issue, even in deepest darkest Somerset.
Using inflammatory language like 'Bongo Bongo' land can only serve to alert us all to the lack of understanding of those that wish to represent us. I was interested to discover that the leader of UKIP, Nigel Farage, apart from being married to a German, is himself descended from Georgius Ferauge who lived in the Ardennes, a region that straddles France and Belgium. He has also carefully cultivated an image of being a pub going, chain smoking man of the people, where in fact he is a millionaire stockbroker; 'Just like all the rest', you might think.
What concerns me most though are programmes like the recent one aired by Channel 4, and entitled 'Why don't you speak English?'
I believe it is right to expect those that choose to live here to learn our language and appreciate our culture, and as an English teacher I certainly do my part to help make that happen, but let's not be hypocritical about it.
I am reminded of all the middle aged, middle class people I know who have been fortunate enough to own and live in properties abroad, often in France or Spain, and who after 20 years still don't speak the language, insist on eating fish and chips, and move back here once their health starts to fail, so that they can receive treatment on the NHS. Pot, kettle and black are words that spring to mind.
British
to the core, but having lived abroad for part of my early adult life
I have witnessed the steady wave of immigrants who come with the hope
of finding a better life, who want to work and contribute to the
societies they flock to. Many of those that started off at the bottom
of the social pile, accepting menial jobs, poor working conditions
and low wages; exploited by unscrupulous employers, to climb onto the
first rung of affluence, are now considered pillars of our society.
Would we really be better off without their contribution?
Shirkers who take advantage of others come in many guises, not all of
them from abroad.
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