Icelanders offer their homes, help for Syrian refugees

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by peter12

The so-called crisis, and the clamour for a disproportionate response is more sentimental right now than anything.

You don't consider this a crisis?

[peter12]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

You don't consider this a crisis?

I consider the collapse of Syria, and the displacement of some many people a crisis. Canada's response is not directly related to either situation.

Just out of curiousity. There is a lot of sentimental "holier-than-thou" types acting up in this thread. How many people have started the process for a private sponsorship?

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by peter12

I consider the collapse of Syria, and the displacement of some many people a crisis. Canada's response is not directly related to either situation.

Just out of curiousity. There is a lot of sentimental "holier-than-thou" types acting up in this thread. How many people have started the process for a private sponsorship?

Why did you use the term "so-called crisis"?

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by peter12

The so-called crisis, and the clamour for a disproportionate response is more sentimental right now than anything.

Yes. The crisis was started by Assad a long time ago, but only more recently folks have taken notice.

My response was to Quincy who was basically saying screw them all. You'll also notice I said I'm not pretending like many people that I feel we need to take them all in.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Why did you use the term "so-called crisis"?

Because of how people are framing Canada's response to the actual crisis as a crisis. We have a so-called crisis.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by peter12

A few points:

- many of the refugees are being held in Turkey, a wealthy country and a member of NATO. These people are safe already.

- all of the people leaving Turkey are seeking better economic opportunities, not safety.

- they are being smuggled by criminals in sub-standard conditions.

Originally Posted by peter12

The so-called crisis, and the clamour for a disproportionate response is more sentimental right now than anything.

Originally Posted by peter12

Because of how people are framing Canada's response to the actual crisis as a crisis. We have a so-called crisis.

hmm, odd, it appears from your posts that you are commenting on the refugees and not Canada's response.


If I misunderstood, please accept my graphology.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

hmm, odd, it appears from your posts that you are commenting on the refugees and not Canada's response.


If I misunderstood, please accept my graphology.

Any refugee illegally leaving Turkey is doing so for reasons other than safety.

[polak]

Originally Posted by peter12

Any refugee illegally leaving Turkey is doing so for reasons other than safety.

I heard some are even refusing to disembark from their trains in some central European countries?

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by peter12

Any refugee illegally leaving Turkey is doing so for reasons other than safety.

I have no doubt that is correct, I mean why would they want to leave a 5 star resort with a free tab.

[polak]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

I have no doubt that is correct, I mean why would they want to leave a 5 star resort with a free tab.

I don't know if this is what Peter is saying but I think it makes sense that once they have reached safety, they should respect the process for applying to immigrate to other countries?

Just cause you had to escape a war torn country doesn't mean you get to hand pick your favorite destination and ignore any rules or obligations that destination might have for allowing you in?

On the other hand, I don't blame them for trying. I know I would. I just don't blame a government for sending the ones that didn't follow the proper process back.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

I have no doubt that is correct, I mean why would they want to leave a 5 star resort with a free tab.

There is a moral difference between someone trying to save the lives of their family, and someone attempting to jump the queue.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by peter12

There is a moral difference between someone trying to save the lives of their family, and someone attempting to jump the queue.

I am not comfortable making an absolute moral judgement when I haven't experienced their situation.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by peter12

There is a moral difference between someone trying to save the lives of their family, and someone attempting to jump the queue.

There is a lot of grey areas for sure. Seeing some of the videos of young, fit, well-dressed refugee men pushing themselves onto train cars and buses in Hungary, while tattered women and children are standing there crying was really sad. One of the guys even had a dog with him. I don't doubt that many of the "refugees" are economic migrants using the migration to move to the West.

Having said that, there is still a crisis involving legitimate refugees. Back in the late 1990s, Canada transported 5,000 Kosovar refugees to Canada almost overnight. It would be nice to see something like that happen here, as long as they can speed up the background checks.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

There is a lot of grey areas for sure. Seeing some of the videos of young, fit, well-dressed refugee men pushing themselves onto train cars and buses in Hungary, while tattered women and children are standing there crying was really sad. One of the guys even had a dog with him. I don't doubt that many of the "refugees" are economic migrants using the migration to move to the West.

Having said that, there is still a crisis involving legitimate refugees. Back in the late 1990s, Canada transported 5,000 Kosovar refugees to Canada almost overnight. It would be nice to see something like that happen here, as long as they can spped up the background checks.

I completely agree. I just think that a) due process is very important and b) Canadian citizens are asked to share the burden through private sponsorship.

[OMG!WTF!]

Originally Posted by peter12

I consider the collapse of Syria, and the displacement of some many people a crisis. Canada's response is not directly related to either situation.

Just out of curiousity. There is a lot of sentimental "holier-than-thou" types acting up in this thread. How many people have started the process for a private sponsorship?

I sponsored a family about nine years ago. I generally agree that the last thing we want is a random block of ten thousand question marks. On the other hand, a five year wait is just ignorant.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by OMG!WTF!

I sponsored a family about nine years ago. I generally agree that the last thing we want is a random block of ten thousand question marks. On the other hand, a five year wait is just ignorant.

My family has sponsored 3 over the last 10 years. It is an immensely rewarding, and draining experience. It is also probably the only way to integrate someone from a different culture.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by peter12

I completely agree. I just think that a) due process is very important and b) Canadian citizens are asked to share the burden through private sponsorship.

I will add, that it is difficult right now too because these refugees are not just from one country and they never registered in the first safe country they entered. Plus, the human smuggling rings and gangs in the Balkans that are involved almost guarantees that some of the papers and passports some of the migrants are carrying are fake.

It's inevitable that some ISIS people and war criminals will sneak through. It happens pretty much any time there is a mass refugee movement like this. The fact that gangsters from places like Serbia and Bulgaria are partly running the show here, practically guarantees that there are ulterior motives for transporting people through the area.

[Thor]

A big part of the crisis in Syria is the horrendous drought of the last 5 years, even if this drought has nothing to do with global warming, this is a good example of what the future might hold with the earth warming. Wars and displacement and mass migrations.

[Swift]

Originally Posted by peter12

Just out of curiousity. There is a lot of sentimental "holier-than-thou" types acting up in this thread. How many people have started the process for a private sponsorship?

Why is it that when it comes to a question of charity, you (and others online) expect private citizens to step up before the government?

When pressing on the government to increase funding for schools, should we be donating money first? When we want a nice new ring road, were you asking how much people had contributed first?

"Pfft, these people who want an interchange at Glenmore and Ogden! I didn't see any of them digging into their pockets."

[polak]

The government is spending your money. That's how I contribute