That little boy

[Osc]

I am not normally cynical (although I am becoming more so as the years go on) and I am certainly not hard hearted but the photos of that poor little boy are making me uneasy. I can't get away from the feeling that his little body was "arranged" on the beach, no one else around, no debris nearby. I saw another photo where he was being taken from the water in an area where there were rocks. The family had been living in Turkey for a year, he was well dressed and healthy looking, as is his father so they were not desperately fleeing from Syria this week. I heard on the radio this morning that the photograper felt that the world needed to see what is happening - fair enough but did she then refuse payment for her photos? There have been many photos and films of dead children being lifted off boats, dirty, bedraggled, barefoot, having died on the awful boats filled with refugees genuinely fleeing....not too many of them are nicely dressed in shorts, decent shoes and a cute red teeshirt.

This is not just about Syrian refugees, it is also about economic migrants trying to enter Europe on their coat tails, so I really think countries do need to process them carefully, instead of being guilt tripped into taking anyone and everyone. I am almost afraid to express my views, to be honest, because they are not very PC.

[Weka]

I have to agree, something doesn't stack up for me either

[Aggers]

I am almost afraid to express my views, to be honest,
because they are not very PC.

You're not the only one, Osc. This is a very complex subject, and because it has
never happened before to this degree, no-one really knows what the answer is.

[Nanna]

Thank you for that Rosie. I thought I was the only cynic around.

[Workingman]

Quite right, Osc.

Europe has been sent on a guilt trip by the UN, NGOs and the media.

Syrians and Afghans who have fled their countries, mainly fit and healthy males, and arrived in Turkey could go to Georgia, Armenia or further east to Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan anf Kazakhstan. Plenty of room and plenty of opportunities.

But no, they become a European problem... and that problem is our fault.

As for the African hordes; they are mainly opportunist migrants. Their actions are illegal under international law. Unfortunately there is a "Drop the "I" word" campaign - I = illegal - to soften the impact of their actions. Many media outlets, including the BBC, have bought into that campaign and so we get all the touchy-feely stuff but none of the negatives.

[TheOstrich]

The thing that didn't stack up for me - in fact both Mrs O and I raised our eyebrows at it - was the statement that the father was going to take the body of his wife and two sons back to Kobane, Syria to bury them.

Now I know that Kobane was the scene of fierce Kurdish / ISIS fighting and American bombing back 5 or 6 months ago, so I wouldn't blame anyone from getting out of the place - but the father is now going all the way back? Then what is he going to do?

Somehow that just didn't compute for us ....

[Workingman]

I thought that the family were trying to get to Canada.

Could they not have done that from Turkey, or is it easier from the EU?

If the latter is the case then countries outside the EU need to look at their immigration policies as well.

[Weka]

http://m.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/arti ... d=11508519

[Kaz]

I know Weka, it's just horrendous There are real people, with feelings, hopes and dreams behind all of the political posturing

[KateLMead]

Set up or not.. The situation is horrendous, if it took this photograph to hit every decent man and woman's conscience so be it.
I would take every man woman and their child or children and give them sanctuary , I would return the rest to their country of origin.