This is not really a disability issue or a NOVA issue and I am home sick and these are my views and don't necessarily represent NOVA's..
And when are we going to wake up to nonsense like this: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=7944423 - Canada braces for Sri Lankan boat people!
Nine would have us believe that the entire might of the great nation of Canada is required to care for a few hundred poor miserable sods who would have to have been at sea for a fortnight in appalling conditions - then comes the real manure; "Between 200 and 500 refugees, including women and children, are believed to be aboard the MV Sun Sea, a cargo ship flying a Thai flag, in an incident that has highlighted concern over the plight of Sri Lanka's Tamil minority. Media reports originating in Colombo, Sri Lanka, said the ship headed for Canada after being deterred from Australia, and several other ships full of refugees are on their way".
Go and get your atlas out.
Sri lanka is an island off the South Eastern tip of India - you'll note Australia is a few thousand miles further to the East - Where's Canada? Absolutely, dead set motherless on exactly the opposite side of the world and the fool who wrote this rubbish would have you believe that these refugees (with all that this implies) set sail for Australia, got wind of our government's tough stance on the persecution of the weak and powerless and decided instead to sail on a further 20,000 kms where the Canadians immediately braced themselves for the invasion.
Bollocks!
These are women and children.
Australia needs to be a compassionate country. Australians are caring people.
Let's look after the poor, let's care for the needy and yes, let's share the wealth that the gods have bestowed upon us. Here's the deal; for every person that sets sail in a leaky tub and braves the horrors of open ocean sailing in unseaworthy craft, 20 (this is 20, the number between 19 & 21) decide to overstay their visa's and become illegal immigrants and you never hear a bo-peep about these folk from either side of politics.
Why?
They are the wrong colour. They are Chinese or Indian students and our trading relationships with these 2 countries is far too important to tarnish with any question over the really minor nature of the matter.
Which just might put boat people into perspective.
Australia needs young strong backs to continue the building and development of the nation. I don't see why they can't be Afghan or Sri Lankan. Surely we are judged by the way we treat every disadvantaged minority. A hard heart here can only lead to worse.
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