No need to apologise. Funny is funny.

Hee.

I think you could be outraged if it said "terrorists." (Unless I'm missing the European nuance and "asylum seekers" is being used the same way...)

Phone the Daily Mail and the Express - see if either of them can save some space from Princess sodding Diana on the front page. Who, apart from The Phoney Pharaoh, cares?

I haven't seen soot like that since the early 80s, even in LA. Where is that?

What the heck do you burn in your automocars there? Coal? Also, do you not have hoses? Soap? You have soap, right?


(For us merkins, replace "asylum seekers" with "immigrants")

Hey, sure beats "WASH ME".

Plus, may provide added delays at international borders, just for fun!

Have you seen this?? If not, well, they've seen you.

I'm not sure "immigrants" really works in context, though. "Asylum seekers" are by definition running from something, hiding out, which makes it work on the back of a van; plus it has a tinge of nobility (to my ears at least) that makes it seem a bit incongruous on the back of a dirty van, which makes it funny.

"Undocumented workers" might work, I guess? I dunno.

Why do I need a f$&#@ing Yahoo ID to see this????

"itinerant agri-labor entities"

This link should work without having to sign in to Flickr.

If this were in the USA, I think they'd poke fun at the PC phrase "day laborers."

"Asylum seeker" seems to be the UK equivalent.

Or somethin'

What the heck do you burn in your automocars there? Coal?

Diesel is supposed to have become popular in the UK during the last 5 years.

It's incorrect usage by the graffiti artist, really. What they probably mean is "illegal immigrants" - ie they've been smuggled in over the Channel in the back of the van. By definition an asylum seeker wouldn't smuggle themself in since they need to declare that they want to claim asylum at border control. "Immigrant" is probably too catch-all an equivalent given the amount of people it could span. But the various terms get muddled up - asylum seekers also come in for targeting because of the right wing press and the perception that they get more in benefits than UK citizens (they don't - they get 75% of income support levels while their claim is being determined. If they fail, they get no benefits save for temporary support before they are deported/arrange travel back to their country of origin).

Sorry for pedantry, but I used to work in immigration so the typology and misuse of it (especially by the media - eg calling people "illegals" and particularly "illegal asylum seekers" - no such thing!) is something I could write a book on....

I think we were trying to figure out what the US equivalent would be, with all the accompanying connotations. You don't tend to see "Asylum Seeker" in the US at all.

I think we were trying to figure out what the US equivalent would be

Oh I know, it's just that there is a context to why the graffiti is written the way it is. That's why I reckon your equivalent of "illegal immigrants" is probably the closest. It's interesting why the US doesn't really have a term relating to asylum, though - after all you're bound by the same UN conventions on asylum and refugees as us, and the US immigration websites feature pages on how to claim asylum. I guess it may be because European countries are easier to get to from the type of countries you might be fleeing from - or else there are historical and cultural ties due to them being old imperial possessions.

I guess it may be because European countries are easier to get to from the type of countries you might be fleeing from

That was always my assumption, but this

or else there are historical and cultural ties due to them being old imperial possessions

is really an interesting thought. I would guess that with North Africans in France, for example, you get communities going due to the historical circumstances, then because the community is there, it becomes an easier place for others to immigrate to? Plus, yes, geographically close, without enormous bodies of water in the way. So there's probably some aspect of both.

You got a hardy (hearty?) LOL from me, seanyboy.