The white man came to africa by sea with no visa .... Those are the words of a cameroonian in Agadez in Niger republic on his way to europe by attempting the perilous journey by land and sea. The words of the cameroonian made me to reflect on the history of human migration from the pre-colonial era to the recent waves of migration.
Indeed, it seems like a double standard of sorts when migration by certain groups are talked about today. However, if history can teach us anything, it is that humans will always move regardless of the barriers put in place to stop them. Let me start with the original migrants/ the colonial masters. They embarked on global voyages of migration hundreds of years ago to "discover" new lands. Those pioneer migrants didn't know what to expect when embarking on those journeys, neither did they seek the permission of the inhabitants of the territories they were "exploring" to travel there, and they certainly didn't apply for any visa to travel those places. Those pioneer migrants simply boarded ships and set sail to anywhere they wanted.
Furthermore, in their vayages, those pioneers came to discover new lands and subsequently migrated albeit illegally in their hundreds of thousands and millions to those new lands. However, the so-called new land weren't really new lands, from the new world(North america), to south america, from africa, to asia to the australian continent, they were all inhabited by natives and other indegenous peoples. In blatant violation of those terretories' soveringty, the white man arrived, disturbed the culture of natives, and created homes for themselves without permission, without visas.
Looking further into recent history before, during, and after the second world war, further millions of white europeans were on the move. They migrated to north america to escape persecution, war, poverty e.t.c majority of them being economic migrants rather than refugees. North america, especially the united states accepted them with open arms. No one advocated for their deportation or imprisonment in camps or shelters, rather they were immidiately let into various cities and towns to live like citezens. Indeed you can say, the U.S is a nation of immigrants.
I therefore find it hypocritical the debate on illegal migration today by especially europeans, who appear to forget that they themselves were very recently immigrants to other countries. A good example of the hypocrisy is the stance by the Hungarian prime minister Vicktor Orban that immigrants expecially muslim immigrants are not welcome in his country. Forgetting that he himself was a refugee during the soviet era and was hiding in another country in fear. I would say its the white man that taught everyone else how to migrate when the need arises.
So in my opinion, africans and indeed everyone else have the right to migrate legally or illegally to europe or anywhere if they deem fit. Furthermore, migration is a human right enshrined by the united nations. So with visa ristrictions / difficulties, and closed border policies enacted by most western countries, little choice is left for migrants than to migrate illegally. And they certainly have the right to.

E be like say this OP won travel by sea...
Omo no go reason am ooo
The sharks will feed gracefully on u

Your post is one-sided, and fail to touched the realities of our new world. Imagine this.

The population of India alone is 1.2 billion. Lets say about 10% of Indian population migrate to the EU, do you think the EU government has the resources to cater for this people? EU population is about 500 Million, adding 120 million people (more than the population of the Nordic, Benelux, UK combined) is catastrophic, and will suddenly lead to all kind of social crises.

I am sure you wont want some group of people exercising their ''natural right of migration'' squating with you in your cozy room, or balcony

pansophist:
Your post is one-sided, and fail to touched the realities of our new world. Imagine this.

The polulation of India alone is 1.2 billion. Lets ay about 10% of Indian population migrate to the EU, do you think the EU government has the resources to cater for this people? EU population is about 500 Million, adding 120 million people (more than the population of the Nordic, Benelux, UK combined) is catastrophic, and will suddenly lead to all kind of social crises.

I am sure you wont want some group of people exercising their ''natural right of migration'' squating with you in your cozy room, or balcony

The population of Australia was also few, but still english people migrated in their hundreds of thousands to disrupt and change the aboriginal people territory for ever. Did it end the world?
So also was the population of north america, that didn't stop millions of white people from europe running to that place to live. did it end the world? They simply build more towns and cities and continued living. Are you now telling me that europe can't now take in even a billion people? To hell with the culture and way of life they are trying to protect by stopping immigrants. We all know that its impossible for the european way of life (democracy, values e.t.c) to be eradicated or stopped because of immigrants. By the way, how can democratic elections, human rights, freedom of believe, e.t.c be threatened because of immigrants. I want you to explain that to me. Did the u.s stop having freedoms and values even though millions of chinese, mexicans, europeans, africans, muslims migrated there? Europeans are simply racists thats why they want to stop people immigrating to their countries, but its certainly not because they are afraid of immigration changing their values and norms.
I don't think illegal immigrants have to act or look pitiful or think they are breaking any useless racist laws when migrating to those countries at all. They have the right and should insist on beeing allowed to live in those countries. Once upon a time, europeans did exactly the same. When i saw syrian refugees protesting in hungary few months ago, i blamed them thinking why would they be so ungrateful as to protest even when europeans allowed them to enter in the first place. But now, i see the full picture. Those syrians were in their rights to protest and insist to be allowed to stay. Because think about it, why was it that when the same europeans were migrating in their millions, no one stopped or deported them, no one locked them up or raised concerns and held meetings and whatnot. But now, because the migrants are blacks and arabs and muslims, the whole world is made to believe the world will end because of the immigrants.
Or don't you really feel pained when a european can easily just board a plane in todays world and go anywhere they want without necessarily applying for visas or work permits and all those other restrictive policies? But an african will have to first apply for the visa, then pay a rip off sum, then prove to be rich by showing account statements worth atleast some millions, then further convince some official that they are not criminals or fraudulent, then prove you are married or got properties or busineses, then wait for ever in anxiety, only to often recieve a rejection letter. But a white person, employed or not, homeless or not, drug addict or not, married or not, got property or not can just hop on a plane and fly to his choice destination. Is this fair to you?
I however do understand the need to manage migration, but the way europe is doing it by trying to completly stop it is counter productive and actually going against nature itself. And saying that migrants can only come the legal way is nonsense also, because very few can qualify to migrate legally in that sense seeing that you would need to be extremely skilled in a field of importance, have thousands of dollars in account and many more, and yet still wait for a year or two to know whether you are approved or not. What chance does that live the unemployed, poor but often educated african with big dreams just like the original european "migrants" of before?

callmelanner:
E be like say this OP won travel by sea...
Omo no go reason am ooo
The sharks will feed gracefully on u

i wish i get time to read all that

cronsberg

1. The population of Australia was also few, but still english people migrated in their hundreds of thousands to disrupt and change the aboriginal people territory for ever. Did it end the world?
So also was the population of north america, that didn't stop millions of white people from europe running to that place to live. did it end the world? They simply build more towns and cities and continued living. Are you now telling me that europe can't now take in even a billion people? To hell with the culture and way of life they are trying to protect by stopping immigrants. 2. We all know that its impossible for the european way of life (democracy, values e.t.c) to be eradicated or stopped because of immigrants. By the way, how can democratic elections, human rights, freedom of believe, e.t.c be threatened because of immigrants. I want you to explain that to me. Did the u.s stop having freedoms and values even though millions of chinese, mexicans, europeans, africans, muslims migrated there? Europeans are simply racists thats why they want to stop people immigrating to their countries, but its certainly not because they are afraid of immigration changing their values and norms.
I don't think illegal immigrants have to act or look pitiful or think they are breaking any useless racist laws when migrating to those countries at all. They have the right and should insist on beeing allowed to live in those countries. Once upon a time, europeans did exactly the same. When i saw syrian refugees protesting in hungary few months ago, i blamed them thinking why would they be so ungrateful as to protest even when europeans allowed them to enter in the first place. But now, i see the full picture. Those syrians were in their rights to protest and insist to be allowed to stay. Because think about it, why was it that when the same europeans were migrating in their millions, no one stopped or deported them, no one locked them up or raised concerns and held meetings and whatnot. But now, because the migrants are blacks and arabs and muslims, the whole world is made to believe the world will end because of the immigrants.

1. Are you subtly inferring some sort of retribution? Is that an euphemism for genocide ? Because the Europeans did precisely that to the indigenous population and dominated the region. Countries have visa restrictions even Nigeria and Syria. It's the same pattern the world over.

2. Their way of life might not stop abruptly, but will undoubtedly be influenced and affected. Both societal peace and cultural uniqueness will be threatened. Segregation and intolerance will skyrocket, racism and colourism blossom etc. a typical example of this is the mighty ole, the USA. ANd you didnt aknowledged that the nationality you mentioned migrated to the USA legally with much preparation from the government. Over time, their integration had no huge effect.

Or don't you really feel pained when a european can easily just board a plane in todays world and go anywhere they want without necessarily applying for visas or work permits and all those other restrictive policies? But an african will have to first apply for the visa, then pay a rip off sum, then prove to be rich by showing account statements worth atleast some millions, then further convince some official that they are not criminals or fraudulent, then prove you are married or got properties or busineses, then wait for ever in anxiety, only to often recieve a rejection letter. But a white person, employed or not, homeless or not, drug addict or not, married or not, got property or not can just hop on a plane and fly to his choice destination. Is this fair to you?
I however do understand the need to manage migration, but the way europe is doing it by trying to completly stop it is counter productive and actually going against nature itself. And saying that migrants can only come the legal way is nonsense also, because very few can qualify to migrate legally in that sense seeing that you would need to be extremely skilled in a field of importance, have thousands of dollars in account and many more, and yet still wait for a year or two to know whether you are approved or not. What chance does that live the unemployed, poor but often educated african with big dreams just like the original european "migrants" of before?

You're approaching this issue from a sentimental perspective. a black person with a uk/us passport will be admitted to countries visa free just like their white counterparts. A Nigerian will enjoy an additional admission to over 25 more countries visa free if he possess a valid residence permit from the EU and USA. Conversely, the countries allowing Europeans to visit visa free did it for economical reasons, as an average Brit would most likely not disguise as a tourist with an intent to permanently immigrate, this is not the case with African tourist if you'll be honest with yourself.

Besides, Black majority countries like Brazil, South Africa, Barbados, Bahamas, Guadeloupe will probably be admitted to more countries ( including the eu) than a Nigerian will ever will. A white person with a Nigerian passport will not be conferred the privilege a black british passport holder enjoys. So please scrap of the color thing and be pragmatic. Furthermore, a Montenegrin will not enjoy a visa free entry conferred to Brits even if they are Europeans, a Japanese will go to more countries than a Vietnamese, and if you cant figure the reason why, compare both countries living standard and economy. I can go on and on, but surely, you should get the point.

Detox yourself from sentimentalism, no one gives you anything for free. If Nigeria finally emerge as an economical competitive country of the 21st century, got its shit in other, then watch as more countries extend their visa free policies to its citizens in a bid of attractting Nigerian tourist.

cronsberg:

The population of Australia was also few, but still english people migrated in their hundreds of thousands to disrupt and change the aboriginal people territory for ever. Did it end the world?
So also was the population of north america, that didn't stop millions of white people from europe running to that place to live. did it end the world? They simply build more towns and cities and continued living. Are you now telling me that europe can't now take in even a billion people? To hell with the culture and way of life they are trying to protect by stopping immigrants. We all know that its impossible for the european way of life (democracy, values e.t.c) to be eradicated or stopped because of immigrants. By the way, how can democratic elections, human rights, freedom of believe, e.t.c be threatened because of immigrants. I want you to explain that to me. Did the u.s stop having freedoms and values even though millions of chinese, mexicans, europeans, africans, muslims migrated there? Europeans are simply racists thats why they want to stop people immigrating to their countries, but its certainly not because they are afraid of immigration changing their values and norms.
I don't think illegal immigrants have to act or look pitiful or think they are breaking any useless racist laws when migrating to those countries at all. They have the right and should insist on beeing allowed to live in those countries. Once upon a time, europeans did exactly the same. When i saw syrian refugees protesting in hungary few months ago, i blamed them thinking why would they be so ungrateful as to protest even when europeans allowed them to enter in the first place. But now, i see the full picture. Those syrians were in their rights to protest and insist to be allowed to stay. Because think about it, why was it that when the same europeans were migrating in their millions, no one stopped or deported them, no one locked them up or raised concerns and held meetings and whatnot. But now, because the migrants are blacks and arabs and muslims, the whole world is made to believe the world will end because of the immigrants.
Or don't you really feel pained when a european can easily just board a plane in todays world and go anywhere they want without necessarily applying for visas or work permits and all those other restrictive policies? But an african will have to first apply for the visa, then pay a rip off sum, then prove to be rich by showing account statements worth atleast some millions, then further convince some official that they are not criminals or fraudulent, then prove you are married or got properties or busineses, then wait for ever in anxiety, only to often recieve a rejection letter. But a white person, employed or not, homeless or not, drug addict or not, married or not, got property or not can just hop on a plane and fly to his choice destination. Is this fair to you?
I however do understand the need to manage migration, but the way europe is doing it by trying to completly stop it is counter productive and actually going against nature itself. And saying that migrants can only come the legal way is nonsense also, because very few can qualify to migrate legally in that sense seeing that you would need to be extremely skilled in a field of importance, have thousands of dollars in account and many more, and yet still wait for a year or two to know whether you are approved or not. What chance does that live the unemployed, poor but often educated african with big dreams just like the original european "migrants" of before?

Well-said Cronsberg

Hmmm

aren't African people still travelling to Europe by sea with no visa?

Moana:
aren't African people still travelling to Europe by sea with no visa?

Yeah, the point of the thread is that europeans should not be complaining of africans coming to europe by sea "illegally" because they did the same. But mehn after watching a video of how africans who just landed in spain and italy by sea were rioting in the streest and destroying property, and how "muslims" are protesting in the u.k waving alqaeda flags and shouting to hell with the u.k, and also the recent paris bombing that might be from the waves of syrian refugees, i now see why european leaders are really concerned by the migrant waves and the restrictive polices they enacted to stop the migrants coming.