Europe welcomes Ukrainian refugees — others, not so much

Thank you to the neighboring countries for taking in the refugees!

“These are not the refugees we are used to… these people are Europeans,” Bulgarian President Rumen Radev told journalists earlier this week, of the Ukrainians.

Japanese people as well seem to hold many positive stereotypes of Ukrainians.

Ukraine citizens fighting for their lives while some are protesting they are oppressed because they need to wear a face mask. The citizens of Ukraine actually know what true hardship is.

There is a big difference between economic migrants from Afghanistan and Africa and those who are genuinely fleeing bombardments.

Europe cannot take all the poor people of the third world and should not become in turn a third-world.

How many Africans did Japan take which is much more affluent than some of the countries here mentioned?

They also bring usable skills with them and integrate well. One of best friends in the UK is a Ukrainian specialist doctor, fluent English, and working in the NHS. Owns a house, contributes to the local community. She managed to get out last Friday night from the western part of the country after visiting her relatives.

people with unclear pasts, who could have been even terrorists…"

How do the Europeans know whether some of the refugees are actually Russians who've finally found a way out of Putin-istan. And that they aren't coming to Europe with some brand of Putin tea to serve to some of Putin's enemies abroad.

Hats off to any people from anywhere able to escape one of the globe's authoritarian nations. Too bad there are xenophobes trying to block them. Many in the west have accepted Putin because he's a member of a religion similar to theirs, and looks similar to them. Recall in the USA Putin's people have worked with the NRA and other rightist organizations to fan flames. Trump has

https://www.npr.org/2019/09/27/764879242/nra-was-foreign-asset-to-russia-ahead-of-2016-new-senate-report-reveals

https://www.france24.com/en/20191008-republican-led-probe-finds-russia-helped-trump-in-2016

There is a big difference between economic migrants from Afghanistan and Africa and those who are genuinely fleeing bombardments.

spot on! By the way I wonder whats the ratio of families with children x military age men fleeing Ukraine right now. I doubt ukrainian men will leave their families in the war zone to “send money later”.

Worried 24h about the situation in European lands and wake up just to see some guy accusing people of “racism”… in the middle of a freaking war.

My grandmother from Hungary had many stories to tell about times during WW2. She witnessed both the Germans and Russians march through her small town. She said unless you were Jewish, the Germans were quite friendly and gave many gifts to the townspeople. The Russians were brutal on the other hand and treated people like dirt. They were all forced to learn Russian, had many businesses destroyed and indescribable things happen to people. Hungary generally doesn't allow refugees in but they will if it is against Russia.

How welcoming are the Arab countries to European non-Arab non-Muslim visitors?

“These are not the refugees we are used to… these people are Europeans,” Bulgarian President Rumen Radev told journalists earlier this week, of the Ukrainians. “These people are intelligent, they are educated people. ... This is not the refugee wave we have been used to, people we were not sure about their identity, people with unclear pasts, who could have been even terrorists…"

I am glad he cleared that up, so we know exactly what type of refugees are welcome in Bulgaria!

There are disturbing reports about Ukrainian border guards beating up people with a different skin tone. Time that is stopped, the war will end soon so should racism!

Pukey2Today 10:15 am JST

Yes, these people are different to Syrians and Africans:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTf2dhqzGyM

Yes, I saw that. Meanwhile, not a peep about what's happening in Yemen. The hypocrisy is beyond belief.

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/01/yemen-us-made-weapon-used-in-air-strike-that-killed-scores-in-escalation-of-saudi-led-coalition-attacks/

Having lived in Germany during 2015 (was there 2011 - 2016), there is a stark difference between then with the muslim population and the Ukrainian's. The Ukrainian's eventually want to go back to their country. And if they don't, they'll assimilate like they should. Learn the local language and become productive in the society.

In 2015, the people coming in wanted the hand outs, got them. Got shelter, but were not trying to learn the language. Refuse to follow German customs, reproduced ad mad rates (see Malmo Sweden for the end result of this). Even the German's are getting tired of the issues these "refugees" have caused.

Unless you have seen this you really don't understand it. for most it's just a talking point. For me, it was horrible seeing bus stops get moved because of the men staring at the school children in the town. It was not a good thing for crime to go up. Exponentially. And not wanting to be in a city fussganger (pedestrian) zone after dark. I was glad to leave when I did. Germany changed a lot. And not for the better.

Meanwhile foreign students are stuck in Ukraine

Ukraine conflict: Nigeria condemns treatment of Africans: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-60555650

I agree with those that distinguish between refugees and migrants. Though I sometimes sympathize with migrants and their inability to find work in their own countries, there could be a myriad of reasons why it's happening. It's not the same as fleeing for your life due to a war that you have no control of.

Hells teeth Syrian journalist Okba Mohammad is raking over a war to race bait.

Distinctions are crystal clear when defining the status of migration, refugee, and asylum.

Important when the EU/UK has a policy on people trafficking/smuggling.

Asylum and Migration

https://www.unhcr.org/asylum-and-migration.html

UNHCR viewpoint: ‘Refugee’ or ‘migrant’ – Which is right?

https://www.unhcr.org/news/latest/2016/7/55df0e556/unhcr-viewpoint-refugee-migrant-right.html

Sounds right to me. Fleeing to the neighbour country to save your life is not the same than to flee to get best handouts as possible where you also will only beg.

In France, at red lights, you will find many around Paris with beggers, who never tried to assimilate. Guess what do they look like ?

And we are talking most of the time of full families, or men only. Worthiness is judged by the way you try to be or do better, not the opposite.

To give an example, I made once work a man to paint some part of my facade near the roof. Tough physical job. Only Eastern Europeans do that, the others mostly just beg.

Indian students studying medicine in Ukraine were stuck at the border and manhandled but not certain this had anything to do with racism. There were reports that Ukraine was unhappy that India abstained from voting against Russia at the UNSC meeting and Indian students who were mostly welcome earlier are now facing hostility from Ukrainians.

“These are not the refugees we are used to… these people are Europeans,” Bulgarian President Rumen Radev told journalists earlier this week, of the Ukrainians. “These people are intelligent, they are educated people. ... This is not the refugee wave we have been used to, people we were not sure about their identity, people with unclear pasts, who could have been even terrorists…"

“In other words,” he added, "there is not a single European country now which is afraid of the current wave of refugees.”

This is disgusting. It's open bigotry.

Thousands of people from non-European nations in desperation, and they were turned away because "you don't look like us"?? Revolting.

“In other words,” he added, "there is not a single European country now which is afraid of the current wave of refugees.”

Syrian journalist Okba Mohammad says that statement "mixes racism and Islamophobia.”

for gods sake, there is an actual WAR over there but these people never seem to miss a chance.

no wonder some people applaud segregation (=the "right to be left alone"), its much simpler and easier than having total strangers coming to accuse you of things you never gave 2 thoughts. Ukrainians are all welcome as long as they dont bring any oppressive ideology with them

Poland’s identity as a Christian nation

If all the non-Christians converted, there would be less concern for refugees in Poland. Poland was an invaded land, so perhaps we don't have the same historical view about this that Polish people do?

There is much alignment with Poland (NAZI) and Ukraine (RUS). Ukrainians aren't leaving as economic refugees. They are leaving for a short period to avoid the Russians killing them. When this is over and Vlad the impaled removes all his troops, Ukrainians will return home. That's very different than other economic refugees.

No surprise. Ukrainians are Eastern European just like the countries they are fleeing too. It would be like a bunch of Kiwis turning up in Australia.

Its normal to be wary of the unfamiliar, particulary those who believe in a religion that is completely and utterly incompatbile with modern European ideals. There is no escaping that hard fact.

I wonder how welcoming the Japanese people would be if 100,000 Syrians turned up in Tokyo?

Yeah, we all know how that would go!

Europe and America always talks a good game but they can never walk their talk. They love to point the finger at Japan

What a joke. Europe and America take in hundreds of thousands of migrants a year from all over the world Japan would take 50 years to do what America and Europe do in 1.

But while the hospitality has been applauded, it has also highlighted stark differences in treatment given to migrants and refugees from the Middle East and Africa, particularly Syrians who came in 2015.

Ukrainians: relatively similar language, culture, religion, race. All this matters.

Besides, I suspect we will hardly see any news about stabbings, rapings and terrorist attacks perpetrated by ukrainians on the people who welcome them. A tiny minority of middle eastern refugees doing these things is enough to make people think twice about them. Unfortunately or not, stereotypes are all true, its just basically one of the oldest tools of survival.

I would hate to think what kind of work these women and children will find in Eastern Europe. Not the safest place for unaccompanied young girls.

I'm not twisting anything. I despise xenophobia in all its forms, whether or not I am a victim of it. I just don't like the hypocrisy of bemoaning one form of xenophobia and excusing the other.

Fair. I'm sorry that I came across as aggressive.

Yes, these people are different to Syrians and Africans:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTf2dhqzGyM

Fair. I'm sorry that I came across as aggressive

No apologies needed whatsoever. Thank you for your stand against all discrimination

How do the Europeans know whether some of the refugees are actually Russians who've finally found a way out of Putin-istan. And that they aren't coming to Europe with some brand of Putin tea to serve to some of Putin's enemies abroad. 

Trust me, that’s pretty much what we’re going through in the US with our open borders and the simple answer is, it will be very hard to weed out any possible potential terrorist.

Hats off to any people from anywhere able to escape one of the globe's authoritarian nations. Too bad there are xenophobes trying to block them.

Who?

Many in the west have accepted Putin because he's a member of a religion similar to theirs, and looks similar to them.

Who has accepted Putin? Be specific.

Recall in the USA Putin's people have worked with the NRA and other rightist organizations to fan flames. Trump has 

And you actually believe this?

Europe is again showing its selected compassion and willingness to accept people of a certain look, religion and background.

Sounds about white!

Yes, you shouldn’t only watch the focus area of those video footage, that with the usual crying women, babies etc. If you watch it more attentively you’ll see that those masses incoming are by far not only consisting of native Ukrainians.

SO TRUE! Especially when many of these same posters berate Japan for its xenophobic attitude, then turn around and support Europe's.

Let's not get it twisted. Japan is deeply xenophobic. It takes, like, what, 50 refugees a year?

But that doesn't make Europe (or anywhere else) better.

These are not the refugees we are used to… these people are Europeans,” Bulgarian President Rumen Radev told journalists earlier this week, of the Ukrainians.

Well, good to know that Japan is not unique in its racist ethnocentric attitude. I suppose its to be expected of a region that gave us some of the worst tyrants in history.

Yes, these people are different to Syrians and Africans:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTf2dhqzGyM

The hypocrisy is beyond belief.

SO TRUE! Especially when many of these same posters berate Japan for its xenophobic attitude, then turn around and support Europe's.

Japan with its shrinking population and tax base needs to opens its doors but racism doesn’t work like that…