Asylum seeker ‘Eland’ (not her real name - it’s her tribe’s totem animal) found herself watching Kilroy one morning as the studio audience weighed into asylum seekers. She wrote this to the BBC. They never published it, so PN decided to
Dear Kilroy, I always watch your programmes on BBC1. I love some of the topics you discuss, but even white people say Kilroy’s programmes do not find solutions to problems, but create more.
How many asylum seekers did you invite this morning? Probably two, and they could not speak their minds without you blocking them. Greatness is only achieved through the absence of fear, and, intimidated, refugees will never achieve greatness.
I am a refugee. I left my country due to political persecution. I was a diplomat who had shaken hands with presidents. I left a four-bedroom, two-bathroom furnished apartment, a government car, dining with the elite and travelling the world.
Now all I do is rub shoulders with the elderly, disabled and ill as a care assistant. I live in a one-bedroom flat with two young children and work hard for my family. I came to the UK with no place to stay and no hope of ever being reunited with my older children. I slept on the floor for three months. All my skills and knowledge have just been blown to pieces, and being black, no matter what UK equal opportunities law says, I can never get a decent professional job.
I truly appreciate what the government has done for me and I have no resentment, but programmes like yours give me the jitters. Just once I want to wake up in the morning, switch on BBC1 and see something positive about asylum seekers. Then, when the inevitable change of regime happens, I will go back home without so much resentment about how you destroyed my self-esteem as a refugee in this country.
If the British system is in shambles, why put the blame on asylum seekers? Probe the system, not the individuals. In a thousand cases, there might be quite a few who are not genuine, but that does not mean everybody should be painted that colour.
Many asylum seekers cannot stand up and say anything to criticise the media or the system for fear of being sent back home, so their spirits are being silently assassinated. There are many who are hard-working, and even though they may not like being carers, support workers or nurses, they contribute as much to the health sector of Britain as many British citizens. Most of the low-paid industries are literally run by asylum seekers or foreigners.
I am not a racist - but can somebody please tell me: what were the British people called when they colonised different states in the world? From Timbuktu to Maseru, from Siberia to Iceland, you’ll find a British person!
They imposed their language on people - now asylum seekers cause an uproar if their children speak their own language at schools.
They enforced their legal code everywhere - now asylum seekers are detained when they try to get legally codified human rights
They taught us all their culture - now asylum seekers cannot express their views on their own culture before they are branded extremists.
They exported the wealth of our countries; now asylum seekers are prosecuted for ‘chewing’ the tax-payers’ money, even those who are working hard.
They built themselves mansions and had plenty of servants; asylum seekers live in poverty, whether they came from poverty or not.
Now you are even deciding to screen us for diseases. Who screened the British when they went to colonise other countries? The UKC, NAT and refugee support groups have recently said that more British citizens are bringing diseases like chlamydia back from holiday resorts than refugees bring in HIV. And if you go on holiday in Asia or Africa and you fall ill there, would you not expect to be treated?
I came here genuinely needing just a place to put my head until my country recovers from a political uprising which I feel the British are partly responsible for.
Kilroy, you once said: “To be a good talk show host, you need to move and touch the hearts of people and still leave them with their dignity.” Please leave me with mine.
