Embassy day for Polish nationals (From Hereford Times)

I cant say anything to this i really cant, well i can but people will just think Im racist(which Im not).
Its the government that's the problem

Well I have plenty to say on this matter,. but i'll get locked up or fined for saying it, so all I will say, is... ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

'HEREFORD will became a Polish “embassy” for a day this month.' ~ The opening line seems to suggest the whole City is being turned into one great big Polish Embassy. Which doesn't seem to be the case. It looks like it's a 6 hour consular session at the Kindle Centre. I can't see the point why the article has been worded in that provocative manner .... Or possibly the author didn't read again what they'd written before hitting the 'commit' button?

Not a single one of you is a bigot or a racist for being concerned about this issue. Stop appologising for being worried about how your view may be seen as different to the political class in our County.
Stop this appologetic mindset and say what you think but...........rememb
er we are talking about people here. Simply people who want a better life for themselves and their families. For my part, if i'd been brought up in poverty and the remains of communism, I too would be here in Hereford doing the best I could for my kith and kin.
Simply speaking, we are where we are and no moaning and groaning is going to help any of us. Somehow or other we have all got to have an open debate about our future and more importantly, the East European communities and the local communities must start talking to oneanother and develop an understanding.
You've got to admire the East European work ethic and their ability to withstand hardship. We've lost that. We had it once but its long since left us.
You've got to admire the tolerance and good natured attitude that local Herefordians have displayed toward our foreign guests.
Somewhere between the blurred lines we've all got to reach out to oneanother and appreciate all our worries and concerns.
My warmest regards.

I have to agree with Bobby. We can't blame individuals for coming here to work and to benefit from the merits of a social state. Any of us would do the same thing in their situation. If you could make life better for yourself and your family I'm pretty sure you would.

As Bobby rightly points out, we the Brits used to have the same work ethic. We toiled hard and were proud at what we did. This was sadly beaten out of us by the Thatcher/Tory government who decimated industry and crushed the unions in turn crushing the very spirit of the workers. We as a race/nation have become lazy and it's all too easy to sit back and claim the benefits rather than go out there and perform a useful duty to society. But again, don't hate the player - hate the game. If the system allows it, then it's going to happen.

I willingly advocate the cultural changes in Hereford. It's great we're becoming more diverse and that Hereford is becoming an appealing place for others to settle, work and contribute. However, I am in a minority who support this.

For the most, migrants are here to work hard and make a better life for themselves. They often work in low paid jobs (that indigenous folk won't do as it's 'beneath them') and live in poor accommodation. I'm not totally oblivious to the fact that some do come here purely to take advantage of the system but stats show only 7% of immigrants claim some sort of benefit against 17% of the indigenous population.

Anyhow, this is a topic that will always be hotly debated and I know what I say may not be favourable to a lot of people but, as we still have freedom of speech and the right to express ourselves without fear of retribution, I am doing just that.

RogerLFC wrote:
'HEREFORD will became a Polish “embassy” for a day this month.' ~ The opening line seems to suggest the whole City is being turned into one great big Polish Embassy. Which doesn't seem to be the case. It looks like it's a 6 hour consular session at the Kindle Centre. I can't see the point why the article has been worded in that provocative manner .... Or possibly the author didn't read again what they'd written before hitting the 'commit' button?

I found this very worrying. It does seem like an attempt to stir up hatred.

These people are doing nothing wrong. Why can't we just let them be?

I too feel the lead was provocative. I have several Polish friends who contribute more to society here than many a 'native'. As a dual UK/Swiss national I wish the Swiss would let me renew my passport in Hereford or even Cardiff instead of an expensive trip to London. Would such a consular visit create such a flurry?

Lukio, Roger & ASRace, Everything you have all said I agree with and I do believe its the right place to stand on this issue....but, Silentbull and Jodie, who I know are in the great majority, have a view and I for one can fully understand their position and how they feel. I really dont want 'our view' to silence the voices of those who disagree.
Most people I speak to complain that vast sums of money are leaving Hereford each and every week and that our wealth is being spent in a foreign economy.
They complain that our labour force in Hereford favours our East European visitors.
They complain that our local Services are being stretched to the limit because of the vast numbers that now reside in Hereford.
And they complain that they feel overlooked and left out because of the priority given to our East European residents.
I personally dont hold these views but I can quite easily understand the growing anger and frustration that exists nowadays in Hereford.
Just because you may disagree with my view it doesn't follow that you are in some way a bigot. You aint. You've just chosen to be on the other side of the argument.
As Lukio has said, this situation we are all in aint the fault of the East Europeans. Its our past political leaders who failed to anticipate the real numbers of people who would leave East Europe and come to settle in our Country.
Getting angry with a minority group and blaming them for everything, just aint the right answer.
My warmest regards.