Boat people aren’t new
Interested in the boat people debate? Do you wonder why the Left support the boat people and the Conservatives don’t?
Do you remember the Vietnamese boat people and the ALP’s hatred of them?
Gough Whitlam said
I’m not having hundreds of fucking Vietnamese Balts coming into this country with their political and religious hatreds against us”
It should be noted that the Vietnamese didn’t hate us, as in ordinary Australians but they did hate communism (for very good reasons) and that is where Whitlam and the unions were coming from. Those that couldn’t flee the retribution in South Vietnam died in their millions as the communists did what they do best – slaughter and/or send to reeducation camps those who had the temerity to fight for freedom. The Vietnamese were fleeing a communist state and the ALP of the time and the union leaders were very clearly pro-communists or anti-US which is the same thing. The same people today reason that Iraqis and Afghans are fleeing US influenced regions and are therefore welcome. The left wing Tamils, inventors of the suicide bomber’s vests are likewise welcomed for the same reason – their left wing politics I lived through those days when Australia was governed by a socialist government with very clear connections with the communists of the world. Our service in South Vietnam was denigrated by the Left, Communists Generals were dined out by Jim Cairns, one-time Deputy PM and life under Whitlam reminded us every day of how the world had changed. Communism was the new ‘way to go’ and wearing the uniform of your country was frowned upon. It was humiliating and it looked like we had lost the Cold War which I enthusiastically contributed to for 13 months of my life but within a decade reason had prevailed. Whitlam was a nightmare memory and President Reagan correctly identified the ‘Evil Empire’ and proceeded to flog them until the collapse of the Berlin Wall. If you are interested at all in the truth then you do need to read this report by Hal G.P. Colebatch
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Kev
Colebatch’s article is interesting because it accuses the ALP of exactly the same characterisation of refugees as we have been hearing from the Coalition since 2007.
For example, they’re country shoppers –
Then –
Have a look at some of these Vietnamese who perhaps did not fight in the war in their country but who may have been in charge of houses of ill-fame or who may have made a lot of money on the black market. I think it is fair to ask some of these people to put something back rather than skedaddle again (Senator Mulvihill – 1977)
Now –
Then, of course, we have the continuing armada of illegal arrivals seeking to take advantage of Australia’s lax border protection policies. The current approach is an unsustainable farce, exploited by economic refugees seeking the good life in Australia. The fact that most of these illegal arrivals will be granted a residency visa makes a mockery of our regular and humanitarian immigration programs. Even those responsible for damaging property and threatening physical violence in our detention networks were given the ‘Aussie green card’. (Cory Bernadi – 2013)
Or they bring disease –
Then –
Are any of the Vietnamese refugees now being permitted to enter Australia former prostitutes and drug peddlers, some of whom are suffering from a venereal disease which is resistant to all known anti-biotics? Is it true that there has been an outbreak of a certain strain of non-specific … urethritis attributed to Vietnamese refugees, for which there is no known permanent cure?(Clyde Cameron 1978)
Now –
As long as Labor’s soft policies on our borders continue, these boats will continue to arrive along with the risks they carry, including people with serious communicable diseases. (Scott Morrison March 2012)
Or they are not genuine refugees –
Then –
The number of reports of their possessing money—in some cases even gold in significant quantities—indicated that they are not genuine refugees. It is very strange that these so-called refugees are able, in some cases, to commandeer boats, and that they should all be suddenly leaving three years after the end of the Vietnam War. (Brian Burke 1978)
Now –
“I’ve been up at Christmas Island I’ve the seen the bags and the various other things of the passengers, and I’ve seen wads of cash before. I’ve seen large displays of jewellery and various other things, so a lot of money floating around when these boats come in is not uncommon as I understand it.”(Scott Morrison 2012 on 2GB)
So Kev, what’s good for the goose etc. The dog-whistling is bipartisan and demeans us all.
The difference is that there was a regional solution developed over time for the Vietnamese. Such an arrangement was initially possible for this second wave of refugees, but Howard destroyed any hope of that when he used the Tampa incident to claw back power in 2001.
Neither side of politics in this country has any reason to be proud of this history since 2001.
Both Labor and the Coalition have used the issue to create fear in the community for political gain.
It makes me sick.
If I ever win tattslotto 1735099 I intend to test your views on immigration by buying properties surrounding yours, two either side and three opposite. Then I will rent each of those properties to the most unruly of the immigrants granted visas and move them in. You seem to have no idea what goes on in the world of today.
Great – they can join the indigenous family next door, the newly-naturalised Iraqi family (refugees) three doors down, and the mainland Chinese people across the street.
I’ve lived in Carmilla, North Eton, Texas, Goondiwindi, and owned homes in Kallangur, Mt Gravatt, Mt Isa, Kirwan, and Toowoomba.
I think I have a pretty good idea of what “goes on in the world of today” when it comes to neighbours.
You’re simply reflecting your own tribal prejudices.
Just a test of your reading skills…….do any of your current neighbours fit the description “unruly”. Your neighbours have moved from city centres or areas where cultural mores have a greater hold on them.
My intent is to point out that there are certain difficulties associated with immigration. Buy a house in a low income urban area where people mix in greater numbers of varying backgrounds, where there are a large number of young people who have been subjected to the same terrors as the Vietnamese before them, and whose parents suffer from the same fears and worse. The levels of intolerance between the groups is intense, some racial and some religious. The subsequent confrontational violence isn’t like the old days…..a punch on the nose and all forgotten. Many of these young people have been victims and some perpetrators but the degree to which they resort to protecting themselves or attacking others is extreme by our usual standards and is beginning to roll over into the everyday youths in this country. Like you 1735099 I treat each person I meet on their merits or otherwise, but you should not turn a blind eye to the fact that people are by and large have their lives shaped by the environment in which they live. Do you wonder at all why groups of people destroy identity docs which would enable verification of their bona fides to be carried much quicker leading to an accurate assessment of refugee status? It amazes me, but then I am a stickler for honesty. Probably why I have a dislike for Juliar, but that’s another story.
cultural mores have a greater hold on them.
The meaning of this phrase is obscure. Greater than what? Or is this another way of saying you’re uncomfortable because they have different beliefs and understandings from yours?
Many of these young people have been victims and some perpetrators but the degree to which they resort to protecting themselves or attacking others is extreme by our usual standards and is beginning to roll over into the everyday youths in this country.
If this were true, it should be reflected in crime statistics. Find me a set of crime statistics that shows that refugees who arrive on boats are more likely to be convicted of crimes of violence than non-refugees.
Like you 1735099 I treat each person I meet on their merits or otherwise, but you should not turn a blind eye to the fact that people are by and large have their lives shaped by the environment in which they live.
As a teacher I understand well the interaction between nature and nurture. The kind of environment we create for incoming refugees is part of this. If they’re met with hostility and fear, they’ll respond accordingly.
What I will happily turn a blind eye to is xenophobia, prejudice and rumour-mongering, especially when it is used as a means to pander to fear and loathing to sell newspapers, increase ratings, or set up a political wedge.
I rely on two sources to form my opinions about immigration – personal experience and data-based research.
An example is this paper delivered in Perth in 2005 – http://www.omi.wa.gov.au/resources/clearinghouse/Ethnic_Minorities_and_Crime.pdf
This kind of thoughtful analysis which doesn’t take sides, but seeks to look at the reality and understand it, is much more constructive than the crap tossed around by the likes of Bolt and Jones.
This extract from the conclusion makes a great deal of sense –
Media organisations also have a responsibility to steer away from sensationalist reporting that might sell papers but that will increase anxiety in the community about crime and safety.
This paper has an extensive bibliography. Work your way through it.
Hello 17….
About statistics – you could start with this comment in The Age of 20 Aug 12 by Victoria Deputy Commissioner Cartwright:
“Sudanese and Somali-born Victorians are about five times more likely to commit crimes than the wider community, a trend that must be addressed to prevent Cronulla-style social unrest, police warn…..
But there’s also a concerning trend of violence, violence that’s not needed. So once they’ve got the property the violence continues. Maybe there’s a thrill in it, maybe a bit of revenge, but it’s coming out of a lot of groups, not just the Africans.
Chief Commissioner Ken Lay and other senior police recently met members of the African community to discuss the crime statistics and ways to tackle the issue. One person present at the meeting, Abeselom Nega, said he shared some of Mr Cartwright’s fears, and that the statistics presented by the police were ”confronting”.
Then you could move onto tidbits like this from The Australian of 9 Mar 11:
“However, data collected by the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that Lebanese make up the fifth largest ethnic group in Australian prisons after Australians, New Zealanders, Vietnamese and British and Irish, with 226 Lebanese prisoners last year accounting for 0.75 per cent of all detainees held for serious crimes.
The paper you referenced was delivered in 2005 at a seminar organised by The Office of Multicultural Interest but, most of the bibliography is from 2003 and before. What is the relevance of a paper which came out two years before the Christmas Island Ferries began their daily service?
Moreover, how biased would The office of Multicultural Interest be in selecting its speakers? I suggest about as biased as the Department of Climate Change would be in sponsoring a seminar on AGW..
I think you also left out the word “never” from your text.
Thanks HRT. I was slow getting back. There was another article on stats on prisoners relating to violent crime and the group that 1735099 continually harps back to features large in percentages…..you know, the refugees that got it right starting in the seventies just after 1735099 returned from his overseas trip. I’ve previously pointed this out to ignoramous. You can tell some teachers but some teachers you can’t tell. Oops there I go again, how’s it go….ad hominem, etc etc. One of the reasons the public are generally unaware of the crime figures per ethnic group is that in pandering to political correctness, the reporting of ethnic groups on crime reports submitted has been stopped for a number of years, because it is seen as profiling. There was fear of appearing to be targetting groups rather than the crimes committed, even though certain groups displayed a propensity for criminal tendancies.
Jail figures are harder to hide. Statistically on jail figures records of violent offenders are kept with ethnic background noted. This is recorded by a government report and if 1735099 wishes he can find it himself by Googling it.
You’d better be careful HRT, the mention of Irish criminals may awaken a defensive mechanism with a number on it.
1735099……”cultural mores have a greater hold on them.
The meaning of this phrase is obscure. Greater than what? Or is this another way of saying you’re uncomfortable because they have different beliefs and understandings from yours?”
Ah Booby, you know exactly what I mean…..when a family moves away from an area of familiarity and moves to a new area the isolation from people with the same ethnicity, religion, language, gives them a chance to become familiar with new things and lifestyles without pressure from their peers and the beliefs, fears etc previously held. It also seems to be an accepted Government practice in attempting to have refugees assimilate…..split them up and send them to country towns and cities away from the enclaves that are burgeoning in the major cities. This is an opinion piece of course.
“Or is this another way of saying you’re uncomfortable because they have different beliefs and understandings from yours?” …..are you some kind of dung beetle Booby?