Job Discussion Forums

[cassava]

Basiltherat can try to whitewash this issue as much as he wants. However, he still remains, in my view, an extremely xenophobic person. He prattles on about going abroad "by invitation", presumably to demonstrate his elevated level of moral rectitude and to contrast his behaviour with that of illegal immigrants.

This approach is a mixture of ignorance and hypocrisy. Basiltherat probably does not know that in the immediate post-war period, Britain issued invitations to hundreds of thousands of people from Africa, Asia and the Caribbean to go to the UK to help in the recovery of the country by augmenting the labour force that had been depleted during the war. Basiltherat's likely ignorance of this aspect of the history of his country probably means that he does not realize that many of the "foreigners" he sees around him have been legal residents of the UK for decades.

However, Basiltherat's hypocrisy stems from the fact that he emphasizes what is basically a false dichotomy. The worst illegal immigrants have not been recent immigrants to the UK. The worst illegal immigrants were the Europeans who invaded the countries currently collectively referred to as the Third World and massacred, raped and enslaved millions of people.The effects of that holocaust still plague those countries to the present day. The institution of slavery lasted for hundreds of years; apartheid was only recently dismantled.

Nobody invited these European murderers to Africa. They went to steal land and enslave people. I suspect that Basiltherat is profoundly ignorant of the history of underdevelopment and therefore sees current social situations from an extremely naive, yet uncompromisingly rigid perspective. His views seem to be similar to those of that old British reactionary, Enoch Powell.

I hope that Basiltherat is not thinking of returning to Africa to teach. In fact, the hatred that he expressed for asylum-seeking Tunisians in previous posts as well as his obvious distaste for Africans and Asians make him unsuitable to teach in those parts of the world. I think he should stick to European countries where he would probably feel more comfortable.

[naturegirl321]

Back to the OP, I think that there are niches in just about every aspect of TEFL. The trick is to establish yourself well. Also, the best lesson I got from my Business degree was: never compete based on price alone, you'll never win. Someone will ALWAYS have a lower price and you'll never make a profit.

Find someting you do better than the competition and let peopel know.

[Teacher in Rome]

Cassava said:

[spiral78]

TIR, I agree regarding Italy (for what my opinion is worth! ) It simply isn't feasible to absorb the numbers of would-be immigrants into the job force, and Italy has done quite a lot to help those who need it the most.

I think it's already been mentioned, but that quote from a would-be immigrant along the lines of 'we don't want handouts, we want to work' illustrates the problem. Many, many, many people would love to have jobs in the EU. It's simply not feasible.

[Dedicated]

Lampedusa has become a gateway into "Fortress Europe". Last week, a boat crammed with families from Sudan, Somalia and Chad sank in rough seas and only 50 out of about 300 people were rescued.

The Lampedusans' plight has caused an uproar in Italy. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has now belatedly responded, flying to the island and pledging to remove all the migrants within 3 days, as well as offering all sorts of goodies as compensation - a tax-free zone, a golf course and a casino to boost tourism. Why, he said grandly, he'd even ensure the island was put up for a Nobel Peace Prize.

However, this is Europe's problem, not just Italy's. It's high time Brussels put in place a new unified immigration regime, with firm quotas, a points system and US-style Green cards. Morality demands this. For not all of these people are migrants - some are refugees fleeing war and persecution, and they deserve our help. How desperate must a family be to "go to sea in a leaky bucket" to secure a future?

[Teacher in Rome]

[basiltherat]

[sisyphus]

I think Basil is entitled to express his opinion on my thread. It wasnt racist or xenophobic and its a pity the PC brigade got involved. Immigration and Race are sensitive topics especially in Britain which has been almost brain washed by a concerted Liberal prescribing of debate. If you are PC orientated pls leave it at home.

[johnslat]

Dear sisyphus,

"I think Basil is entitled to express his opinion on my thread. It wasnt racist or xenophobic and its a pity the PC brigade got involved."

Umm, if Basil and (apparently) you are entitled to express your opinions, why would you deny the same right to what you call the "PC brigade?"

By the way, thread's aren't "owned."

Regards,
John

[sisyphus]

John,

Of course anyone is entitled to an opinion. But not if its hysterically PC motivated rather than a rational courteous reply to a fellow teacher. Irrespective of whether the opinion be left or right. This is a teaching forum, not the Guardian newspaper letters column.

And......This is MY MY MY MY thread.....!!!!!!



all the best

The Sisyphus

[johnslat]

Dear sisyphus,

Of course, you're right that replies should be courteous. However, sometimes people let their emotions get the better of them. I'm glad to see that you are not such a one.

Keep pushing that rock.

Regards,
John

[Sashadroogie]

Threads can be co-opted and recruited into the movement for world peevery!

[oilmart1]

Funny how I called the Corinthian Hotel in Tripoli and he said that it was all quiet there. Is there really a war in Libya? ANd Tunisia is ok too so I don't know what you folk are talking about boat loads of Tunisians for.

[Dedicated]

oilmart1,

I suggest you read the following article :
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12816340

[Dedicated]

As for the latest in Libya see:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13253371