Time for a zero refugee policy? - *Read OP for mod warnings and threadbans - updated 11/5/24*

We were told in work last week by our 'Diversity Officer' that it would be inappropriate to have a bake sale during Ramadan.

I honestly wish I was making that up.

Religion should be a strictly private matter and be left at the door when you enter a workplace. This kind of pandering to certain religions is the thin edge of the wedge. We spent decades trying to get rid of the chokehold the Catholic church had on our society and now we're going to import tens of thousands that think their religion should be woven into the fabric of everyday life.

Seriously, this **** needs to be nipped in the bud.

It's fairly simple. Do you think it would be OK for an Irish citizen on the social housing lists to be pushed down the list to facilitate housing our new guests?

If so, then surely it's equally logical for those with second homes as in holiday homes to hand them over temporarily for the use of the state. It's an emergency we are told. And we're all in this together across the social spectrum? Aren't we? Or do some people think the lower social classes should suffer the most?

We don't own a holiday home and if we did we'd be a bit unhappy about handing it over as above. But if that's what is required in this emergency.. well yes. Would you?

Just to point out here, I know you are talking about female genital mutilation but infant male genital mutilation, often carried out for reasons of religion or culture, is both legal and practised in Ireland and obviously elsewhere in the Western world. In sanitary and professional conditions yes, but it is still very much the mutilation of the penis of an infant male. Ultimately, even if female genital mutilation were practiced to the finest standards of surgical excellence and sanitary conditions, we would still see it as abhorrent — and rightly so.

It's not that I'm particularly passionate about the topic of circumcision, but it's interesting how cultural bias applies and suddenly people will rush to list out the nuances that distinguish circumcision of infants when — if the concept had only been invented yesterday— we would be inclined to call it mutilation.

Do you think the religion you're defending would allow a Christian celebration to take place in say the Lusail Iconic Stadium? Somehow I doubt it

I think posters should be honest in their debate. He is not defending a religion - he is defending the usage of Croke Park by it's owners. I have played in Croke Park and attended many many matches there but I don't care what they use it for either. All those activities are great money earners for the GAA and more power to them. I wish more of it would trickle down to the clubs but that's a different debate 🙂

@Lotus Flower

They would like ****…

Yeah, there can be circumstances where it's necessary and there may well be circumstances in which someone might — of their own volition — decide to get circumcised for their own reasons. But the fact remains that it is performed perfectly lawfully on infants across the West for reasons which are often just religious or cultural. So I do think the point stands that we can be a little blind to our own biases on the topic of genital mutilation sometimes.

And I do think the wider relevance there is that we can also hold a lot of subconscious biases or hypocrisy when it comes to our assessment of other cultures etc. Anyway — will park the circumcision point there.

I agree with you on FGM .

It is this very abuse of defenceless young girls and their mothers that has them fleeing and looking for asylum here and elsewhere .

Glad you acknowledge the issue .

It isn't just war that creates refugees .

Heard Nick Henderson of the 'Refugee Council' on again this morning. He seems to get an excessive amount of airtime on the national broadcaster. Nick is still of the opinion that it's a matter of educating the Irish public as to our obligations. He seems to regard us as illiterate peasants, incapable of understanding what is happening and at risk of falling prey to right wing fascists.

I'm writing to all our TDs and Euro hopefuls today, urging them to defund Mick and his cronies.

I get what you're saying but to be honest, I find you a wee bit patronising. I'm not aware that male circumcision is widely practised in Ireland amongst Irish people apart from the small Jewish community.

However, there are two big differences. Female circumcision is carried out on girls at a stage of development where it is both terrifying and excruciatingly painful. It's also frequently done at home and can lead to infection or even death. In adulthood childbirth is far more difficult as their genitals are often sewn up with a small opening. The other difference of course is the infringement of their natural right to a normal sex life. I think circumcised males can still enjoy that.

I wouldn't think so .

I was clarifying the point that people from certain areas of the world are fleeing horrific torture and practises as described and not just war .

What do you think on the subject ?

Your statement "I'm sure we all agree that leaving anyone to sleep on the streets is not an acceptable occurrence.", is discussed in the classic Aesop's tables tale, the grasshopper and the ant.

The outcome is different than your assumption.

That's the thing isn't it. Someone coming here isn't just going to change their views overnight in the same way that if we move to Saudi Arabia we are not just going to start thinking that being gay is a sin and women shouldn't be seen in public and should be covered from head to toe. It's the elephant in the room but uncontrolled mass immigration is very likely to bring a lot of beliefs that are not compatible with Western societies. I mean on the topic of FGM, that was not a thing in Ireland before. But now it is. I don't know what the answer is, before anyone asks. But I also don't understand why some people refuse to acknowledge this

Not saying it doesn't happen but they are subject to our laws .People have been prosecuted for carrying it out in Ireland .

My point is that there are people fleeing torture like that practise and others ,not just war , and it's carried out in many African countries unfortunately, not just Somalia.

As to people not changing their practices ,not criminal .. that is true .

But why do you expect people to change everything in their culture , like dress and religion ?

It is however important they accept our laws and any that don't should be deported.

There are many gay people fleeing abuse and torture also btw.