London Options

[Burnt Sierra]

What I'm doing by posting this is hoping to get some sort of rational debate going. I've had a word with Stargleman, who's said he's ok with me starting this as long as it doesnt get out of hand. With that in mind, no flaming, no intolerance of anybody's viewpoint that you dont agree with. I'll be watching this thread carefully, and if it does get out of hand, I will close it.

Right, well, I feel the need to write something down here about the events in London yesterday. Like many others, I spent last night phoning round my friends and relatives who live in London to check they were ok, which thankfully they were. As disturbing and upsetting as those events were though, I'm finding some of the responses to be even more disturbing. At work yesterday morning, as news filtered through about what had happened, some of my colleagues, people I classify as friends and had thought were rational and tolerant, started to discuss issues such as closing the borders, and bringing in a policy of "cleansing". Which was when I left the room. I know they were in shock, but still, when would such an idea ever be acceptable? I fear that retaliation against refugees and asylum seekers will not be far behind, as bad blood has been growing against them in this country over the last few years. Over the last few years, I've spent a lot of time working with disadvantaged groups, fleeing from religious persecution, separated from their families and trying to make a new start in a foreign and unwelcoming country, where they're unable due to laws to find work and in many cases have difficulty understanding the language. Peoples outrage over these bombs are going to seek a target, and I genuinly believe it is going to be these very same people, who are already extremely vulnerable who will bear the brunt of the attacks. Far right political groups such as the BNP have been growing in popularity as it is, and these events will only reinforce their positions. And, on a final note, I work in local government. As do the colleagues who were advocating "cleansing".

I am profoundly afraid of what we shall see happening in this country over the next few weeks.

[Chumbaniya]

Anyone who thinks that racial cleansing (even if it was morally justified, which it isn't) would help obviously has absolutely no idea. That would massively increase terrorism to levels of rebellion and war. Many muslim nation (if indeed it is muslims that the cleansing would extradite) would show instant hostility to the country, and muslims who are nationals of the country (who may be 2nd or 3rd generation, and so definitely nationals) would surely perpetrate a lot of terrorist actions. Such a cleansing would only give fuel to those who are terrorists and reinforce the idea that the west is evil and should be destroyed by Islam.

I think that Britain will react fairly reservedly to the attacks (rather that the Bush reaction of "Let's attack a muslim country!") and that Blair, despite his shortcomings, is capable of dealing well with a problem (I feel the word crisis would be too strong) like this.

Back on the subject of deporting all non-nationals, I think looking at it sensibly shows the ridiculousness of the idea. Would it include sending members of the EU back home? And how about non-nationals who fill up important understaffed positions, such as doctors? Would it send those who have been born in the country back to the birthplace of their parents?

Using the same logic, we may as well deport most American people back to europe, since they weren't nationals when they first colonised America. In fact, why not just deport everyone back to Africa since that's where humanity evolved? *Sarcasm off* I hope that shows how illogical the idea of deporting all non-nationals is.