News Nearly 700 refugees / migrants feared drowned

[Amy SF]

I'm bumping this thread because I wanted to thank Canada's prime minister Justin Trudeau and most Canadians in general for welcoming Syrian refugees with open arms, in stark contrast to many Americans, which makes me ashamed to be American.

I found this link posted by a commenter on the news website Raw Story. He or she describes the video thusly:

Syrian refugee family enjoying their first experience with snow by tobogganing at Peterborough's (Ontario) Armour Hill.

Funny, they don't look like terrorists.

(Sorry about the large font.)

 

[ledboots]

I'm bumping this thread because I wanted to thank Canada's prime minister Justin Trudeau and most Canadians in general for welcoming Syrian refugees with open arms, in stark contrast to many Americans, which makes me ashamed to be American.

I found this link posted by a commenter on the news website Raw Story. He or she describes the video thusly:

Funny, they don't look like terrorists.[emoji14]
(Sorry about the large font.)

I think it is great about Canada, but it really irks me that you say you are ashamed to be an American. What have you personally done for the Syrian refugees besides insult "many" of the other 300 million Americans? I would have been ashamed of myself personally if I hadn't helped, but being ashamed of my country is counterproductive.

For my assistance, one of the midwives at work and I are collecting used or new infant carriers to distribute to the refugees with babies. The kind where an adult can wear an infant or small child on chest or back; it makes life far easier for parents. We have donated almost 100 so far, and are still collecting.

There are probably groups in your area that are doing things to help the refugees, why not join one? Just spreading the word like you do is a huge help, but insulting your country is not likely to win anyone over.

If I can do it working full time and taking care of a disabled husband, you can find the time, too. And then you can feel good that you have helped them...

I hope this mom gets one of our carriers. Imagine how much easier to have hands free.

 

[Amy SF]

So, ledboots, you're apparently a member of the "America, love it or leave it" club. I can't say I'm ashamed of my country without being attacked? And since when does someone have to be active in a group to be supportive of the refugees? It's nice that you're doing something, but Americans have a reputation for being gullible and easily swayed by rightwing rhetoric. Physical attacks against Muslims have risen exponentially and many Americans are confusing Syrian refugees with actual terrorists. They're spreading lies like the refugees aren't properly vetted when the opposite is true.

Yes, I'll insult the country every time I think there's a problem that needs to be fixed, like showing the world that we actually care about Muslim refugees. That's hard to do when Islamophobists and people like Donald Trump who pander to them are grabbing all the headlines.

 

[ledboots]

So, ledboots, you're apparently a member of the "America, love it or leave it" club. I can't say I'm ashamed of my country without being attacked? And since when does someone have to be active in a group to be supportive of the

I didn't mean to attack, Amy, but if I am ashamed of something that I am a part of, I try to change it. I am ashamed of homelessness, so I feed a group of homeless people pb&j sandwiches and juice every week. I know you go out of your way to acquire personal health products for the needy in your area, too. That is the lind of stuff that helps, and makes your country better.

Stating that you are ashamed of your country, like your never-ending trashy comments about Republicans, annoys the crap out of me, to be honest.

 

[Amy SF]

If Republicans behaved like sane human beings who actually cared about their constituents than waste their time trying to repeal Obamacare (which millions of people now depend on) MORE THAN FIFTY TIMES, without even coming up with a replacement that actually benefits people and not simply the insurance companies, then I'll stop trashing Republicans. If they stop saying stupid things like they'll vote for Donald Trump regardless of what he says or does because they like his hat, then I'll stop trashing Republicans. If Republicans stop denigrating women and minorities, then I'll stop trashing them. Until then I have a right to say what I want about Republicans.

 

[ledboots]

If Republicans behaved like sane human beings who actually cared about their constituents than waste their time trying to repeal Obamacare (which millions of people now depend on) MORE THAN FIFTY TIMES, without even coming up with a replacement that actually benefits people and not simply the insurance companies, then I'll stop trashing Republicans. If they stop saying stupid things like they'll vote for Donald Trump regardless of what he says or does because they like his hat, then I'll stop trashing Republicans. If Republicans stop denigrating women and minorities, then I'll stop trashing them. Until then I have a right to say what I want about Republicans.

All Republicans do not do these things.

And ask your doctor what s/he thinks of the Affordable Care Act and its effect on medicine. If your doctor hasn't retired early, like so many have. All the power is now in the hands of the insurers. A doctor will prescribe a medication, and the insurer will say Nope, not covered, try this cheaper and ineffective medication first. And the government as insurer is the worst. Medicaid and medicare patients struggle to find providers and hospitals that can afford to accept the pittance that the government insurers provide. The system is far more broken now than it ever was.

 

[Mischief]

And ask your doctor what s/he thinks of the Affordable Care Act and its effect on medicine. If your doctor hasn't retired early, like so many have. All the power is now in the hands of the insurers. A doctor will prescribe a medication, and the insurer will say Nope, not covered, try this cheaper and ineffective medication first. And the government as insurer is the worst. Medicaid and medicare patients struggle to find providers and hospitals that can afford to accept the pittance that the government insurers provide. The system is far more broken now than it ever was.

Nice rhetoric, but fortunately unsupported. No, doctors don’t hate Obamacare

 

[ledboots]

Nice rhetoric, but fortunately unsupported. No, doctors don’t hate Obamacare

These are primary care physicians in the survey. The specialists that they send their sick patients to may have a different view on the ACA.

There are dozens of doctors in the practice I work for, and I see them with their heads literally in their hands trying to figure out how to get their coverage for needed procedures and medications. Not to mention the ridiculous amount of time consuming and often pointless documentation they must now provide. Since it's a public university practice with medical school , etc, I kind of doubt it's filled with republicans.

 

[shyvas]

These are primary care physicians in the survey. The specialists that they send their sick patients to may have a different view on the ACA.

There are dozens of doctors in the practice I work for, and I see them with their heads literally in their hands trying to figure out how to get their coverage for needed procedures and medications. Not to mention the ridiculous amount of time consuming and often pointless documentation they must now provide. Since it's a public university practice with medical school , etc, I kind of doubt it's filled with republicans.

The reality always comes straight from the horse's mouth.

It's the same old story over here ; the government says one thing and citizens experience a different story.

 

[Andy_T]

I am bumping this rather old thread, as a Facebook friend of mine has written a small article about a refugee family from Syria that she has personally met.

It is seldom that we learn more about the people behind the word in a way that we can relate with.

Get to know the life story of a young Syrian family

On December 10, 2015, a Syrian refugee family was also quartered at the farm where I also live. As a direct neighbor, I have contact with the family and can experience their integration firsthand.

Recently, the father of the family said that he wants to thank the German citizens very much for having been allowed to come here and that he and his family were and still are being helped. For that reason, I want to write down the history of the family:

> In a very short time they learned German>

We get to know the life story of a young Syrian family

"People in Burgdorf are very friendly. They always smile and are very helpful. They are interested in us. " says Syrian Kasem Abo Kharrob. Since 10 December 2015 the computer expert and his family have been living in a small apartment in Hülptingsen.
Before the bombs in Syria forced the family flee, the 33-year Kasem Abo Kharrob was an ambitious family man. Among other things, he was trained in Paris as a specialist and manager in telecommunications and networking equipment by the company Alcatel, and subsequently worked as an instructor in his home in Daraa. His wife, who is three years younger, was working at the Ministry of Economy and Trade as an office assistant.

However, the civil war also reached their hometown of Nawa near Daraa and threatened the life of the family, their friends and neighbors. More and more, they had to seek shelter at night in the adjacent basement while bombers thundered over the roofs of the houses. Friends and neighbors were killed in bombing raids. The children could not attend school any more, and the daily commute to the workplace of the parents in Daraa became impossible. Finally, the newly built house of the Abo Kharrob family was also destroyed by bombs. Kasem and his family have lost everything: the house, all the possessions, work, loved friends and relatives. Their only remaining thought was to escape.

In September 2015, Kasem first traveled to Turkey alone by car. In Istanbul he met his family again, who had taken the road via Lebanon, and together, they managed to cross to the Greek port of Mytilini in a small yacht. The young family, who now only possessed what they were carrying on their bodies, continued their flight with a large cargo shop to Athens, then further to Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Hungary and Austria to finally arrive in Friedland in Germany.
On 28 September last year, after spending two days there, they were then taken by a bus to the refugee camp in Dannenberg, where they were provided with clothes and stayed for two months and 10 days. Only then they were assigned to their – so far – final destination of Burgdorf. On 10 December 2015, they arrived exhausted, but full of hope and confidence at a new home in a foreign country with a foreign culture and a foreign language.

> Full of confidence they are looking into the future>

Today, three months after fleeing from their homes, the young family has regained courage. The parents have learned German impressively fast. With friendly openness the young Syrians approach their neighbors and have made friends in Burgdorf. Eight-year old Morhaf has been visiting the school since January, and is very happy about having quickly found friends. His six year old sister Eilaf has been visiting the kindergarten since mid-February. Kasem and his wife Sulav now hope to find workplaces, so that they are able to live self-sufficiently.

After having heard about the incidents during New Year's Eve in Cologne Kasem was very affected: "I apologize for the perpetrators. They must be punished. Who wants to live here must respect the German laws! We are very happy to be in Germany - to be safe. We love peace, honesty and charity and hope for good relations with the locals.

Our thanks to the German people are immeasurable. "

from:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=557529924409206

 

[Andy_T]

As a contrast to that, there are horrible scenes occurring nowadays in Germany, mainly in the Eastern part of Germany where people have a proud history of trying to kill those who look different and the mobs cheering on the perpetrators.

- "Concerned citizens" protest refugees with Nazi paroles
- "More than concerned citizens" (my word creation, as I can not write NAZI assholes) think it is a good idea to set fire to or bomb refugee camps or try to assault refugees (preferably families, women and children) on the streets

As a latest incident, a bus with about 40 refugees (families with children) arriving in a small village was stopped by an angry mob who tried to prevent them from entering the refugee housings for several hours. Finally the local police used bodily force to drag some of the frightened refugees into the housing, under cheers from the onlookers. Their logic was, of course, that if 36 "foreigners" get housed in their city of 900, then their quality of life and safety will degrade significantly, so best to try to bully them into going away. The local police say that the refugees were to blame themselves, as some of those in the bus made insulting gestures to the "protesters".

Burning refugee camp (arson) in Bautzen, onlookers tried to prevent the fire brigade from fighting the fire and shouted paroles against foreigners.

I am very ashamed about what is happening in some parts of Germany.

 

[shyvas]

People Smugglers Capitalise As Borders Tighten

 

[Joe]

As a contrast to that, there are horrible scenes occurring nowadays in Germany, mainly in the Eastern part of Germany where people have a proud history of trying to kill those who look different and the mobs cheering on the perpetrators.

- "Concerned citizens" protest refugees with Nazi paroles
...


Burning refugee camp (arson) in Bautzen, onlookers tried to prevent the fire brigade from fighting the fire and shouted paroles against foreigners.

(Emphasis added.)

Andy, I am unfamiliar with this use of the word paroles. I was unable to find a definition in any online English dictionary that matched. Would you please tell me what the word means? And please cite any online dictionaries that give a definition of it in the way you are using it?

 

[ledboots]

(Emphasis added.)

Andy, I am unfamiliar with this use of the word paroles. I was unable to find a definition in any online English dictionary that matched. Would you please tell me what the word means? And please cite any online dictionaries that give a definition of it in the way you are using it?

I think they might mean "patrols".

 

[Second Summer]

Andy, I am unfamiliar with this use of the word paroles.

I think it means something like "political slogans". Or at least I'm pretty sure that's what Andy means. We have the same word in Norwegian.

 

[Andy_T]

I think it means something like "political slogans". Or at least I'm pretty sure that's what Andy means. We have the same word in Norwegian.

Yes, that is the one.

Sorry for mixing that one up and using a German word that means something else in English.
The word I meant was something like "slogan" or "rallying cry".

 

[Joe]

The word I meant was something like "slogan" or "rallying cry".

Thanks, Andy.

BTW, just so you know, there are a number of words that are not defined even in unabridged English dictionaries.

 

[Moll Flanders]

The Pope has returned from his visit to Greece with three families of migrants who had their homes bombed during the Syrian war.

Migrant crisis: Pope returns from Greece with 12 migrants - BBC News