The article has been removed because of copyright issues.
Bugger.
You can still read it here on the Tasmanian Times website. or here at the The Guardian.
The Weeping Sore, An Article by Richard Flanagan.
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From my perspective, the “dry foot” policy that was enacted in response to Cuba resulted in MORE refugees and MORE lost lives at sea. And the shame is, the national government didn’t care that the state of Florida was overwhelmed with the costs of helping these folks, the schools that must be run, that sort of thing. I’m concerned that if borders are more open, there will be MORE of these horrible stories! I read that story before and it just tears your heart. These people were so brave to leave everything behind, and even the children gone??
There needs to be some fair way to sort everyone out, which is a struggle here, too. I remember from my brief time in Aus. that I didn’t get grief for coming into the country, but there were “dirty Pakis” and others who were of Asian descent who seemed to be disliked very much.
And I didn’t know that about Australia doing well economically right now! 🙂
“Lies were the currency that bought elections … but they served to add to the growing mood of antipathy by robbing the boat people of the one thing they had left: their humanity.”
That paragraph says it all and not just about Australian refugee policy, but about racism in general. Have you noticed that at the heart of racism is a depersonalisation or suggestion of uncleaniness? Terms such as curry munchers, dirty paki, towel head, slanty eyes; I won’t allows such descriptions the honorific of an upper case to make them proper nouns; they are disgusting terms and deserve no capital letters.
Racism is underpinned by stereotyping people and from that anyone who looks or identifies as a particular colour, creed or race is tagged. Add to that a populist political process that feeds on misconception (much of which is fed by the pollies themselves) and fear and you have recipe for a country that regressing emotionally, showing that the White Australia, Christian only policies of years gone by are still all that we are willing to accept. Perhaps because I grew up with so many new-Australians (Mother’s Teresa’s niece, whom I know personally, is proud to call herself a new Australian) and refugees, I have a more tolerant view. I shared classrooms and meal with them. Perhaps more people need to get out and talk directly to these ‘demons’ invading our country. Ah, but therein lies the rub – refugees, like Aborigines, are ‘compulsive liars’ and you’ll never be able to trust what they say. What happened to the fore-thinkers and peace-makers of our political parties?
Watershedd… sometimes I keep thinking the amazing things I heard, that I was taught in school, that I somehow made it all up and people didn’t really say that. But your relating it back, speaking back the same words I just wrote… wow. Feeling affirmed, but not in a good way.
Though I think most Australians are beautiful, generous and kind people. Some of them have a blind spot a mile long on this issue, but I have faith that they WILL see the humanity in others. Besides the “dirty” stereotype, around here (I live in Missouri) we see the “hardworking” stereotype as well but honestly… whenever you see a stereotype, you’re no longer seeing the people.
Do they really call them “demons,” too? I’m so sorry to read that. These people leave their homes, their language, their families… and this is how the Christians minister to these people God set before them. Oh, Merry Christmas that stinks. I don’t know that we do any better here, either, though. Not an excuse. Just a sad fact.
Do you know I’m not so sure it is actually racism per se but a deep fear of the Islamic fundamentalist that is the root problem here. The current influx of so-called illegals are predominantly from the Muslim world and therein lies the problem. Since the emergence of the Taliban and subsequent to 9/11 much fear, justified or otherwise, has accompanied anyone from the world of Islam. Sharia Law and the subjugation of women are an anathema to most of us in the West and this is what the Islamic fundamentalists try to bring with them wherever they go. Most Muslims get on with practising their religion quietly and peacefully, as do most Christians, Buddhists, Hindus etc but the Media concentrates on the radical elements and thus fans the flames of what is then classed as racism. Personally I am not happy about this attitude, being a firm believer in a policy of live and let live, but, sadly, I can see why it is so. Some of the more extreme pronouncements from Fundamentalist leaders send shivers down my spine. And please note I include all fundamentalists here, not just the Muslim variety.
I do not know what the answer is but surely there must be a more humane solution out there somewhere.
I’m not able to express myself as clearly as the previous commenters, and I tend to stay away from political stuff simply because I’ve never understood politics, but I will say this type of situation stinks.
How would these pollies feel if they were turned away from other countries or incarcerated for years at a time when all they wanted was to learn a little about the countries they were trying to visit?
We’re all just people wanting freedom and the best for our families, and we all have to live somewhere.
Australia has plenty of room, although our governments are a little slack with building the necessary infrastructure to support extra people. Dams, pipelines, sustainable power supply stations, etc
I should say something profound here as befits a major deity but as per usual Mr Flanagan has said it with aplomb.
Those poor babies. May they rest in peace.
Thanks for sharing this article, Kim.xx
Sharon, I understand what you are saying, but I still call it racism. Christians tend to come from Anglo-Saxon/European regions, Muslims from the Middle East, Hindus from India, Buddhists from Asia. Religion is inextricably linked to race and culture, although the minutiae of practice may vary depending on the degree of devotion and local practices.
There are fundamentalists in all religions, I agree. Christianity has it’s own, even today, just as does Islam. It’s part of the reason I refuse to bow to a single religion – spirit and religion are two very different things. But bigotry, be it based on colour, creed or cultural heritage are not. Racism is bigotry by another name. You could be a Christian from Iran and still be seen as a threat, because of where you come from. I read such a story just a few days ago, about a refugee in Indonesia who converted to Christianity in Iran and had to leave as a result. His father, a priest, was murdered. He has waited an eternity in refugee accommodation for Australia to approve his LEGAL entry. It has finally come through, but he is in the minority.
Northern Ireland has had its fair share of fundamentalist terrorists … evidence suggests it still does. I riled against it when there and I see the same bigotry here. Spain also has it’s issues, as do parts of South America. Fundamentalism is not the purvey of the Middle East, but perhaps because the base level religion is something we do not comprehend, it is more threatening. But even that doesn’t ad up. We didn’t react like this to the Asians boat people.
Education about the issues, the cultural differences AND similarities for both Australians and immigrants is necessary to bridge the cultural divide.
Live and let live is indeed the road I choose too. I do not condone a policy of completely open borders, but I do think our current policies are failing and the attitudes of the pollies are self-serving and populist. I fail to understand how the Australian public can be blind to why anyone would travel on a leaky, overladen canoe to travel across open seas in the hope of a better life, let alone why they would send their children. It speaks of pure desperation.
thanks for the link to Richard’s article. comments are great too. Peace & Love