My mudcat name means foreigner or traveller. I have spent my adult life living in working in countries where I am not a citizen, sometimes for years, sometimes just months or weeks.

I have often been deeply deeply touched by kindness and hospitality when I moved to a new place. People who extended open-hearted offers of friendship, or just strangers helping a stranger whose luggage was unmanageable. I had it easy with work permits, but in one country I befriended refugees and had a tiny glimpse of what it might mean to leave everything behind and then face unimaginable struggle. I have had people yell rude things because of my nationality, or extend a welcome because they thought I was related to their country.

Welcome and kindness offered and accepted just because the other person is a human being are always the most precious.--I hope I have kept the great circle of this kindness going through small gestures, but my own hospitality can fail when I am threatened or fearful.

It's not an accident that hospitality is a high value in many religions across the world, and in certain regions, among desert people, Indians, too, when sharing and trust were a matter of survival.

I am deeply touched by kindness to strangers the same way I am deeply moved by some music. It's not so much that 'some have entertained angels unaware' or that Elijah needs a place (though that may be), but that openness and kindness are part of shared humanity, as opposed to the gang-clique us versus them mentality.--Our species started in Africa, we are a diasporic species and we are all guests and travellers on the planet.

Rules: a place where the laws are enforced selectively is a tyranny. Even-handedness and consistency would make this a more hospitable place.

I am point-blank horrified by the suggestion of banning guests and by guest-baiting: both bespeak a mob mentality. Disagree with ideological poison, yes, but then let it sink into silence.

A forum was the place where citizens could speak publicly. If guests or anonymous posters bring provocation, why answer? See how fast the thread can fall off the page.

Welcome here kind stranger.