IT was just a few days ago that I posted online my concerns about some of the comments that have been appearing about the refugees coming to Scotland.
Since then I have received numerous responses on this issue. Of those who don’t want to help refugees the most common complaint is that “we” should be looking after “our own” first, by housing the homeless, supporting ex-service personnel and generally ensuring that everyone has a decent standard of living. Then, and only then, should we turn to helping others from outside our country.
But the world isn’t that simple, should we really be turning a blind eye to the suffering of others simply because they don’t stay in our part of the world? If that was the case, then why should we contribute to charities which provide overseas aid – after all there is still poverty at home? The choice to help others shouldn’t be down to where they were born, or where their suffering happened. Helping those overseas, or even refugees coming to our country, doesn’t mean we have to stop helping those in our local communities who need support.
I got involved in the Yes campaign because I wanted to make a difference, I wanted to make Scotland a fairer place for everyone. That desire hasn’t changed since I became an MP. Each week my colleagues and I argue the case for Scotland in the Westminster Parliament, trying our best to defend everyone from the Tory cuts. And each day my office works with individual constituents and local groups to help them the best we can. The Scottish Government is also doing its best to mitigate the Tory austerity project. Whether it’s benefit sanctions or tax credit cuts, the UK Government is intent on focusing all its budget cuts on those least able to defend themselves while using those savings to cut the tax bills of their supporters (including failing to tackle corporate tax dodgers).
However, you’ve got to question the audacity, integrity and morality of the UK Government who can simultaneously claim there is no money to help those in need or to support public services yet can find billions at any given moment to pay for weapons. They have no problems finding money when it comes to killing but can’t loosen their purse strings when it comes to saving lives.
The terrorist attacks in Paris shocked everyone, as should the attacks in Beirut, Syria and elsewhere. It was almost predictable though that Islamophobia would rear its ugly head and a whole religion – and those who follow it – would have the finger pointed at them. Why should we tarnish one religion because of some fanatics who claim to be acting in the furtherance of their faith, when it is clear that the vast majority of Muslims don’t carry out such atrocities? If we are to follow that approach should we not also be condemning all Christians for the actions of the Westboro Baptist Church in the USA which spews out hatred and abuse to anyone that doesn’t follow their faith – even to the extent of picketing funerals to spread their message of hate?
There will always be some people who use religion as an excuse to act in an inhumane way but it shouldn’t tarnish that religion or all its followers. A recent report highlighted that many Muslims fear that Islamophobia has somehow become acceptable in the UK and that it isn’t tackled seriously. The recent online comments were bad enough but now we have even seen attacks on people simply because of their faith. This is unacceptable and should be condemned by everyone. Those that perpetrated these attacks were simply using the terrorist atrocities as an excuse to flaunt their racism.
The refugees that have started to arrive in Scotland have been the victims of Daesh, suffering from their intolerance and fleeing from the terror which we saw on the streets of Paris only last weekend. But for them that terror was a constant part of their lives.
Put yourself in their shoes; what would you do? Your life has been turned upside down, there is no safe place anymore – bombs are going off, your friends and family are being attacked, maimed and killed; there is no government or agency to protect you; one section of society is attacking the other; there is no future in your own country; what would you do?
We’ve all seen the distressing photos of little Aylan Kurdi washed up on a beach. His family, like many refugees were aware of the dangers they faced but still thought that was a safer option than remaining in Syria.
The refugees have had to endure so much to reach this country, abandoning everything as they tried to make their way to safety. But imagine how they would feel if the first thing they read was the comments about “sending them all back home”, they’re all terrorists’ and other much more abusive comments.
These people have been traumatised by what has happened to them and their families. They are looking for a place where they can rebuild their lives; to forge a future for themselves. They have escaped terror, violence and intolerance and the last thing they need is ill-disguised racism.
I can understand those who want to see more action taken to help the homeless, ex-service personnel and improve the living conditions of all. We all do. But I also took a quick look at some of the people who had posted the comments that we had to look after our own first – just to see what exactly they’ve been doing. I wasn’t shocked when I couldn’t find any of these people boasting on their timelines about how they helped out with a Shelter campaign to help the homeless, or how they were volunteering at projects to help ex-service personnel nor that they were supporting their local food banks. If they really believed what they were saying, why were they being so coy about their actual involvement in making this country a better place?
It was distressing to read some of the comments abusing the refugees but I know the people of Scotland are better than that. Since my original comments have gone online I have been inundated with messages of people wanting to support the refugees, far outweighing the negative comments.
At a time when people desperately need our help how do you want to be remembered?
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Callum Baird, Editor of The National
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