Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Stop the Spit-Flying Xenophobia. Now

snopes.com: Pensioners Should Apply as Refugees

If you follow the link you'll find the US and Australia and, according to FaceBook, Canada gives more to refugees than to pensioners.
It is false, and it is offensive.

I am so sick and tired of mindlessly sharing or forwarding nonsense like this.
When did we stop giving critical thought to anything?
Of course, the real issue isn't thinking; it's xenophobia. For all its apparent caring about our seniors it is thinly disguised hatred.
It's another take on how them furriners are taking all our jobs/money/ resources/air/space/food/ you name it.

Friends, the world is for everyone.
If someone wants a better life then they ought to be given a chance to get it, and if they need a hand up along the way good on us for offering it.
The true test of a nation or a person is how they treat others.
And remember, unless you are First Nations born, you are descended from immigrants or refugees. If such social programs had been available back then,  my bet is your ancestors and mine would have accepted it.
So stop the spit-flying xenophobia and appreciate the fact that your country is good and kind and willing to help others.


22 comments:

Sherry Sikstrom said...

I agree, I get very tired of all of the "forwards" to angry and misleading sites, esp on Facebook.Guess there is a reason it is not called Fact book

Leah J. Utas said...

Ha. FactBook. Good one fernvalley01.
Thanks for reading me.

Chris said...

Hear, hear.

Leah J. Utas said...

Thank you, Chris.

the Bag Lady said...

You are so right about this, cousin. It is distressing that there are so many people who forward these things because they swallow it whole.

Leah J. Utas said...

Thanks. This morning's xenophobic beauty got to me. I had to do something.
I sure do wish folk would think before they share.

messymimi said...

Yes! Although the systems do need some reforms, the basic premise of giving a hand up is what we should all want to do.

Leah J. Utas said...

Thanks, Messymimi. The system is far from perfect, but at least we do something.

Anonymous said...

When my ancestors immigrated they did receive help.Not in money maybe but their fare to come was reimbursed and they were given land to farm on. That land is worth a lot more now than they would have ever thought. They received help in a differet way but it was help.

Red said...

Amen! I completely agree.

Leah J. Utas said...

Good to know it, Anonymous.

Thanks, Red.

solarity said...

Thanks for saying it so well.

Mary Anne in Kentucky

Leah J. Utas said...

Thank you, Mary Anne.

Hilary said...

Of course you're preaching to the choir here, Leah but you speak the truth. We're almost all one, two or three generations away from being immigrants, ourselves. How do so many just not see that?

Leah J. Utas said...

Hilary, it's easier on the mind to forget. It gets in the way of the hating.

Anita said...

Thank you Leah, for posting this. It's good to know the background of these little hateful, mini manifestos. I thought I would browse this post, but found myself reading it and the snopes link, too. You expressed your feelings very well.

Visiting from Hilary's. Congratulations on receiving POTW. :)

Tabor said...

Thanks for the update. Yes, we have people creating all kinds of unbelievable stuff to keep us locked in our little groups.

Leah J. Utas said...

Anita, thank you for stopping by.
Tabor, so true.

Grayquill said...

Well said...good read.
Congrats on POW

Leah J. Utas said...

Thanks for coming by, Grayquill.

Karen (formerly kcinnova) said...

And that's why I stopped reading all of those posts on facebook! (Not to mention the folks I've "hidden" and no longer visit there...)
It's a sad truth that you just can't fix stupid when someone is determined to be an offensive idiot.
It's a relief to know there are so many smart folks in the world who don't believe the lies that others have spread. Thanks for being one of the smart ones, Leah!

Leah J. Utas said...

Awww, thanks, Karen.