Why do the British and Irish hate immigrants?

Question

Seriously now.
I know that half are nationalists.
But can't you see, for example, that Ireland is dependant on other countries?
The economy only grew because of immigrants.
Imports from other countries brought more variety, than potatoes.
-fruit?clothes? technology, medicines,

Immigrants built houses.
They populated the country!
Workforce?

I've lived on most continents, and to be honest, this is one of the most racist coutries I have ever seen.

If you join the European Union, because you're soo poor and you need money, you can't just back out when you get your help.
And you immigrate to America? Why should they allow you in when you want to close your borders?

oh, sorry gouch,
lately somebody here asked me if Bosnia was in Africa :P

Answer 1

I don't think most of the Irish people I've met in London are very nationalistic.

There could be a historical element to the attitude that you are suggesting that may exist (I haven't experienced it in Ireland as I haven't been there since childhood.)

Eg; Ireland was invaded by Vikings who weren't always friendly huggable folks - they wanted land and money from the locals a lot of the time, and could often be very violent. The Norman kings of England also invaded Ireland and treated them harshly, and Cromwell invaded them at one point and committed a few atrocities.

England - although the Jews and Hugenots (French protestants fleeing severe oppression) have been extremely good immigrants, invasions by Anglo-Saxons (from whom most English probably descend), Vikings, and Norman French weren't very friendly for the most part.

Russia is supposed to be very xenophobic and some historians exlpain this in terms of the Mongol invasion - the mongols killed and slaughtered mercilessly, even killing babies and little children.

Iraq is probably in part so messed up in their behaviour also because of a ruthless mongol invasion - the entire population of Baghdad was slaughtered I think.

So we pick up a certain wariness perhaps from folk memory/

Answer 2

The British don't hate immigrants. Most people in the UK have 'foreign' ancestry, I, myself, have Irish ancestry.

People are just getting annoyed because we're being forced into the European Union without being asked if we want to be part of a European Federation. The EU allows 'its' citizens to travel freely throughout the Union so, obviously, everyone comes to the UK which is putting a strain on our resources, the DSS and the Health Service. It also seems like immigrants get special treatment with regard to housing, they get a flat or house and there's a law which says that it has to be fully furnished. I have seen the paperwork for the tenancy legislation and it even mentions cutlery!

Indians came over to the UK in the 1950's to do the jobs we didn't want and they have made a substantial contribution to the 'British' culture and to the economy, and they continue to do so.

Answer 3

Sorry but this is an island and tiny when compared to America. Our countryside is being whittled away by the need to build more and more houses. We have people sleeping in the streets and people who cannot find work but still the Government lets the tide of immigrants keep coming in. Yes they usually do work hard but a great many of them take the money and send it back to their home country which does us no good at all.
Most staff in hospitals now seem to speak English as a second language with such strong accents that old people have great difficulty in understanding them. Most don't even try to integrate and unlike America they don't even have to swear allegiance. I'm not against immigration, I'm against the lax systems set up by the government.
Also we didn't actually choose to join Europe - it was foisted on us, we don't even get a vote on half the stuff that we get signed up for.
England is not run by the British Government anymore - they are just the caretakers, it's actually being run by Europe.

Answer 4

You make some very sweeping statements none of which you substantiate with fact.The village I live in has approximately 150 families from all over claiming political assylum saying it would be too dangerous for them to go back to their own countries.Of that 150 families I only know of 3 who have got jobs to support those families the rest are content to draw all the benifits they can and live quite a lot better than the vast majority of people who have worked hard and paid taxes all their life.The people who come into this country to do a job and integrate into the community I think have NO problem with anyone other than a few morons who know no better the ones who have problems are the ones who come here sit on their a,se and scroung from the state while at the same time vent their hatred of everything British including the people.
You say Ireland is dependant on other countries.The last time I looked EVERY country is in some way or other dependant on other countries for some part of its economy whether it be importing food from other countries to accepting aid from other countries.
If you as you say have travelled the world you will also have noticed as I did that in most countries if you dont work you dont get state handouts you will have also seen the racizm and hate that exists towards blacks from BLACKS in a lot of the African countries as I have and if you havn't seen any of this then I would suggest the next time you are overseas you open your eyes and ears

Answer 5

I can't say anything about Irish policy.

The British, on the other hand, have had a policy of open doors to anyone within the Common Wealth who can manage to arrive at a British port, whether it be sea or air, and walk right in!

These same individuals can immediately apply for financial aid; I assume most immediately did so.

I can't see how that policy is anti-immigration. It damned sure beats the convoluted, paper work ridden excuse for a program we have in the US.

Answer 6

My view is that our nation is a soft touch, in the sense that we are screaming out for new affordable houses - The government is going to sacrifice our country side to build 30million new homes and the problem is going to worsen because our government is not going to put a limit on the immigrants. As I have said our nation is a soft touch or stupid in the sense that we welcome all into our country and give them Free Health Care, Council housing and also our security at the boarders can be massively improved!

Answer 7

I don't hate immigrants, but I'm not too happy about immigration. Somethng about hating the sin and not the sinner springs to mind.

And I'm not so sure I'd agree with your comments about racism. I'd have said that more problems are rooted in culturalism than in racism; in the conflicts and incompatibilities which exist between different sets of customs, practices and traditions.

Answer 8

I am British. I acknowledge that many immigrants come here, work very hard and contribute to the economy.

BUT, there are many who come here just for the free hand outs. Our Government is a soft touch compared to other countries. Many people here get upset when they see immigrants claiming benefits when they themselves work hard and struggle to earn a living.
Many refugees travel through plenty of 'safe' countried where they could easily set up a new life, but they chose to travel further to come here because they can claim more benefits.

I know this isnt the case for all, but i am trying to explain why it winds a few people up.

Answer 9

good question i know what you mean! i on the other hand am in the minority and think that anyone who wants to make a better life for them self/there family should be free to do so anywhere they want! and to be honest the people that seem to shout the most about what immigrants get are normally not very productive themself, like the people that don't work( THE LAZY ONES) not the ones that are unable to work i myself thought keep them out at one point in my life but after serving in places like the former Yugoslavia changed my tune

Answer 10

British are the most rascist people in the world because we were always taught by the establishment that the British were best, subsequently everybody else must be inferior.
Funnily enough my family immigrated to England 5 generations ago [1899] but as we only came from Denmark and are white nobody ever hated us.