Asylum Seekers: another league table

 

The numbers applying for asylum in our neighbouring rich counties in 2019 was
 

Germany: 165 516

France:    151 070

Spain:      117 800

Greece:     77 275

UK:            36 000

Yet our politicians have for years given the impression that we are being uniquely targetted as a "soft touch."

 Worse, Prime Minister Johnson has described the current attempts of migrants to reach the UK across the Channel, as "criminal" (it isn't), a letter to him from 20 Tory MPs speaks of an "invasion" and a junior minister on the radio this morning talked repeatedly (she was clearly "on message") of people trying to "break in" to our country.

My own reaction is: "Thank goodness some of them still want to come here."

Refugees who have taken the initiative to flee tyranny, war, environmental or climate devastation, or abject poverty, constitutive some of the bravest and most resourceful in the world.

 Apart from the teachings of Jesus, (later), and common decency, why on earth can't we recognise the enormous contribution they are likely to make to our society once they have settled?

 Michael Marks and Montague Burton are just two star examples who  have contributed to the prosperity of us in the Leeds area (and eventually well beyond).  There are dozens of others.  

The 2020 TV film  The Windermere Children gives a moving account of the experiences of Polish refugees brought to the UK in a generous spirit in the immediate post-war period (though the  generosity was largely on the part of private individuals rather than the Home Office.)

I am very conscious of how much the quality of my own daily life is enhanced  by the contributions immigrants or the children of migrants:  from cleaning my car and delivering of the morning paper, to dentistry; dispensing of prescriptions; about a third of my NHS treatment; vicar and organist of the church I attend, along with two thirds of the choir; and Indian and Italian cuisine, to mention but some.

So instead of the Home Office's hostile environment and  request for military  assistance to keep them out, I should prefer to see them set up booths on the French coast saying "Welcome to Britain,"  safe passages  with a cup of tea and a sandwich on the ferry, travel warrants for where they wanted to go and a settlement grant to keep them going until they find their feet.

Such a scenario is unlikely to happen under the present government , but it would be encouraging to hear opposition leaders demanding a more humane approach to our fellow world citizens.  And cries of outrage from the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, Chief Rabbi, Chief Sikh, Presidents of the Muslim Council,  Methodist Conference, Baptist Union et al.

Here's what Jesus taught, regarding the rather surprised  "sheep" at the Last Judgement

Then shall the righteous  answer [the King] saying, Lord when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee, or thirsty and gave thee to drink?  When saw we thee a stranger and took thee in? or naked and clothed thee?  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison and came unto thee ?

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it  unto one of these the least of my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Matthew 25 vv 37-40

The scriptures of other religions all have similar, though possibly less graphic, passages, and I expect the Humanists have something  on  these lines to say as well, if only "Do as ye would be done by."