When a boat crashed into the rocks on Christmas Island last week, I watched the news reports come in and cried. All those families torn apart. They’d gone through so much to get to Australia, to somewhere where they would hopefully be able to find a new life and with one big wave, that hope was dashed.
Parents held their babies up above the water, screaming for help, while residents of the Island threw life jackets, only to watch the life jackets torn away and the babies drown. So much floating debris, that they couldn’t see what was wood and what was human anymore.
The death toll is expected to rise as high as 50, with exact numbers not being known. Some bodies won’t be recovered.
Three children were left orphaned. Can you imagine that? Arriving in a new land, a land that your parents have likely promised will be free of death, only to have your parents drown, leaving you alone in a foreign country. Those children are in the Christmas Island Detention Centre now, not knowing their fate. There are over 150 children locked up there.
I’ve been reading the news reports and stupidly, some of the comments below them. To the person who declared ‘We don’t want them here’, I’d like to know: Where did your family come from that you can afford to be so arrogant about the arrival of families who need our help? There is a very good chance they didn’t want to be here either, however their need to be here outweighs everything.
Thinking about it, would you want to leave your home, your extended family, your country and your culture on a whim, forever? No. It takes some major trauma to have to decide that a foreign country is your only hope. That’s why they’re asylum seekers, not holiday makers.
We don’t know their stories, or their horror. We don’t know what they were fleeing from. To trust their lives and the lives of their family to a people smuggler and boat that, at the end of the day, didn’t hold up so well, somehow I’d hedge a bet that it wasn’t rising rates and taxes that forced them here.
I am ashamed that in the wake of this tragedy, our politicians are using it as a stone to throw at each other, the ‘Boat People’ stone. It isn’t constructive to throw rocks and portion blame at this time, not when you could be using your collective powers to organise a better solution, a plan so that this doesn’t happen again. A decisive agreement on what should happen once they’re here, that is in the best interest of these human beings, not in the best interest of your polls.
Screeching at the cameras that you will ‘STOP THE BOATS’ is equally unproductive. By all accounts, the amount of asylum seekers who have made it to Australian shores this year aren’t in danger of flooding us out of our own country, like some people fear. “Boat people” has turned into a general term thrown around as a fear mongering tool that is handy for point scoring.
It makes me wonder if the politicians have forgotten that at the heart of this aren’t people with fangs and giant claws, but babies and mothers. Fathers holding their daughters, begging for them to be saved and now, orphans. They are families who are in search of a better life, one without starvation, or murder on the horizon. Not monsters who need to be stopped.
In a shining beacon of hope however, I’ve gotten to watch Louisa move heaven and earth to get gifts to the children incarcerated on Christmas Island. She’s organised for the parcel to make its way onto a Virgin Blue flight and clear customs quickly, in time for Christmas morning.
Louisa has helped me feel less ashamed to be Australian today. With her idea and the blogospheres support, amazing things have happened in the last few days. Blogging has, yet again, reminded me about the best in people, instead of showing me the worst in them.
So, thank you, to every single person who donated, who shared the love and who helped out. You people are amazing.
And to our politicians, maybe you should be looking at the outpouring of love coming from this community and realising that not all Australians are scared of The Boat People monsters that you created. Most Australians are sympathetic and think that they deserve to be here, in this so called Lucky Country.
Maybe you can see that too.
One day.
Well said, thanks for helping Louisa.
I am ashamed that here in the US, the big headline for the day was something about some out of control celebrity and this story was just a little blip on the very bottom of the page.
I just don’t understand this world sometimes.
Going to check on how my little family can help. That is what Christmas is for.
xx
That post made me cry.
Amen, sister.
well said Veronica…imagine if it was 50 white Australians that died…the press, the appeals, the support that would be offered to the survivours…a very sad day indeed…
A major reason politicians are so very harsh about this issue is that a large proportion of the population feeds on fear and wants “the boats stopped”. During the election it was all very clear – a major platform was stopping the boats. I was very pleased to see the Greens using correct language when referring to refugees and asylum seekers.
The bigots really just need a shot of empathy.
what really bugs me about all this is that it’s just a matter of spin. why can’t the spin be “we get a really small number of people and isn’t it a wonderful opportunity for our community that we can help these people” rather than “be afraid, be very afraid”. grrr!
I’m telling you right now – If I came from a country like these people then I wouldn’t hesitate in strapping my babies to my back and seeking out freedom. A place where we could live, peacefully and happily without persecution, violence and oppression.
It’s what any and every parent wants for their child.
So when people say that they “don’t want ’em here” and the like, I wonder are they parents? Is there any shred of decency in them? Or are they just unable to see anything outside the small existence they lead?
I am so very proud to be a member of AMB today, you ladies are AMAZING!
x
Amen!
xoxo
Well said, and fuck you Tony Abbott.
wish there was a “like” button for this!
Hahaha I just went to ‘like’ this too!
While what happened at Christmas Island is very sad, it hardly allows for our shores to be opened to the asylum seekers. There are legal ways of getting into our country – I have no hesitation in welcoming those that do it the proper and legal way; however, those that choose to sneak into our country I have less than savoury thoughts for them. I’m not saying that they deserved to drown because, believe me, I cried when I heard that also. But, if they had attempted to enter our country legally then not so many lives would have been lost.
If they can pay $15,000 + to a people smuggler to board a dingy boat that ultimately sailed them to their deaths, then they can definitely afford to apply to become an Australian citizen correctly.
I hold much contempt for asylum seekers that have entered Australia illegally – they have taken many jobs because they are so cheap and that is PART (please read the word PART before you break out the guns and knives ) of the reason we have such a high unemployment rate.
On the 18th of December, my family and I gathered for a luncheon and during one of the toasts we all agreed, “And here’s to the lives of all those sad souls lost at Christmas Island…may they now be in peace.” So please don’t accuse me of being a horrid person – it hurt me to hear of the news just as much as all of you; however, if they had attempted to enter our country the legal way, those 50 lives may have been spared.
Aaah April you make me feel quite sad for you. I went and had a look at your blog and I suppose I can try and make allowances for the fact that you are very young but then again age shouldn’t really be an excuse for ignorance.
Can you imagine sitting down to eat your breakfast, you are thinking about what you are going to wear to work when you hear a rumbling that sounds like thunder. Your walls begin to shake and you think it must be an earthquake. You run to the window to see what is happening and there is a tank with its huge gun turret aimed right at your house. Suddenly one wall of your house collapses and you are gripped by a terrible panic you run out to the backyard in your pajamas and try to hide in the garden shed. Four big burly soldiers find you trying to hide in the cupboard and they decide to have a bit of fun with you.
Three hours later you regain consciousness and you try to text your mum to come and get you but there isn’t any service. You are too scared to go outside in case the soldiers come back but you know you can’t stay there in the shed either.
Your whole suburb is filled with the sounds of gunfire and the smell of burning and your world has been turned upside down.
What on earth are you going to do April?
That little scenario wasn’t a made up fiction, that was very similar to the story of a friend of mines mother who woke up one morning when she was 17 and found that her town in Czechoslovakia had been surrounded by the Russians. Her family managed to escape Czechoslovakia and eventually made a new life for themselves here in Australia.
People are never refugees by choice April. I suggest that you research the genocide in Rwanda, the civil war in the Sudan just for a start and when you sit down to your Christmas dinner with your Dad the grinch you think about just how lucky you really are here in Australia
oh kim. wow.
I know I’m lucky here in Australia – my god I know, and I have no hesitation in sharing that luck around – you clearly haven’t been reading what I’m saying in which case you are totally right – age isn’t an excuse for ignorance. You just proved your own point. Well done.
I did indeed read what you had to say April. I could respond to your argument point by point but to be honest I cant really be bothered. Have a nice Christmas.
Very well said & I feel the same. If there was another option these people would have taken it for sure. I feel so sorry for them. It is sad that so many Australians just believe whatever the media tells them and are actually so ignorant of the true facts! And I was also disgusted at the “Stop the Boats” political campaigning. Keep up the good work Veronica!
Hi April
I’m not sure that you have all the facts – in many countries there are no official channels for people. They can’t get the paperwork that they need, there’s isn’t a conuslate office or a registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages that they can apply to for the right paperwork. Without the paperwork they can’t apply for asylum through the official channels. Furthermore, if they are fearing for their lives then obviously can’t alert authorities to what the are doing. It’s a big misconception that people who come via boat are “queue jumpers” and it’s just not true.
Likewise, the language of “illigeal immigrant” is also not accurate. It’s not illegal to seek asylum. So these people aren’t “illegal immigrants” they are “asylum seeks”. The terms “illegal” is used by politicians deliberately in an attempt to mislead the public and generate a response much like the one you have given here.
As for the jobs. Part of our system is such that asylum seeksers can’t get employment. Under the Howard government they weren’t even entitled to the assitance of charities so the idea that people who arrive on boats take anyone’s jobs is plainly untrue. Once an asylum seeker is determined to be a genuine refugee the steps begin to give them other entitlements though I believe that until a refugee is granted residency (something that many are never granted & takes years and year for those who are) any fears about “those people taking ‘our’ jobs” is another piece of political spin intended to garner fear rather than compassion.
I’d think carefully before feeling contempt towards people who leave everything and then risk their lives in order to get to a place where their children can have a chance at normal life. It would take a lot for a person to make that decision knowing the risks – As a mother of two small children I can’t imagine how terrifying it must be – what kind of situation you must be in to think that the risk of taking children through the seas with a complete stranger has better odds than staying put. Pity? Empathy? Definitely. Contempt? Not a chance.
Louisa
Louisa,
I definitely agree with what you are saying. They must have been through some awful times to feel the need to flee to a foreign country. However, I don’t understand how some asylum seekers from the same country are granted access through the ‘official channels’ and others are not.
Of course, paperwork etc… is always required when applying for anything related to government, but is there not a certain department unrelated to the Christmas Island detention centers that handles these sort of asylum seekers? Personally, I believe people smugglers corrupt the ideas of the asylum seekers and convince them the only way to escape is via their boat…how else would they make money? And those poor people would have to believe them…especially in the state they are in.
I know that our government is far from the best, but I’m sure there are other legitimate ways of entering out country other than with the need of paperwork.
Also, how is it untrue that there is no way asylum seekers are able to take Australian’s jobs? There are very many corrupt businesses out there that don’t always do things the correct way. I mean heck, when I worked at a legitimate kitchenwares store, I was being paid from the till with no TFN on record or any of that….if I had been an asylum seeker that would have been like Christmas for me. There is just no way that I can dismiss the idea of asylum seekers taking Australian jobs.
However, you are right…I am not entirely up to date with the current information. And if it is as bad as you say it is, someone needs to assassinate our entire government and people like you need to be put in charge. I’m not against the idea of having foreigners in our country – I believe anyone seeking asylum deserves the right to it; however, I would prefer they went the right way about it.
Hi April
I have some useful information I’d be happy to send to you if you wanted to find out more. send me an email louisa@everythingisedible.com and I’ll get it to you.
I hear your point about illegal worker however there are more illegal overstayers (many of whom are of British & American nationality) in our country employed illegally than there are refugess. (about 50000 overstayers as opposed to the 5000-6000 who arrive by boat and are put in detention each year). In the case of the refugees you could argue that they have no other option if they are not allowed to work and reliant on the limited resources of charities. The same can’t be said for British backpackers.
You could read this to see the very humane treatment overstayers are afforded: http://www.news.com.au/national/no-detention-for-visa-dodgers/story-e6frfkvr-1225708050188
Let me know if you’d like the other info. You might also find these two blog posts insteresting: http://www.mamamia.com.au/weblog/2010/10/what-a-detention-centre-is-really-like-for-women-and-children.html/comment-page-1#comment-245778 and http://www.happychild.com.au/blogs/yvettevignando/2010/12/20/and-so-this-is-christmas-children-in-detention-on-christmas-island
Cheers,
Louisa
Well said Veronica and Louisa. Thank you both for what you’ve done.
i never say anything to anyone about the asylum seekers because i cop the ‘don’t let them in’ attitude too.
Everyone came from somewhere, right?
Why isn’t there more information – honest, factual information about what seeking asylum really means?? When did ‘boat people’ become something nasty and distasteful? My DH’s best friend was a refugee from vietnam when he was very young…. I don’t remember much from back then but I remember feeling sad for ‘boat people’ back then…. sad that they had to leave their homes, risk their lives, go through horrendous things for a chance at living…. and I feel sad for those that face the same things now. Sad…. and ashamed at how we Australians treat them
Those poor babies who have drowned. Jesus. WTF is wrong with Australia? Sigh.
The unfortunate thing is that many people who are assessed by the UN as genuine refugees still struggle to be repatriated to a country other than the land they left. What is the point in Australia or any other country being a member of the UN and vowing to protect and assist refugees if they are to spend years languishing in detention or a non-signatory country (e.g. Indonesia)? Stats for the number of refugees resettled from Indonesia to Australia in the 3 years since 2006 are listed at in Bakchos’ post. He includes a link to the official source. Perhaps this explains why people “queue jump” from Indonesia.
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