The Irrationality of Anti-Immigrant Fanatics

In an article on the nativist site VDare.com called "White Immigration Can Be A Problem Too", blogger David Orland (who also writes for Michelle Malkin's fanatical "Immigration Blog") reveals the utter stupidity of those who ignorantly oppose immigration due to fear and hatred.

Orland opens his piece with a summary of the current trends of immigration in Britain, focusing especially on immigrants from Poland and ex-Soviet countries who have recently been admitted to the European Union. Orland claims that 447,000 (legal) immigrants from these countries have entered Britain since visa requirements were removed in 2004. Orland describes the effects of this influx of East European immigrants:

Open borders enthusiasts have been quick to point out the story’s bright side. The vast majority of the new arrivals are young, few bring children or elderly relatives with them, and a remarkable 97 percent are employed full-time. The Slavic invasion of Britain, they conclude has been a smashing success.

Despite there being no reason to believe that these new immigrants have been anything but very beneficial to British society, Orland goes on to cite the results of polls taken in Britain which reveal (apparently unfounded) strong anti-immigrant sentiment. Taking these ignorant attitudes as evidence of the dangers of immigration -- while ignoring the above-mentioned positive aspects of these immigrants -- Orland claims that these numbers should "fuel public concern about the pace and scale of Britain's transformation." Very telling is his characterization of the immigration trend as a "Slavic invasion" -- it seems that even when characterizing these immigrants as "white," ethnicity (and the typical European distaste for Slavic peoples) remains central to the anti-immigrant frenzy.

Failing to rebut the beneficial effects of immigration and relying solely on popular ignorance, Orland concludes that this trend of immigration is profoundly harmful to British society. He further concludes that the failure of British politicians to forcefully prevent all immigration is in some way "tragic," although he never provides a single reason why substantial immigration should harm anyone.

The knee-jerk, irrational distaste for new immigrants displayed in this article, whether based on racism or simple ignorant fear of the unknown, may have been seen as appropriate in colonial Britain, however such attitudes have no place in the 21st century. If the human race is to make any progress toward a more peaceful and advanced society, this sort of malicious foolishness must stop immediately.