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I agree with a lot of what you say but what I don't think is fair is to characterise
the Gurkhas as simple mercenaries. The relationship between the British Army and the
Gurkhas is a lot deeper than that (from both sides).
Whilst it's true that we don't have any obligation to allow Gurkha soldiers to
remain in this country when they demob - the fact is that considering all the
illegal immigrants and asylum seekers that are allowed to abuse due process to stay
in this country, giving a few Gurkhas special dispensation hardly seems like a big
deal. If anybody deserves it they do.
Incidentally - the best "Indian" in Truro is run by an ex-British Army Gurkha.
--- On Fri, 1/5/09, Simon Robert <simon.robert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> From: Simon Robert <simon.robert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: [LUG] OT: Couple of items in the news: Swine Flu and the Gurkhas
> To: list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Date: Friday, 1 May, 2009, 4:47 PM
> On Wed, 2009-04-29 at 18:35 +0100,
> Steph Foster wrote:
> > Henry Bremridge wrote:
> > > 1/ Some one in Paignton Community College has
> swine flu.
> > > http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8024690.stm
> > >
> > > The school is closed and
> apparently there will be a general advertising
> > > campaign launched tomorrow.
> > >
> > > 2/ The House of Commons has passed a non legally
> binding motion
> > > condeming the governments treatment of Gurhas.
> > >
> > > The vote is not legally binding, but opposition
> leaders insisted that ministers must now abandon new rules
> on admitting Gurkhas and their families introduced last
> week.
>
> > >
> > > http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/gordon-brown/5244587/MPs-vote-to-give-Gurkhas-right-to-live-in-Britain-in-defeat-for-Gordon-Brown.html
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > Damn right they should !
> >
> > You dont go to war to defend another country only to
> get a slap in the
> > face when you demob !
> >
> > I'd far rather being fighting with the Gurkhas than
> against them.
> >
> > They are frighteningly good at what they do !
> >
> > Steph
> >
> >
> I'm happy for as many Gurkha who want to live in the UK to
> move here, so
> that's not my objection. But I don't see that there's a
> moral principle
> that says that any hired gun has the automatic right to
> move here.
>
> These guys are mercenaries! They don't join the
> Commonwealth armed
> forces out of a love for the UK and our wonderful
> democratic values, way
> of life, self deprecating sense of humour, ironic TV
> commercials etc..
> etc. blah blah.
>
> They take the Queen's shilling (Euro or whatever it happens
> to be these
> days) because they're of a martial disposition and the
> money, by local
> standards, is good.
>
> If the Russians, French, North Koreans, Americans,
> Senegalese etc.
> offered the same deal they'd probably take it.
>
> Like I said I've no objection to have as many Gurkhas that
> want to move
> here move here. I'd personally be delighted to have a
> couple of hundred
> Gurkha families move into this village. But all this pious
> "willing to
> die for England, so have right to live here" stuff is just
> that, STUFF!
>
> If the USA was offering Brits £850 a day (or whatever a
> .NET contractor
> earns these days) to fight the wicked wicked Iranians,
> North Koreans,
> Cubans, Venezuelans, Canadians etc., I'd think of joining
> up. But I
> wouldn't be fighting for apple pie, Jesus, democracy,
> bagels and cream
> cheese, Creationism and the war on
> terror/drugs/communism/black
> helicopters et al, I'd be fighting for money (and maybe
> because I liked
> fighting?)!
>
> OK. Rant over.
>
> bye
> Simon
>
>
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