I’m sure most are aware of the history of Great Britain, anything but great ironically. For as long as I’ve been socially aware, I’ve felt nothing but disappointment with how this nation presents itself, that’s even before we tackle our role in colonialism. I could go on forever over the history of Britain but for now I’ll stick to current events, just know that nothing has changed when it comes to our actions.
Monday 25th April 2016 saw British Members of Parliament vote on whether we would accept 3000 Syrian child refugees. To put this into retrospect, that would be only 5 children per constituency. Least we could do seeing as we’re partially responsible for the destruction of their lives, surely? Apparently not.
MPs voted by 294 votes to 276 to reject a plan for Britain to accept 3,000 unaccompanied Syrian child refugees who had travelled to Europe.
Just under halfway through another year of David Cameron being Prime Minister and I’m not sure why I’m surprised by this decision. I suppose surprised isn’t the basis of how I feel, disgusted is more suitable. Once again, it’s a matter of wealth ranking at the top of the pyramid, no matter who is hurt along the way. Conservative rhetoric has always been “if you work hard then you’ll be looked after” but what they forget to mention is the amount of barriers that you need to pass. In a year where many from doctors to steel workers are battling against the unfair treatment received from this government, refugees are just another group that are deemed unimportant.
September last year saw a particular image circulating British media, the image of a young Syrian boy washed upon the shore of a Turkish beach after making the heatbreaking journey to Europe, due to his home being war torn. I remember it like it was yesterday, this young boy being used to score political points and to generate a shock factor in the hope Conservative MPs would come to terms with the fact that yes, refugees are also human and worthy of respect. Yet here we are, months later and the treatment given to them is still nothing short of horrific.
We as a nation have become filled with puppets, continually allowing the rich and greedy to control our thoughts. To those who seem to think that by turning away vulnerable Syrians, we’re putting ‘our own first’, I ask, where exactly has that been done? With cut after cut hitting the majority of us that live here, from our National Health Service detieirating to the disabled having lifelines taken away, we’re a joke. A joke with a cruel punchline. Many have been led to believe that we’re overcrowded and it’s the fault of foreign citizens when things go wrong. It’s almost laughable, how easy some are to maniuplate.
Whenever we’re asked to think about ‘British Values’ a few do come to mind, from invading countries worldwide to refusing refuge to innocent children, it’s clear our values are fuelled by nothing short of venom. Being proud of Britain will always be an alien to concept to me, for as long as what we deem important are be different, my pride will never be given to this toxic island.
For those who do hold values with morals however, please take a minute to sign the following petition. Also if you are unfortunate enough to live in a Conservative area, email your MP and demand they gain a conscience. #NotInMyName
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