"Pull up the ladder and let them drown..."

That seems to be the policy decision made by the UK government, announcing that they will not prolong their support for the Mare Nostrum search and rescue operations by the Italian navy in the Mediterranean.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/oct/27/uk-mediterranean-migrant-rescue-plan

For humanitarians it is a pleasure to see the humane Italian response, despite the country being in severe Economic difficulties

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/28/italian-navy-refugee-rescue-mission-mare-nostrum

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But let's rewind a bit. What is this, and what is going on here? Let's summarise (and oversimplify) centuries of history, geography, current events etc.

1. The dream of a better life (economic opportunities, safety from persecution etc.) continues to draw migrants, especially from Africa, but also from the Middle East, South America and Asia to Europe, and the EU in particular.

2. Over the past half century, coinciding with the building of the welfare state and decolonisation in (initially Western) Europe, European countries have increased restrictions and closed borders on migration from the rest of the world, while increasing to open and expect open borders for trade and investments.

3. Gradually the only real migrants to Europe from outside the continent fall into 4 broad categories

• Asylum seekers according to the UN refugee convention
• Family reunions (children or parents of asylum seekers or people marrying European citizens etc)
• Highly skilled migrants (doctors, PHD professors, nurses, Engineers etc)
• "Illegal" immigrants (often referred to as economic migrants)

Common for most of the immigration is that they seek a better life, because of lack of opportunities, persecution, insecurity or other reasons.

Ok, let's turn it around - what is this leading to?

• Asylum seekers, by definition, are humans who have gone through some of the worst things we can imagine for fellow humans. War, genocide, persecution. People who have seen family die, who have been subject to famines, who have been child soldiers themselves, who have been raped and enslaved. In other words, people who come as asylum seekers need all the opportunities, safety, support and help they can possible receive. I image myself as a refugee, and I am pretty sure I would be messed up, physically, mentally or probably both.
  
  However, for many "Europeans" (whatever that may mean in our messed up Continent where we have spent most of history trying to kill each other) , what we see is therefore that most people from "elsewhere (ie. those who look different than us) are "fucked up". And the conclusion becomes "people from elsewhere are fucked up". This lack of empathy, and jump to judgement is shocking, but yet perhaps very human. Reality is what we see and perceive.
• Family reunions, especially of people who are "from elsewhere", is an extension of this lack of empathy. "Why you need to build your life here? Can't all of you just go back where you came from?" It leads to a further lack of empathy and understanding. In fact, we see the family reunions as "proof" that it's "too easy to come to Europe, there are too many coming".
• Highly skilled migrants: Essentially the most brutal of destruction of the very countries where people should "go back". We need nurses? Let's bring them here from Burundi. We need Engineers? Let's get some Indians. Need some Engineers? Let's import half of the Philippines. And this is "fine", because after all, it is "these individuals choice to emigrate, and surely it would not be right to restrict their personal choices" (imagine ironic voice while reading)
• Illegal immigrants. Before we progress here, let's taste that word. Illegal immigrant. That we have even let such an expression enter our language is shocking. Let's be honest and call them what they really are. Humans in search for a better life. Imagine if your European ancestors getting on boats to the US where called illegal migrants? Or if in the large people wanderings that made you settle where you now live made your ancestor an illegal human being? Without rights, without dignity, without opportunity. Well, having already branded them as illegal (it's nice when you make laws that by definition can't be applied to yourself because you are born with a citizenship, right?) they are obviously criminals by definition. Without ability to work or live legally, to create a future within the parameters of our societies, their options are simple. Go underground, hide and work with whatever is hidden. And then we are shocked that they end up working in criminal organisations (most of which have their origins in the rest of our beautifully sarcastic legal society). "They come here illegally, commit crime. They deserve no sympathy, no rights, no support. There are legal ways of coming here" (which let's face it, there are not really at all for most of these people).

What actually happens is that the migration to Europe can only lead to one thing. More xenophobia, more crime, less society, more division, more fear and less social cohesion. Because honest people with the intention to come and build a future here cannot. Because we have no way of making our societies integrate and work for them.

So what's our solution?

Let them all drown in the Mediterranean Sea. After all, that'll teach them....

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In my short experience I learnt something about values and authenticity. One of the biggest problems Europe is facing is that Europe is not authentic to itself and its own values. Modern Europe is based upon the heritage of the Enlightenment, and more modernly upon the values of the French revolution.

Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité

Liberty, Equality (before the law originally), Brotherhood.

Freedom for who? And equality for whom? And what laws? And who are our brothers anyway?

A society that preaches one set of values, but acts against them, is a society doomed to failure. Immigration is difficult, and I don't preach a simple solution. But I do predict a simple death of the society based upon these principles and values that we love and treasure so much for ourselves and our families if we do not align our actions to our words.

First of all, not rescuing humans who are drowning, and not spending money on that is just not an option. (Thank you Italian Coast Guard, and no thank you Mr. Cameron, we will not be led by you)

Second of all, when are we going to figure out a long term solution on how we can build societies that not only can be admired from afar across a treacherous Mediterranean, but where both the values (the ones we love to talk so loudly about) and our systems (yes, we will have to change the way we run our countries, our welfare states, our immigration policies, our integration), to welcome every human on earth to be part of a European values system if they so choose. And we will welcome them and build this world together because we are proud of where we come from.

Let's find out how we can break down these walls that we have built.