Thank you so much for this Ian, I didn't realise how much I needed to hear that this week...
Of course, I'm always considered one of the 'good' immigrants. European, Dutch, white. They never mean me when I call them out for it. But to me, you say it to one of us, you say it to us all!
It's like here in Ireland we have a term for the thousands of Irish people who overstayed in the US - the 'Undocumented Irish' they're 'illegal immigrants' but white so that's completely different to the wonderful people who come here to work and aren't. great article btw. i was going to share it with the charity i'm involved in but the jeremy wanking bit might have been a bit much for some of the board. lol.
Well put Nicole. I'm also a "good" immigrant but in your home country - European, British, white. I hate to hear "we don't mean you" - particularly when people talk about not integrating but never mean all the white expats who can't speak any Dutch.
I add my thanks, beautiful sentiments and writing. One observation, the reference to people being in care because their families are 'too busy' to look after them, seems strangely judgemental in such a generous hearted piece . People are in care for all kinds of reasons, usually with serious health conditions, beyond what non professionals are able to cope with. But perhaps I'm being over sensitive!
I didn't mean it that way, definitely don't think there's anything wrong with care homes. And yes looking at it, in that context, it reads judgementally. I'll try to be more thoughtful about how I talk about that subject in future.
Excellent. I’m the son of a German woman who came to the UK in 1949 to marry my Tommy-squaddie dad, so without immigration I simply wouldn’t exist. My mum worked, paid tax, was a shop steward for her trade union, contributed to society all her life.
It’s beyond depressing that politicians of all parties now come out with the same blind, bigoted rhetoric, all to appease an imagined constituency of people, most of whom rarely have immigration a thought until all the politicians and major media outlets started shouting about it.
We need more people to say what you’ve said in this piece. Thank you for switching the light on.
I live abroad and this sums up the cognitive dissonance I experience whenever I visit the UK. On the one hand there is the Godawful rhetoric that even Labour politicians now seem obliged to trot out.
On the other hand over multiple trips around the UK my foreign born wife and mixed race son have never been made to feel unwelcome in any way (with the sole exception of one bored border guard in the small airport in my hometown!) On the contrary they have usually been met with politeness and respect that on many occasions has developed in to genuine interest and curiosity about their home country.
Even as a peely-wally Scottish person, having uprooted and moved to London 30-odd years ago, I can recognise the immigrant experience you describe so beautifully.
I loved the bit where you say: ‘Young Muslim women will often wear a hijab, but they will act with undistilled take-no-shit, get-the-fuck-out-my-way London swagger.’ A perfect description of Amira & Amani from Gogglebox, innit.
Fabulous. I do wish our politicians would say things like this instead of the bile they spew out because they think it will win votes.
I saw something today on Blue Sky that said that in 1968 when putting through the dreadful anti Kenyan immigration bill Labour cabinet ministers knew it was racist and against the UK's economic interests but they thought it would help them win the next election. They lost. Says it all really.
“It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.”
Just brilliant, thank you for saying this—I wish the whole piece were plastered prominently on a wall in every town in the UK (and the Netherlands in fact, where I am now an immigrant)
And thank YOU for writing this beautiful article that captures so well the complexity and contradictions of the issue; not least for the immigrants themselves, who carry emotional and psychological toll.
I had such a high hope that the Labour government would change the tone and try to have a proper conversation around the immigration. It’s not going to happen, is it?
Thanks for this Ian, very well written and a bit beautiful. And a balm to read in this most sickening of weeks. I immigrated mainly so that my english wife would be happier, but I do enjoy life in the UK and have no regrets (yet). But the move from an immigration-friendly home country (Canada) to an openly hostile one has been jarring.
Brilliant and inspiring writing. Your words resonate with me from a very recent experience. I attended a funeral this week in Ireland. This was of a long term stroke victim who had just died. All of her carers had been invited, and all were Nigerian women who had come to Ireland for a better life and to support families back in Nigeria.
Many of the health and social care services in Ireland and the UK could not function without migrant labour. Celebration is not required but recognition should be the very least.
Wonderful piece Ian. Such an important marker in the sand when the tide seems to be going out against reason, compassion and just plain common sense on this issue. As a 'hidden immigrant', someone who melts into British society unseen, I'm often privy to conversations around immigration that make my toes curl. Often involving other immigrants who want to raise the drawbridge. So everything you have said in your piece resonates. Thank you for saying so eloquently what so many of us are thinking.
Thank you so much for this Ian, I didn't realise how much I needed to hear that this week...
Of course, I'm always considered one of the 'good' immigrants. European, Dutch, white. They never mean me when I call them out for it. But to me, you say it to one of us, you say it to us all!
That last line is beautiful, good on you
It's like here in Ireland we have a term for the thousands of Irish people who overstayed in the US - the 'Undocumented Irish' they're 'illegal immigrants' but white so that's completely different to the wonderful people who come here to work and aren't. great article btw. i was going to share it with the charity i'm involved in but the jeremy wanking bit might have been a bit much for some of the board. lol.
Well put Nicole. I'm also a "good" immigrant but in your home country - European, British, white. I hate to hear "we don't mean you" - particularly when people talk about not integrating but never mean all the white expats who can't speak any Dutch.
I add my thanks, beautiful sentiments and writing. One observation, the reference to people being in care because their families are 'too busy' to look after them, seems strangely judgemental in such a generous hearted piece . People are in care for all kinds of reasons, usually with serious health conditions, beyond what non professionals are able to cope with. But perhaps I'm being over sensitive!
I didn't mean it that way, definitely don't think there's anything wrong with care homes. And yes looking at it, in that context, it reads judgementally. I'll try to be more thoughtful about how I talk about that subject in future.
Thanks for this - much appreciated.
Excellent. I’m the son of a German woman who came to the UK in 1949 to marry my Tommy-squaddie dad, so without immigration I simply wouldn’t exist. My mum worked, paid tax, was a shop steward for her trade union, contributed to society all her life.
It’s beyond depressing that politicians of all parties now come out with the same blind, bigoted rhetoric, all to appease an imagined constituency of people, most of whom rarely have immigration a thought until all the politicians and major media outlets started shouting about it.
We need more people to say what you’ve said in this piece. Thank you for switching the light on.
In the midst of all the exaggerated negativity or just lies, it lovely to read something that is realistic, thank you!
Thank you for writing this.
I live abroad and this sums up the cognitive dissonance I experience whenever I visit the UK. On the one hand there is the Godawful rhetoric that even Labour politicians now seem obliged to trot out.
On the other hand over multiple trips around the UK my foreign born wife and mixed race son have never been made to feel unwelcome in any way (with the sole exception of one bored border guard in the small airport in my hometown!) On the contrary they have usually been met with politeness and respect that on many occasions has developed in to genuine interest and curiosity about their home country.
Even as a peely-wally Scottish person, having uprooted and moved to London 30-odd years ago, I can recognise the immigrant experience you describe so beautifully.
I loved the bit where you say: ‘Young Muslim women will often wear a hijab, but they will act with undistilled take-no-shit, get-the-fuck-out-my-way London swagger.’ A perfect description of Amira & Amani from Gogglebox, innit.
Fabulous. I do wish our politicians would say things like this instead of the bile they spew out because they think it will win votes.
I saw something today on Blue Sky that said that in 1968 when putting through the dreadful anti Kenyan immigration bill Labour cabinet ministers knew it was racist and against the UK's economic interests but they thought it would help them win the next election. They lost. Says it all really.
“It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.”
― Terry Pratchett, Jingo
Just brilliant, thank you for saying this—I wish the whole piece were plastered prominently on a wall in every town in the UK (and the Netherlands in fact, where I am now an immigrant)
It’s depressing to think what we would be without immigrants.
I’ve been to rural pubs where ruddy-faced twats opine on topics about which they have no knowledge or have any stake.
It’d be like that.
All this needed saying and so typical that Duntie was the voice to say it. Bravo.
Sincere thanks for this, Ian - it's a beautiful, eloquent piece of writing. I wish we heard more like this from our politicians
And thank YOU for writing this beautiful article that captures so well the complexity and contradictions of the issue; not least for the immigrants themselves, who carry emotional and psychological toll.
I had such a high hope that the Labour government would change the tone and try to have a proper conversation around the immigration. It’s not going to happen, is it?
Thanks for this Ian, very well written and a bit beautiful. And a balm to read in this most sickening of weeks. I immigrated mainly so that my english wife would be happier, but I do enjoy life in the UK and have no regrets (yet). But the move from an immigration-friendly home country (Canada) to an openly hostile one has been jarring.
Brilliant and inspiring writing. Your words resonate with me from a very recent experience. I attended a funeral this week in Ireland. This was of a long term stroke victim who had just died. All of her carers had been invited, and all were Nigerian women who had come to Ireland for a better life and to support families back in Nigeria.
Many of the health and social care services in Ireland and the UK could not function without migrant labour. Celebration is not required but recognition should be the very least.
Wonderful piece Ian. Such an important marker in the sand when the tide seems to be going out against reason, compassion and just plain common sense on this issue. As a 'hidden immigrant', someone who melts into British society unseen, I'm often privy to conversations around immigration that make my toes curl. Often involving other immigrants who want to raise the drawbridge. So everything you have said in your piece resonates. Thank you for saying so eloquently what so many of us are thinking.