Refugees in the Community

[Lee]

Opposition Immigration spokesman Scott Morrison wants refugees living in the community to be registered with the police and communities notified of who and where they are.

Even 100% right-wing commentators such as Dennis Shanahan have said it's "a bridge too far".

What are your thoughts?

PS: This is an emotive subject, so let's show we can keep it polite and non-abusive and have respect for all views.

(but don't be afraid to be robust).

[bigclock]

Is it all refugees or those on bridging visa's?

[over the line]

I might leave this one alone I think

[Lee]

Is it all refugees or those on bridging visa's?

I think he's referring to those on bridging visas, bc.

Senator Abetz says it's so neighbours know they might not speak English and they can therefore help them. Somehow, I don't believe him.

[Gingernuts]

What are your thoughts?

My thoughts are that there are a lot of political threads in the general discussion forum these days R&B.

[Lee]

There's a lot of political talk in society right now, too GN

[Gingernuts]

No worries, just stirring. Someones gotta keep you honest while your keeping everyone else honest after all.

[Lee]

No worries, GN, I certainly need to be kept honest

[Southee]

I might leave this one alone I think

Yep. Im joining you there OTL......

Best I dont comment.

[Gingernuts]

I find this issue a difficult one.

I certainly understand the desperation with which these people sell all they have and risk their lives to flee a pretty nasty existence with the hope of having a better brighter future in a free democratic country. If I was in the same situation I would no doubt seriously consider making the journey myself.

Then again I also understand the safety concerns regarding the entry of refugees who haven’t been through the process of identity, criminal & terrorism checks.

Then on top of this all I also consider those who have lived in refugee camps for years - even decades – waiting in vain hope for a free and democratic country to take them in. At least those coming by boat have the resources to consider paying a people smuggler, most in refugee camps wouldn’t even have so much as a bag of rice to their name.

My stance on the issue is this – ultimately the debate should push past who has legitimate claims to refugee status and efforts should instead focus on reducing the loss of lives at sea by ceasing the people smuggling trade at its source.

[Lee]

Yes, it's a very difficult issue. There is no easy solution, whoever is in government, IMO. I pretty well agree with what you're saying, GN, but I suppose my main concern is that refugees are people and shouldn't be vilified and made objects of hate or concern. Currently, both parties do not treat them properly.

My feelings are for a number of reasons. First and foremost is that I judge people on who they are and what they do, not on skin colour or country of origin. I'm amazed that somehow that is a radical position to take when it comes to refugees.

I'm lucky to have travelled extensively and that has also shaped my attitudes. Wherever I've gone, including Islamist countries, people have treated me kindly and generously most of the time and that broadens attitudes to 'foreigners'.

I wonder why some people are so threatened by people from different backgrounds. I can understand it if Australia was being 'over-run' by refugees, but most refugees arriving by boat are found to be genuine refugees, many of whom have shocking stories to tell. People arriving by plane are a different matter, but nobody seeems bothered by that and they're much more likely to be able to afford to come here.

So, to me, if someone is a genuine refugee, and they want to make a good contribution to our society, it doesn't bother me with the current numbers. If they're not and they're found to be an 'economic' refugee, then back they go.

I've seen the same fear before. First it was the Greeks and Italians, then the Vietnamese.

Oh, just to satisfy my current annoyance, I'd say the most obvious 'economic' refugee is Rupert Murdoch, who renounced his Australian citizenship to become an American, for business reasons.

[howthewestwaswon]

"For those who come across the seas, we've boundless plains to share" pretty much sums up my opinion.

It's in our national anthem and let's not forget that technically, all white Australians are refugees too.

Being of Italian background something that I am grateful for is the balls that my grandparents showed in the 1950s to make the move out here.

[Chambo Off To Work We Go]

No worries, GN, I certainly need to be kept honest

Given your occupation, I bloody hope so!

[Chambo Off To Work We Go]

"For those who come across the seas, we've boundless plains to share" pretty much sums up my opinion.

It's in our national anthem and let's not forget that technically, all white Australians are refugees too.

Being of Italian background something that I am grateful for is the balls that my grandparents showed in the 1950s to make the move out here.

Well not quite legally correct. The first white Australians were not free to come to these shores, being under penal detention at the time.

Refugees are technically free (at least from a legal point of view) although the act of seeking asylum may change that status in their home country.

Sorry mate, just razzing!

I hope both your grandparents didn't have balls.

Sorry, another razz. I'll stop now.

What can I say anyway, my parents emigrated from the mother country when I was 15 months old. I am just glad they weren't seduced to settle near Elizabeth. Not casting aspersions against Elizabeth, but I just couldn't have seen myself wearing red, blue and white to footy games.

Actually they never settled anywhere near Unley, but that is another story!

[Lee]

The refugee crime rate is 0.04% I think.

Politicians crime rate is 1.3%.

The first European arrivals had a crime rate of 100%

[Lee]

No worries, GN, I certainly need to be kept honest

Given your occupation, I bloody hope so!

So far, so good

[howthewestwaswon]

No worries Chambo. I should have written that it took a lot of guts from all 4 of my grandparents to leave their families (none of their siblings or relatives followed them to Australia). In the case of my grandfather, it was a last minute decision to come out here, otherwise he would have been on his way to Buenos Aires!

[Chambo Off To Work We Go]

The refugee crime rate is 0.04% I think.

Politicians crime rate is 1.3%.

The first European arrivals had a crime rate of 100%

First Arrivals then,
Politicians then,
Refugees

Chronologically speaking, new Aussies are becoming less criminal per capita!

[Lee]

This should be in the cartoonist thread, brilliant.

Keeps both sides happy, depending on your take




http://www.kudelka.com.au/2013/03/welcome-to-australia/

[Lee]

Someone calls racism for what it is:

He's not afraid to stand up and be counted.

From John Birmingham - National Times



Time to go turd fishing, Abbott

Opinion

I found a turd in a swimming pool once. A shocking discovery. I’m not sure how it got there, but there was no question as to why it remained. Nobody would take responsibility for cleaning the wretched thing out of the water.

I took responsibility. I didn’t want to, because, you know, turd in a swimming pool.

But if civilization is to survive there are certain unpleasant realities that must be faced. Michael Herr, the great chronicler of the Vietnam War, once wrote that you are as responsible for everything you see as for everything you do.

I had seen the turd, floating there, and I could not unsee it. Half a drum of chlorine later (and one leaf net tossed into the bin, never to be used again) I had discharged my responsibility to civilisation.

When will Tony Abbott do the same?

When will he reach into the cesspool of the Liberal Party and fish out the floating turd of Scott Morrison’s discursive bowel movement in all but comparing asylum seekers to pedophiles? What’s that, Scott? Asylum seekers such as Frank Lowy, Les Murray, Judy Cassab, Professor Gustav Nossal or Victor Chang?

Oh, no, not them. They’re good refugees. Long settled in and a credit to the community.

No, Morrison just thinks anyone attempting to flee war or persecution now must be somehow suspect, in a way that anyone attempting to flee war or persecution then wasn’t. It couldn't possibly be about race. Not with Victor Chang in there. So it must surely just be a now and then thing.

And it would be a good thing if the community was alerted should some of these potential ne’er-do-wells move into a street nearby.

Because, you know, refugees and child rapists. He’s only saying what everyone thinks.

It would be enlightening, I suppose to hear more from Morrison, or his yammering parrot, Senator Abetz, on exactly how such a scheme might work.

Flyers on telephone poles, perhaps?

Or maybe something more community minded. Like a giant bonfire with a flaming cross in their front gardens. It would have to stay lit until they proved themselves decent refugees, like the ones we got from Europe, or at least useful refugees, like Doctor Chang. It would be sort of a like a modern version of the eternal flame.

Or, Tony Abbott could just man up, hold his nose, and fish the turd out of the swimming pool.

[bigclock]

Racism wasn't even mentioned in the article R&B... How can it be racist when refugees come from all different shapes, sizes and colours?

[Lee]

Read between the lines, bc

Unless you think Mr Morrison is saying all he does out of genuine concern for refugees.

By the way, this article is the 'most read' in Qld today.

PS: Good to see you replying, though, mate

[bigclock]

He's not afraid to stand up and be counted - yet he is too afraid to call something racist.... Purely a piece of rubbish journalism to bow to the left wingers...

Maybe the refugees should just be sent to Malaysia instead

[Lee]

If that's not standing up to be counted, nothing is

With respect, anyone reading that and having to be told Mr Morrison is racist needs assistance understanding straight talk.

If it's rubbish journalism, where is it wrong and I presume you believe Rupert

You sound like someone I've discussed this with before, must be my imagination.

[bigclock]

haha... we have had many a chats at Richmond / The Parade R&B... was wondering when you would recognise me

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