I FULLY endorse Prime Minister Theresa May’s condemnation of the xenophobic criticism of Polish immigrants during her visit to Warsaw ("PM condemns ‘shameful and despicable’ attacks on Poles”, The Herald report, July 29). Why have so many British citizens become so unpleasant and insular?
Most of these Poles are either skilled tradesmen who work hard and make a useful contribution to our national resources, or they are young people seeking to improve their command of English and widen their experience, often in the hotel and catering business, before setting out on careers which may take them back home or to every corner of the world. Many thousands of our own young British people do exactly the same around Europe and further afield, and they are not abused but instead made to feel welcome by the locals.
Perhaps those who criticise the current immigrants have forgotten, or are not even aware of, the major contribution that Polish soldiers, seamen and airmen made to the British war effort during the Second World War. Thousands of these brave men lost their lives in active combat, and after the war many of those who survived chose to remain in Britain (and particularly in Scotland, where they had been made to feel specially welcome and at home). No-one at that time accused these Poles of being immigrants who were taking our jobs or stealing our benefits.
Sadly some areas of the UK (thankfully not Scotland) seem to have developed a deep resentment of all foreigners, and that has led the nation to the catastrophic position of insularity and erecting barriers, rather than to accepting and welcoming wider co-operation and friendship with other nations and peoples. It is a sad state of affairs.
Iain AD Mann,
7 Kelvin Court, Glasgow.
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