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.

I hope england does somthing about it. I know the UK soldiers over here want some shootin to do before the end.

But glad thoust art ok.

But for cleansing a country... theres no possiblile way of doing that unless you start a genocide like the nazis. But situations arn't that radical there. However if there was a way to cleanse a country from its bad people I would be in support of it.

I don't think the British government will take it so radically. Whatever you say about Blair, he avoids any similarities between the UK and the US, and therefore I believe he will not take drastic methods.

Irrational or not, there should be some sort of a vote about it, (mass extradition).
In Ireland, about five or six years ago, our government took thousands of eastern european refugees into the country without any sort of consultation to us. As a matter of fact, I have me very very few people who supported that decision but it went ahead anyways and I am positive a similar measure if put to a vote would be ratified by an overwhelming majority. Regardless of whether or not one finds this racist, I find it inexcusable that our "representatives" decided to take in the refugees when they were not wanted by the people who they are meant to serve.
I'm no Bush fan, but Democracy is true and fair, it is just easily manipulated and I think any internal decision by the people of a nation should be enforced by their leaders.
I'm talking about this because Ireland and England are very similar nations, and from the English people I know, this view is more or less held over there too. So, if the British people decide they want to deport all non-nationals, I think their decision should be stood by.

Oh, so now we're talking about deporting all non-nationals, imagine what would happen if the US did that.

I would be like....

"Wow, a lot of my friends are gone..."

And jona, you would support such cleansing? Mass executions of foreign people in the US? Just making sure you understand waht he meant...

[quote=gamer10]Oh, so now we're talking about deporting all non-nationals, imagine what would happen if the US did that.[/quote]

Well America is very different to Ireland. Non-nationals make up a much smaller percentage of our population. And at the risk of going off-topic, I won't beat around the bush any longer, the non-nationals where I live are treated much better than people who have lived here for years, my government pays for their room and board in a local hotel, yet there are Irish people sleeping on the streets, that have been since before the refugees were ever even heard of. There are a million other examples of preferential treatment but I won't get into them. The bottom line is, I think that the people of a nation should have a say in whether or not their government accepts/rejects/takes in foreign nationals, especially on the scale England has.
But to go back to the topic, I wouldn't agree with any sort of ethnic cleansing, but I would be in complete support of any Englishman who wanted to deport the immigrants in their country, especially if it was voted on, as right or wrong, the opinion of the population of a country should be the supreme authority in that country. And let's not forget that Castro did the same thing, except with his former opposition rather than foreigners, and he is one of the most beloved left-wing leaders of all time.

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.

Heard it from one of my friends in my old MoH: SH Clan.. and he asked if all the guys and girls in the UK Division was fine, I just 'what?' and he starts talking about the bombs and all that. I'm glad all my friends are fine...