Immigrant???-Nasty word!

[nigel]

Is it me or is the word "immigrant" a horrible nasty word!?:yikes: Imagine someone calling you an immigrant!?:yikes: I happen to think that god created this world and that people should be able to come and go as they please! Call me a tw*t or whatever, but if people call me an immingrant?:cwm23: Am I the only one that thinks this?:Erm:

[rosstrtco]

Is it me or is the word "immigrant" a horrible nasty word!?:yikes: Imagine someone calling you an immigrant!?:yikes: I happen to think that god created this world and that people should be able to come and go as they please! Call me a tw*t or whatever, but if people call me an immingrant?:cwm23: Am I the only one that thinks this?:Erm:

tw#t, well you said call me one :xxgrinning--00xx3: sorry only messing, your wright but when you say come and go as you pls maybe i,am afraid they come but dont go and that can cause problems me thinks

[ms rae]

To me, the word "immigrant" is not as offensive as the word "foreigner".

Immigrant just means:a person who migrates to another country, usually for permanent residence.

But foreigner means: 1. a person not native to or naturalized in the country or jurisdiction under consideration; alien. or 2. a person from outside one's community.

Now that sounds more alienating to me. :NoNo:

Then again, I guess it depends where you come from. Commonly for many Filipinos, immigrant can have a negative connotation or meaning since most of the time, other nationalities think most Filipinos are poor and migrate for financial reasons(to escape ugly circumstances in their own country) - which can be quite embarrassing at times(no matter how true). Because it not only becomes a ground for prejudice against us. But most of all, it can be grounds for discrimination and/or abuse...

[nigel]

To me, the word "immigrant" is not as offensive as the word "foreigner".

Immigrant just means:a person who migrates to another country, usually for permanent residence.

But foreigner means: 1. a person not native to or naturalized in the country or jurisdiction under consideration; alien. or 2. a person from outside one's community.

Now that sounds more alienating to me. :NoNo:

Then again, I guess it depends where you come from. Commonly for many Filipinos, immigrant can have a negative connotation or meaning since most of the time, other nationalities think most Filipinos are poor and migrate for financial reasons(to escape ugly circumstances in their own country) - which can be quite embarrassing at times(no matter how true). Because it not only becomes a ground for prejudice against us. But most of all, it can be grounds for discrimination and/or abuse... Well said methinks!:xxgrinning--00xx3:

[rosstrtco]

To me, the word "immigrant" is not as offensive as the word "foreigner".

Immigrant just means:a person who migrates to another country, usually for permanent residence.

But foreigner means: 1. a person not native to or naturalized in the country or jurisdiction under consideration; alien. or 2. a person from outside one's community.

Now that sounds more alienating to me. :NoNo:

Then again, I guess it depends where you come from. Commonly for many Filipinos, immigrant can have a negative connotation or meaning since most of the time, other nationalities think most Filipinos are poor and migrate for financial reasons(to escape ugly circumstances in their own country) - which can be quite embarrassing at times(no matter how true). Because it not only becomes a ground for prejudice against us. But most of all, it can be grounds for discrimination and/or abuse...

sorry i,am not as clever as you but immigrant to me is someone comming to the uk and taking advantage of the uk and not even trying to lern our culture or langauge, thats not a phillipino far from it, sorry to look at it this way but the uk is falling apart because of these people (not all of them), nothing wrong with being a foreigner you can still be apert of the country your in but still have your pride in your birth country :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[aromulus]

sorry i,am not as clever as you but immigrant to me is someone comming to the uk and taking advantage of the uk and not even trying to lern our culture or langauge, thats not a phillipino far from it, sorry to look at it this way but the uk is falling apart because of these people (not all of them), nothing wrong with being a foreigner you can still be apert of the country your in but still have your pride in your birth country :xxgrinning--00xx3:


Phewwwwwww.....

I am ok, then.......:rolleyes:

[rosstrtco]

Phewwwwwww.....

I am ok, then.......:rolleyes:

i think so but am i, its a bit deep for me i hope i hav,nt affended anyone :Help1:

[Tiggers0608]

:Erm: i think its better be called an immigrant than an alien :doh

:NoNo: coz if people refers you as an alien :rolleyes: they might look where you parked your ship :action-smiley-081:

[rosstrtco]

:Erm: i think its better be called an immigrant than an alien :doh

:NoNo: coz if people refers you as an alien :rolleyes: they might look where you parked your ship :action-smiley-081:

:icon_lol::icon_lol::icon_lol::icon_lol::xxgrinning--00xx3:

[ms rae]

sorry i,am not as clever as you but immigrant to me is someone comming to the uk and taking advantage of the uk and not even trying to lern our culture or langauge, thats not a phillipino far from it, sorry to look at it this way but the uk is falling apart because of these people (not all of them),

I understand what you mean. Yes, that's what immigrant could mean to most of us Filipinos. :) I myself am saddened by that fact. The UK is a very beautiful country - with its rich heritage, culture and all. I really hate to see it end up in disgrace and ruins. But I guess not all people think this way, sad to say.


nothing wrong with being a foreigner you can still be apert of the country your in but still have your pride in your birth country :xxgrinning--00xx3:

I agree. I am proud to be Filipino - for everything that is good about us. And no matter where I am - even if they call me an alien, I will not deny who I am. There may be selfish Filipinos but there are also very noble ones. And I choose to represent the latter. :)

[rosstrtco]

I understand what you mean. Yes, that's what immigrant could mean to most of us Filipinos. :) I myself am saddened by that fact. The UK is a very beautiful country - with its rich heritage, culture and all. I really hate to see it end up in disgrace and ruins. But I guess not all people think this way, sad to say.


I agree. I am proud to be Filipino - for everything that is good about us. And no matter where I am - even if they call me an alien, I will not deny who I am. There may be selfish Filipinos but there are also very noble ones. And I choose to represent the latter. :)

well said :xxgrinning--00xx3::xxgrinning--00xx3::xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Gie]

UK started this life in the UK test and I must admit I learned a lot from it. In every aspect of British culture and helps me to understand English people more.

[walesrob]

Is it me or is the word "immigrant" a horrible nasty word!?:yikes: Imagine someone calling you an immigrant!?:yikes: I happen to think that god created this world and that people should be able to come and go as they please! Call me a tw*t or whatever, but if people call me an immingrant?:cwm23: Am I the only one that thinks this?:Erm:

Well, the word immigrant is here to stay, whether in English, German, French or Brazilian, so put up or shut up :xxgrinning--00xx3: No, but seriously mate, there are far more pressing problems in the world, like the starving in Afria, the homeless in Philippines and ice caps melting, and here we are in the UK getting worked up over a single word. I really think that us Brits should get out more and stop worrying about upsetting other people.

Political Correctness for me is a form of fascism, the kind of stuff we got rid of back in 1945, but history teaches us nothing.

Ever read a book by George Orwell called 1984? Its happening already (actually we are all sleep walking into it) and I want OUT of this daft country before its too late. :CompBuster:

[KeithD]

Typical Welsh :NoNo:, always trying to sound intelligent when in reality there knowledge of the world only goes as far as the next hill :rolleyes:

[Gavanddal]

I want OUT of this daft country before its too late.

So you're coming to England then are you Rob? :icon_lol: And I thought you loved Wales!

[Pepe n Pilar]

Very well said Ms Rae........:)

[walesrob]

So you're coming to England then are you Rob? :icon_lol: And I thought you loved Wales!

I'll be coming to England soon..... as they give me a visa :bigcry:

[joebloggs]

you don't need a visa to come to England Rob, you can come in, just like everyone else :Hellooo:

:D

a more nastier word than immigrant is visa fee :yikes::censored::Brick::furious3::angry::cwm23:

[walesrob]

a more nastier word than immigrant is visa fee :yikes::censored::Brick::furious3::angry::cwm23:

Yeah I agree with that.

Elsa is due to apply for Residency this year, but the fees at the moment are out of our reach, so maybe next year.

[andypaul]

i don't like being called an alien in phill, well not unless they give me a flying saucer.

[KeithD]

I think most folk on this forum come from another planet....:rolleyes:

[Mrs.JMajor]

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr,
hope no one call me stranger (kidding) hehehe there u are again kieth

[andypaul]

I think most folk on this forum come from another planet....:rolleyes:

lol its like the bar in starwars:D

[IanB]

Rosstrrtco and Nigel: immigrant = someone coming into this country to live. Prejudice = believing that the word immigrant is negative.

What would be interesting is for you to explore why you had that prejudice about immigrants? Clearly you were not born with it? Yet others have been brought up to regard immigrants as a welcome and positive contribution to our country.

When I lived in Thailand I was an immigrant (well, for two years), and was described by Thais as a farang. Interesting word. It is close to "foreigner" but actually comes from the Thai word for "frenchman" and so refers only to western (= white) foreigners. The word farang is not an insult, but it has some negative connotations depending on how it is used. Generally Thais are tolerant of farangs, and they put up with our noisy behaviour, lack of good humour, and body odour with good grace!!!

Ian

[KeithD]

In the US they say people who are against the Mexican illegal immigrants is racism :Erm: .....This is IMPOSSIBLE as they are the same race :doh

This is how the media & politics distort the words.

[joebloggs]

i'm sure if a million+ brits decided to move over to thailand, to live and work there, the thai's wouldn't be so happy :D

there can be many good things and bad things about immigrants.. depends on your point of view..

now vikings are not the type of immgrants any country wants. with their raping and pillaging :yikes: :cwm24:

[KeithD]

now vikings are not the type of immgrants any country wants. with their raping and pillaging :yikes: :cwm24:

So still plenty of them in Manchester then looking at the crime figures :D

[IanB]

i'm sure if a million+ brits decided to move over to thailand, to live and work there, the thai's wouldn't be so happy :D

there can be many good things and bad things about immigrants.. depends on your point of view..

now vikings are not the type of immgrants any country wants. with their raping and pillaging :yikes: :cwm24:

My point of view is this: I have married two immigrants, and brought one immigrant child into the country. And I want to marry another immigrant. I'm a one man immigration statistic, and I think both my wives made very very positive contributions to British society. The same goes for nearly every thai or filipino I know. I have no reason to believe that thais and filipnos are any better than any other group of immigrants (and that WOULD be racist!). I will make any immigrant feel as welcome as I would expect others to make my wife feel welcome.

As for the Vikings, as well as allegedly raping and pillaging they gave us Yorkshiremen. Whether that is a good thing, you can judge! :xxgrinning--00xx3:

Oh, and by the way, one of the remarkable things about Thailand is that its economy is alomst completely dominated by the chinese, who make up the majority in Bangkok but are ALL recent immigrants or descendents of fairly recent immigrants. Yes, the Thais have made them welcome. And there are hundreds of thousands of farangs living in Thailand. Yes, they are welcome too.

Ian

[nigel]

Apologies to those that got irritated by my post! I'm quite emotive, hey my Vimvie booked her flight to Heathrow! She'll be here on the 20th of February!:xxgrinning--00xx3: I worked out that it's 29 days away!:BouncyHappy::BouncyHappy::BouncyHappy::BouncyHappy:

[rosstrtco]

i think some of us are looking at the word in two different ways just as the word BAD can mean bad or to some it means good, when i use the word imagrant i look at someone who has come here to use and abuse this or any country the go to, white, black, yellow or green, i now the word does,nt mean this but when you bring your wife to this country i would look at her as a human being not an immgrant which is what she would be, i dont care about peoples race but i dont like anyone who takes advantage of anyone or anything

[rosstrtco]

Apologies to those that got irritated by my post! I'm quite emotive, hey my Vimvie booked her flight to Heathrow! She'll be here on the 20th of February!:xxgrinning--00xx3: I worked out that it's 29 days away!:BouncyHappy::BouncyHappy::BouncyHappy::BouncyHappy:

well done mate thats very good news you lucky bars###d, :xxgrinning--00xx3::xxgrinning--00xx3::xxgrinning--00xx3: ps you did,nt offend me you say what you like

[tomm]

Is it me or is the word "immigrant" a horrible nasty word!?:yikes: Imagine someone calling you an immigrant!?:yikes: I happen to think that god created this world and that people should be able to come and go as they please! Call me a tw*t or whatever, but if people call me an immingrant?:cwm23: Am I the only one that thinks this?:Erm:

You have to see words like this for what they are and not what they imply in British society. Filipinos call us foreigners... do we get offended? :rolleyes:

[tomm]

Apologies to those that got irritated by my post! I'm quite emotive, hey my Vimvie booked her flight to Heathrow! She'll be here on the 20th of February!:xxgrinning--00xx3: I worked out that it's 29 days away!:BouncyHappy::BouncyHappy::BouncyHappy::BouncyHappy:

Congrats, you lucky bugger :xxgrinning--00xx3: Well done and good luck to you both. :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[joebloggs]

the next person, who asks my wife, what is the animal of this chinese year, she will :furious3::cwm3::Cuckoo::censored:, i told her to wear a badge saying shes filipina not chinese :D

:Erm: this has got me thinking, my parents were immigrants, fleeing the nazi's and then the russians, i was born in the uk, i work with 2 libyans, their mother is english, but they were born in libya, we were talking about who's more english :Erm:, me or them..
they have an english mother but were born in libya,
my parents are lithuanian but i was born in the uk.,:Erm::Erm::Erm:

and does being pro-british or being proud to be british make you racist ? one thing i've always believed in is looking after your own citizens before other countries, and part of that is what gordie brown said, british jobs for british workers. :xxgrinning--00xx3: something he can't do, as it's illegal :D

[walesrob]

and does being pro-british or being proud to be british make you racist

This is where us Brits get confused - maybe its because we are by nature very reserved people, we don't wave flags or say how great our country is because it would be seen as being too "American" or too Right Wing.

[IanB]

Ross,

You really need to think things through a bit. you have a prejudice that immigrants are bad. Then, one day, you find that you have fallen in love with . . . a potential immigrant. Surely thsat should be enough to question your prejudice? Why did you think that immigrants are bad, when now you know that they are not?

It is possible that you already knew loads of immigrants and they were all scroungers? But more likely, you don't know many immigrants, and your views have come from friends, family, and the newspapers.

What a great chance for you! You now know that immigrants are not bad. You can tell your friends and your family. Let everyone know what a wonderful thing immigrants can be. But at the very least, you should realise that your previous views on immigrants were a mistake.

And to all you filipinos living in the UK: you are immigrants and that is something to be proud of!

Ian

[joebloggs]

i've not a problem with immigrants, after all, my parents and wife are were immigrants, what i've got a problem with is equality,

don, close your eyes for a bit and don't read this, someone from the EU who lives in britain can apply for a family permit and bring their non euro wife and family here for free, and 'children' upto the age of 21 !!, and if your a brit married to a non euro you have to apply and pay for a spouse visa, and the uk gov state 'children' as being under 18 !!, what a load of :censored:, you cannot have 2 sets of standards, those who are british are penalised by their own gov :cwm23:

non brits in the uk who are from the eu, after working for a year can claim child benefit and tax creds for children back home in thier country, yet my non euro wife cannot claim anything until she has ILR, thats a minimum of 2 years even thou she worked here for most of that time...

oh i'm happy for don and others don't have to pay, i don't think anyone should have to pay for a visa to bring your wife and kids here, and who's going to pay to 'secure' our borders :D, everyone or no one... equailty for all .. rant over :xxgrinning--00xx3:

:Britain::ARsurrender:

[rosstrtco]

Ross,

You really need to think things through a bit. you have a prejudice that immigrants are bad. Then, one day, you find that you have fallen in love with . . . a potential immigrant. Surely thsat should be enough to question your prejudice? Why did you think that immigrants are bad, when now you know that they are not?

It is possible that you already knew loads of immigrants and they were all scroungers? But more likely, you don't know many immigrants, and your views have come from friends, family, and the newspapers.

What a great chance for you! You now know that immigrants are not bad. You can tell your friends and your family. Let everyone know what a wonderful thing immigrants can be. But at the very least, you should realise that your previous views on immigrants were a mistake.

And to all you filipinos living in the UK: you are immigrants and that is something to be proud of!

Ian

but i,am not prejudice, and my gf is a pinoy, i dont class her as a immigrant thats what i,am trying to say, you lived in thailand and i dont class that as a migrant i,am not on about people i,am on about the word and what it means to me and by the way i have had a black gf some of my best mates are black its not the colour of the man its how the man treats the country he lives in that goes for me when i travel to asia i treat it with respect,
yes there,s loads of people who have come to this country and are fantastic people i look at them not as immigrants but human beings but people who come here or any country and abuse it i look as an immigrant, thats how i use the word, me not the oxford dick, are you saying i should,nt hold a grudge against a person who moves to another country and shows no respect for that country and uses it to there on means in ways we cant dream of, go to soho and see the eastern european girls being used and abused mmm thats good i would never hold a grudge because of someones colour accsent or relegious background o and my uncle married a muslim no probs there

[Mrs.JMajor]

Apologies to those that got irritated by my post! I'm quite emotive, hey my Vimvie booked her flight to Heathrow! She'll be here on the 20th of February!:xxgrinning--00xx3: I worked out that it's 29 days away!:BouncyHappy::BouncyHappy::BouncyHappy::BouncyHappy:

wow happy for you nigel:xxgrinning--00xx3:

:REDancedancer08::Beer::Beer:

[kimmi]

Apologies to those that got irritated by my post! I'm quite emotive, hey my Vimvie booked her flight to Heathrow! She'll be here on the 20th of February!:xxgrinning--00xx3: I worked out that it's 29 days away!:BouncyHappy::BouncyHappy::BouncyHappy::BouncyHappy:


Congrats Nigel..I hope it will be easy for Vimvie to adjust when she's here..

Goodluck to new life together..:):xxgrinning--00xx3:

[joebloggs]

these 2 stories should be in the humor section, made me :D

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/7209417.stm

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=509115&in_page_id=1770

IanB just 2 stories in the last week that you've got to admit take the :censored: :icon_lol:

and one not so funny

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/7209549.stm

from our right wing press and left wing bbc

[nigel]

Apologies to those that got irritated by my post! I'm quite emotive, hey my Vimvie booked her flight to Heathrow! She'll be here on the 20th of February!:xxgrinning--00xx3: I worked out that it's 29 days away!:BouncyHappy::BouncyHappy::BouncyHappy::BouncyHappy:

Oh! Actually she's coming on the 19th of Feb..and it's 24 days away now!!:REDancedancer08:

[nigel]

Thanks Jedci, and Kimmi, I imagine it will be hard for Vimvie at first, it's a big step for her, I'm also a little worried about Vimvie's mother, Vimvie's father is going to Australia, he has found some work as a welder, this will leave Vimvie's mother alone with 4 kids!:yikes:

[Paul_London]

Is it me or is the word "immigrant" a horrible nasty word!?:yikes: Imagine someone calling you an immigrant!?:yikes: I happen to think that god created this world and that people should be able to come and go as they please! Call me a tw*t or whatever, but if people call me an immingrant?:cwm23: Am I the only one that thinks this?:Erm:

I don't find 'immigrant' offensive. People emigrate and they're immigrants. So it shouldn't be a nasty word. That said, it is funny how we're 'expats' when we go aboard but anyone who comes here is an 'immigrant'. :icon_lol: However, I do agree with you in finding the notion of 'illegal' immigrant very offensive. No one should be 'illegal' by simply crossing into a notional man created border. Capital and all sorts of goods are now allowed to be moved freely around the world but some human beings are apparenly illegal when they do the same thing? That is quite sick really.

The only reason free movement for human beings isn't allowed in the same way as it is for capital and goods is because the transnationals would soon find less and less people to man their sweat shops, call centres etc in third world countries and therefore less of a supply of cheap goods and services to richer nations. You only need to take a look at the 'made in' labels on your clothes or phone a bank helpline to realise this.

Of course no one ever mentions anymore that mass immigration has been going on in Britain now a lot longer than just the last 60 years. Even if it was internal immigration. During the Industrial Revolution, people were compelled to emigrate from rural areas to work in the new factories. This is exactly what is continuing to happen to this day but they're just coming from further away now and outside the notional border. In addition, all the arguments about immigrants nicking jobs and depressing wages were made when the idea was first mooted that women should be allowed into the workplace. It wasn't true for woman and it isn't true for immigrants.

After that I also find the British obsession with Asylum seekers mad too. There is this pressure to send back more and more. But what about if they're genuinely going to be tortured or murdered when they return home? As has often happened to people we've sent back. It would be much simpler to allow free movement and then you can do away with 'illegal' immigrants and the millions and millions of taxpayers money that is wasted on asylum claims and trying to stop 'illegals' getting into the country. Along with the millions in taxes lost because of the black market in labour. Of course all this would virtually put the Daily Mail, The Sun Daily Express etc etc out of business..... which is possibly reason number one why it would be a good idea! :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[joebloggs]

No one should be 'illegal' by simply crossing into a notional man created border.

the sea around Britain is not man made, i find it offensive, that i being british should have to pay more than £3,000 for visa's to bring my wife and kids to live with me in the uk, while 'illegal' immigrants pay nothing, while overstayers on a tourist visa/ student visa stay here for many years after their visa expires. they are illegal because they have not followed immigration laws/rules or worse broken them.


the arguments about immigrants nicking jobs and depressing wages were made when the idea was first mooted that women should be allowed into the workplace. It wasn't true for woman and it isn't true for immigrants. .

I work with a pole who gets paid less than everyone else, my friend works for a company that has less than 20 employees , yet 7 are czechs, i wonder why :Erm:.., 8 out of 10 new jobs created in the last 10years has been filled by immigrants.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article2801894.ece



After that I also find the British obsession with Asylum seekers mad too. There is this pressure to send back more and more. But what about if they're genuinely going to be tortured or murdered when they return home? As has often happened to people we've sent back. .

a number of the 400,00 asylum seekers in the uk, are not true asylum seekers, some come to the uk on visitor visa/student visa, smuggled in on lorries, ferries and the eurotunnel and want to stay, some are illegal immgrants when caught claim asylum, they are refused asylum and then appeal , this process can take years, this abuse causes delays and problems for genuine asylum seekers..

the truth is probably in the middle, but you should see the facts yourself, not from your left or right wing press and media, but get out and read any uk immigration forum, and see the abuse that goes on.. how big is the abuse, no one knows..

[Paul_London]

the sea around Britain is not man made

No but the border is. Britain as an Island was only united as the UK in 1707. Before then there were borders seperating Scotland and England and they were firmly seperate countries. And now some of these (mad as far as I'm concerned) Scots nationalists want the border back again. So these borders are man made and if we can put them up then we can tear them down again.


the truth is probably in the middle, but you should see the facts yourself, not from your left or right wing press and media, but get out and read any uk immigration forum, and see the abuse that goes on.. how big is the abuse, no one knows..

I agree that is offensive about your wife - I just think it's also offensive that everyone else isn't allowed to move freely too. I don't look it at from a left or right perspective. My parents were immigrants and I live in an area with a historically high number of immigrants. So I understand the problems. And the main problem is that some immigration is illegal in the first place.

Quite simply, allow free movement and ensure that immigrants contribute before they get the benefits of the welfare state (what is left of it anyway!). Then there is no abuse. I hate the way government created problems like a lack of investment in social housing, schools, hospitals etc are projected onto immigrants as their fault. It really isn't. It is just a crap government excuse for a chronic lack of investment in public services over the years. Our schools, hospitals and so on would still be struggling with or without immigration.