I CANNOT let John Williams’ (CL 14/9/03) comments on ‘boat people abusing the system’ go unchallenged.
His ignorance of the experience and plight of asylum seekers is breathtaking.
The Columban Fathers, to whom I proudly belong, have built up a good deal of experience with asylum seekers and refugees in Australia, Ireland and Britain, and even Pakistan where they have contact with Afghani refugees in Peshawar.
Asylum seekers are human beings with names, they are not just ‘boat people’, a generic name that keeps them anonymous and easier to handle and demonise.
I would suggest that Patricia Ryan (CL 21/9/03) visit the Romero Centre in Buranda and spend a short time with asylum seekers, just long enough to listen to one or two stories.
I have no suggestions for John Williams.
Significant research has shown that refugees/asylum seekers create wealth in the country to which they go. They are not bludgers. The dole holds no attraction for them because they cannot build a life by staying on the dole.
We are fortunate that menial jobs do get done before they move on to better jobs. We are not going to do them.
Asylum seekers are not poor, they bring skills and education with them, they have to be able to pay for their trip to Australia. They do not want to stay on the bottom of the social ladder, nor do they.
Having returned to Australia last year after being overseas for the last 14 years in such diverse countries as Jamaica, Scotland and Ireland, I have been surprised by the John Williams of Queensland, my native state.
I have now come to believe the country is harder and meaner than it used to be, but that can be turned around. This is a fine country and I have come to appreciate its potential each time I returned.
Police do not shoot you because you belong to the wrong political party, we are not taken away by secret police for arbitrary execution or torture. The institutions of society work, we do expect justice more or less, we do have access to health, education and a decent life. That is what attracts asylum seekers who have experienced chaos, war, corruption and discrimination. What they believe they lack is a future.
Of course asylum seekers don’t wait in line. They don’t go through the channels, it takes too long and nothing may eventuate.
In many cultures people do not queue, it’s a free for all. I used to get angry in Jamaica when people jumped the ‘queue’ until I realised that there was no queue. You may be the first at the bus stop but that does not mean you will be first on the bus. If no other bus is coming for hours, you make sure you get on the bus, elbows and knees get moving.
Or queuing for food. If there isn’t enough food to go around, there is no point being at the end of the line.
Fortunately, we don’t have to worry about such things in Australia. Things do work in Australia, except it would seem compassion.
FR GARY WALKER SSC
North Essendon, Vic
