Conversation with a friend about immigration

Somebody once said that courage is when you do something today you wouldn’t dare doing yesterday. That is why I decided to express my opinion whereas normally I would choose – wisely – to restrain my lips.

Have you ever had an opportunity to speak with your friends about migrants and mass immigration? Especially with your international friends living in different parts of the world and changing their residence like migrating birds? How do you explain your views if they differ from the usual, dominating or politically correct one?

Or, how do you actually explain that you are against immigration without risking being categorized as a racist?

During my latest visit to Switzerland, while conversing with a friend about many topics including politics, somehow we started discussing immigration.

My friend’s opinion was that Swiss people may seem cold and distant, but in reality they are very open-minded and friendly to other people coming to live in their country. He also noticed that many Europeans he had talked with lately with had expressed what he termed “racist opinions.”

Then I said to him “I believe that migration crisis and mixing of races is actually part of an agenda that’s been planned for years by the top elites who run international politics. And, certainly, I stand for de-globalization.

Now, when you have crossed that line and once your interlocutor has overcome the initial shock – and you realize what you said does sound racist to an innocent ear – you can start explaining what you actually mean:

What is your favorite country?
– Brazil.
– And what is something you really love about Brazil?
– Hmmm, the food.
– That is good, and what else, there must be something specific.
– Food and music.
– Excellent! Now imagine you have children and then grandchildren; imagine 30, 40 years from now your grandchildren ask you to tell them stories about Brazil and, nostalgically, you start to remember the heavenly taste of food you ate there and the music you loved listening to. Music that would give soul to that Brazil you love so much.

Then you decide to take your grandchildren to Brazil for a vacation. Then they can see for themselves. You go there but … that is no longer Brazil you used to know.

Now it is overcrowded with people from all around the world who live there and who don’t even look or act like Brazilians. You take your grandchildren to the restaurant, order your favorite Brazilian food and a person from eastern Europe is serving you. You ask for chef’s name and you find out he is Chinese.

You then try your food and it does not even taste like it used to taste, because that is no longer Brazilian food. You look around and you don’t see people who look like Brazilians. You go to the local market and the lady working there is Asian. You stroll down the streets and hear some unfamiliar beats, the music is clearly not Brazilian.

Does it resemble the country you remembered and used to like so much?
– No.
– Well that begs the questions: What has happened? What should the goal – the basic idea – be?

Should it be the long-term mixing of all the world’s races that threatens to destroy the particularity and uniqueness of each culture?

Without tradition, culture and society, people are lost like sheep in a flock.

And sheep are easy to control.

If we continue the mixing of many cultures together – the big ‘melting pot’ philosophy – we will eventually loose the original cultures and identities. They’ll be watered down.

There won’t be diversity, there won’t be nothing that makes us unique and special, we will all be the same, mixed and lost in some kind of generalised, or mass, global identity.

I have to say it, don’t I? I am not a racist.

I love all people. I love learning about different cultures and religions. I have friends all around the world. I have been on 6 continents, I’ve visited more than 30 countries. I read a lot about other countries, especially the “third world” ones.

I just happen to think that the strategy pursued by the international community if problematic or plain wrong. It needs to be challenged – also without being met with the accusation that such a challenge is backward-looking or racist. It isn’t – and I am not.

Look at how we could think and act instead! Instead of pushing the migration agenda, why don’t we focus more on helping the less developed countries so people won’t have the need to leave?

Why does the West – the US, NATO and/or the EU countries – intervene economically, politically and militarily in other countries, attack them and often start wars against them in order to impose their own agendas?

And why does the international so-called community create immigration conferences, panels, laws, policies and strategies in order to save those “poor, innocent” people without realizing that they are not saving them at all?

Why don’t we, instead, react strongly against such interventions, against such inhuman acts of violence which also contradict all international laws?

No, I’d suggest that we must learn from earlier mistakes and develop new policies so that we stop destroying other people’s countries and help them in all kinds of benevolent ways to use their potential to the maximum.

Its old hat but true: Prevention is better than cure.

If we did something like that, they wouldn’t have to leave their countries and many times their families and hearts behind.

You, my friend, migrated because of work, right? You have a degree and you are very good at what you do, so you can go wherever you want, but you are also respected wherever you go, and you can integrate easily, almost everywhere.

But when you migrate as an asylum seeker or refugee, when you flee your home trying to escape a dangerous and oppressive situation, when you travel to another country searching for asylum, sad, broken and without a penny in your pocket, you will never become an equal there.

You have examples all over Europe now. Black people are not integrating with white people, French people fear Muslims more than kids fear darkness. In Germany, a lady who cleans toilets or serves you in a bar will never be a German lady, but most probably remain a marginalised ‘Eastern European immigrant.’

In the 1990s many people fled from my country, Serbia, escaping the wars in former Yugoslavia and the bombing of Serbia and Kosovo. I don’t blame them, for sure. They probably felt they had no other choice. People don’t leave lightly what they love.

They are now all over Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Canada, Australia – and they come home for a vacation or to visit the family they left behind. Nostalgically, they enjoy those ten days of vacation and then, with empty souls, leave their hearts behind in their village or town, they go back to Germany, where they never fully integrated and they never felt at home and they were never actually happy.

I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t come permanently back if only they had economic security and stability guaranteed back home.

Why, in the first place, did the international ‘community’ first bomb my country and then have to accept to host the victims of that – criminal – policy? Making both the ‘guests’ and the ‘hosts’ unhappy forever?

Do you see the difference there, my friend? I don’t have anything against people who move to other countries. I myself don’t live in my country of origin. I have often moved – because of my big desire for knowledge and I my enormous inner passion for exploring the unknown, my hunger for new, distant places. For getting lost in new horizons.

But I am not forced to leave. Why do powerful countries create such situations where people have no choice, where they are forced to leave? It creates misery for everyone, including themselves.

My friend! Do you understand better now the difference between people who wander because they love to explore different cultures and places, or maybe because they fall in love in some of them and stay, people who move because they want to grow professionally – and all the other people who are forced to leave their countries because they are being systematically destroyed, people who wander because they are lost?

I’ve been surprised to read abut the immigration document signed on 10th and 11th of December 2018 in Marrakesh as a result of the Intergovernmental conference to adopt the global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration. On page 32, the worda “we oblige” is used 44 times, and the term “obligation” 87 times (Starcevic, 2018, p. 24).

Why are these words with such a strong connotations used so many times?

Why are countries obliged to follow the agenda of global mobility and migration-dissemination? Why not discuss, first, why it increases almost exponentially?

Why is critical thinking being censored and everyone who opposes this agenda is labeled racist?

Do we really think we can live in a happy world once when we will hardly even know where we come from, where our origins are and which language our parents or grandparents used to speak?

Do we really think a human being can be happy without her/his community, her/his society, her/his group of those similar to him. Without the tradition that nurtures the values of her/his culture?

Do we really think that by mixing it all together, creating shadows of what we use to be, creating new people who – loosing their old tradition, heritage, values and community – accepted to be slaves somewhere far away of consumerism in pursuit of a false happiness in shape of money and power?

It seems that, only when it is too late, do we realize it is not what really makes us happy.

We’ve got to re-search – and discuss much more – why millions of people are moving around and why the numbers of refugees and asylum-seekers skyrocket instead of discussing only whether we accept or like immigrants or not.

Note
Starcevic, M. Globalni migracioni pak: Strategija za porobljavanje Evrope in Geopolitika, p. 24, April 2019.

Share

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts

Lena Petrova of “World Affairs In Context” with more than half a million subscribers on YouTube wanted to explore what a peace researcher like me has to say about, among other things, the First and the Second Cold War and why eethics has disappeared from politics. I am particularly happy about this conversation that also yielded an amazing number of very appreciative comments on YouTube. No doubt, people are longing for alternatives, including peace perspectives.
The MIMAC – Military-Industrial-Media-Academic Complex – drives the world’s rampant militarism and wars without end. Here is a short reflection of how it works against all interests of humanity. #5 deals with why there is no real enemy or threat images/analysis. It’s all ex-post constructions. And, btw, theTFF Peace Pulse is now on Rumble.
Jan Oberg, TFF director April 28, 2026 In this third TFF Peace Pulse, I make the important distinction between the violence and the conflict that violence is a symptom of. If you want peace, focus on the underlying conflict because that is the key to resolution, peacemaking, and a better future for the parties. The West is obsessed with violence, just look around you – and 90+ per cent of the public debate is about military issues and other violence – totally wasted for peace. These Peace Pulses will only be published here a few times. You will also not find them on YouTube and Vimeo because both platforms have blocked TFF and me; you know, peace is dangerous these days. Most TFF’s videos since 2007 are now on Rumble.

Recent Articles

“En dag som berättigar till fest”, utropade den London-baserade al-Quds al-Arabi efter FN:s eldupphörresolution, “eftersom detta är första gången som Israel accepterar ett FN-beslut från en position som besegrad och inte som segrare”. Att ett arabisk-israeliskt krig för en gångs skull slutat med arabisk seger, är en helt dominerade åsikt i arabiska medier. Al-Quds al-Arabi tillåter sig att drömma om att det israeliska nederlaget skall leda till massflykt från Israel. Men i nästa andetag påminner tidningen om att Israel aldrig brukar genomföra sina internationella åtaganden och varnar för att förlorarna, liksom tidigare, kan hämnas genom att provocera fram inbördeskrig i Libanon. Med tanke på de otaliga massmediala vittnesmålen om det libanesiska folkets eniga motståndskraft förefaller risken för inre stridigheter i det sargade landet just nu liten. Men visst kan man urskilja nyansskillnader i libanesiska tidningar. Vänsterorganet al-Safir uppfattar FN-resolutionen som en komplott i syfte att rädda Israel från ännu större...
Greenland – the world’s largest island, a continent of its own with only 57.000 inhabitants. I visited it for the first time in May 2005. I flew across the inland ice to Nuuk, the tiny capital with some 14.000 inhabitants. I was overwhelmed by the pride and kindness of everyone I met as well as by the unique natural beauty. Unfortunately, due to weather conditions during my ten-day stay I could get nowhere else but Nuuk. Fortunately, however, among those I met was Gitte Arvegaard, a Danish lawyer and negotiator employed by the local government, Greenland Home Rule. She turned out to be an enthusiastic photographer with a lot of pictures taken during various trips around Greenland. So this Greeland series is the result of our cooperative effort. We both hope you enjoy it and are stimulated to visit Greenland – about which you may read more here. Finally, if you want to...
 Jan Oberg’s storyof how he met Sir Paul Liverpool – where else to meet Paul McCartney? Paul’s old class mate and TFF Associate, Jonathan Power introduced me to Paul McCartney in Liverpool at an informal reception. It was held at what used to be their school, now the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts and we were there to celebrate that Jonathan had written Amnesty International’s 40th Anniversary book. This happy event for “righting wrongs and writing songs” gave me an opportunity to meet Paul and tell him about TFF and get straight to the matter: would he consider making a donation in support of our work for peace? While I was probably the only one with such a wish that day, I was certainly not the only one who wanted to shake hands and talk with him. In the last minutes before Paul was to leave, Jonathan brought us together and we got about three...

TFF on Substack

Discover more from TFF Transnational Foundation & Jan Oberg.

Most Popular

“En dag som berättigar till fest”, utropade den London-baserade al-Quds al-Arabi efter FN:s eldupphörresolution, “eftersom detta är första gången som Israel accepterar ett FN-beslut från en position som besegrad och inte som segrare”. Att ett arabisk-israeliskt krig för en gångs skull slutat med arabisk seger, är en helt dominerade åsikt i arabiska medier. Al-Quds al-Arabi tillåter sig att drömma om att det israeliska nederlaget skall leda till massflykt från Israel. Men i nästa andetag påminner tidningen om att Israel aldrig brukar genomföra sina internationella åtaganden och varnar för att förlorarna, liksom tidigare, kan hämnas genom att provocera fram inbördeskrig i Libanon. Med tanke på de otaliga massmediala vittnesmålen om det libanesiska folkets eniga motståndskraft förefaller risken för inre stridigheter i det sargade landet just nu liten. Men visst kan man urskilja nyansskillnader i libanesiska tidningar. Vänsterorganet al-Safir uppfattar FN-resolutionen som en komplott i syfte att rädda Israel från ännu större...
Greenland – the world’s largest island, a continent of its own with only 57.000 inhabitants. I visited it for the first time in May 2005. I flew across the inland ice to Nuuk, the tiny capital with some 14.000 inhabitants. I was overwhelmed by the pride and kindness of everyone I met as well as by the unique natural beauty. Unfortunately, due to weather conditions during my ten-day stay I could get nowhere else but Nuuk. Fortunately, however, among those I met was Gitte Arvegaard, a Danish lawyer and negotiator employed by the local government, Greenland Home Rule. She turned out to be an enthusiastic photographer with a lot of pictures taken during various trips around Greenland. So this Greeland series is the result of our cooperative effort. We both hope you enjoy it and are stimulated to visit Greenland – about which you may read more here. Finally, if you want to...
 Jan Oberg’s storyof how he met Sir Paul Liverpool – where else to meet Paul McCartney? Paul’s old class mate and TFF Associate, Jonathan Power introduced me to Paul McCartney in Liverpool at an informal reception. It was held at what used to be their school, now the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts and we were there to celebrate that Jonathan had written Amnesty International’s 40th Anniversary book. This happy event for “righting wrongs and writing songs” gave me an opportunity to meet Paul and tell him about TFF and get straight to the matter: would he consider making a donation in support of our work for peace? While I was probably the only one with such a wish that day, I was certainly not the only one who wanted to shake hands and talk with him. In the last minutes before Paul was to leave, Jonathan brought us together and we got about three...
Read More
Imagen-thumbnail-The-Transnational-1
“En dag som berättigar till fest”, utropade den London-baserade al-Quds al-Arabi efter FN:s eldupphörresolution, “eftersom detta är första gången som Israel accepterar ett FN-beslut från en position som besegrad och inte som segrare”. Att ett arabisk-israeliskt krig för en gångs skull slutat med arabisk seger, är en helt dominerade åsikt i arabiska medier. Al-Quds al-Arabi tillåter sig att drömma om att det israeliska nederlaget skall leda till massflykt från Israel. Men i nästa andetag påminner tidningen om att Israel aldrig brukar genomföra sina internationella åtaganden och varnar för att förlorarna, liksom tidigare, kan hämnas genom att provocera fram inbördeskrig i Libanon. Med tanke på de otaliga massmediala vittnesmålen om det libanesiska folkets eniga motståndskraft förefaller risken för inre stridigheter i det sargade landet just nu liten. Men visst kan man urskilja nyansskillnader i libanesiska tidningar. Vänsterorganet al-Safir uppfattar FN-resolutionen som en komplott i syfte att rädda Israel från ännu större...
Greenland – the world’s largest island, a continent of its own with only 57.000 inhabitants. I visited it for the first time in May 2005. I flew across the inland ice to Nuuk, the tiny capital with some 14.000 inhabitants. I was overwhelmed by the pride and kindness of everyone I met as well as by the unique natural beauty. Unfortunately, due to weather conditions during my ten-day stay I could get nowhere else but Nuuk. Fortunately, however, among those I met was Gitte Arvegaard, a Danish lawyer and negotiator employed by the local government, Greenland Home Rule. She turned out to be an enthusiastic photographer with a lot of pictures taken during various trips around Greenland. So this Greeland series is the result of our cooperative effort. We both hope you enjoy it and are stimulated to visit Greenland – about which you may read more here. Finally, if you want to...
p_mccartney_poem
 Jan Oberg’s storyof how he met Sir Paul Liverpool – where else to meet Paul McCartney? Paul’s old class mate and TFF Associate, Jonathan Power introduced me to Paul McCartney in Liverpool at an informal reception. It was held at what used to be their school, now the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts and we were there to celebrate that Jonathan had written Amnesty International’s 40th Anniversary book. This happy event for “righting wrongs and writing songs” gave me an opportunity to meet Paul and tell him about TFF and get straight to the matter: would he consider making a donation in support of our work for peace? While I was probably the only one with such a wish that day, I was certainly not the only one who wanted to shake hands and talk with him. In the last minutes before Paul was to leave, Jonathan brought us together and we got about three...
Logo-Transnational
1942James Paul McCartney is born in Liverpool on June 18th. 1956Paul writes his first song, I Lost My Little Girl. 1957Paul meets John Lennon at St. Peter’s Church Fete, Woolton, Liverpool. He joins his first group, The Quarrymen and performs in his first gig at The New Clubmoor Hall, Liverpool, on October 18th. 1960Formation of The Beatles, who play residencies in Hamburg and at The Cavern in Liverpool. 1961First Beatles recordings issued in Germany, as the backing group for Tony Sheridan. 1962The first Beatles Parlophone recording, Love Me Do, reaches number 17 in the British charts. 1963The birth of Beatlemania. Please Please Me gives the group their first British Number 1. She Loves You cements their success. Please Please Me and With The Beatles albums released. 1964First triumphant American tour. The Beatles perform at the Royal Command Performance and release their first film, A Hard Day’s Night. Their single I...
Logo-Transnational
  Back to the series “Bujumbura, Burundi”
By JONATHAN POWER August 16, 2000 LONDON – Remember the summer of ’98? In the sweltering, torpid heat of a Roman august, charged with exhaust fumes, the international community gave its overwhelming approval to the establishment of an International Criminal Court that will enable those accused of “crimes against humanity” to be tried and, if convicted, sentenced. Only seven nations opposed or abstained from the motion, including Israel, China, India and the U.S.A. where the Pentagon had successfully waged bureaucratic guerrilla war to undermine the initially sympathetic stance of President Bill Clinton. Two years on we can now see what an epochal event that was. In a the stroke of 120 pens it changed the climate on political thuggery. After numerous half-starts and false starts ever since the Nuremberg and Tokyo trials that convicted the war criminals of the Second World War, the world at last had agreed en masse a common...