This week Australia was again wrangling over asylum seekers headed for Australian shores.  Whilst the Rudd government has not been as overtly racist as that of John Howard, it still fails to lead the Australian people in how to combine both warmth and sense in tackling ‘the asylum seeker issue’ and the media as still to self interested to address their use of loaded terms which fan the flames of racism and sell their papers.

Australia can protect it’s resources and security alongside a humanitarian approach to asylum seekers.  In fact asylum seekers have contributed as much as any immigrants to Australia.  There is no need to presume guilt until proven innocent.  Asylum seekers can be respectfully processed in reasonable time, in humanitarian conditions which show them and the world the social-emotional values of Australians.  Presently we have a shameful past we’re trying to overcome and we can’t do that whilst we continue to behave as if that racist past is still at the core of our Australian values.  This global image does more economic and security harm to Australia than all the boats of asylum seekers could ever do.  Let’s fear.  Let’s fear our own bigotry, paranoia, hypocrisy and weak national identity which drives us to behave in such ugly ways toward strangers whilst claiming to be ‘the lucky country’, ‘the friendly country’, a ‘cosmopolitan country, a land of smiling welcoming faces.

Donna Williams, Dip Ed, BA Hons.
Author, artist, singer-songwriter, screenwriter.
Autism consultant and public speaker.

http://www.myspace.com/nobodynowherethefilm
http://www.donnawilliams.net
http://www.aspinauts.com

Here’s a letter from GET UP, which others might also like to read and sign up to.

Dear Donna,

Thank you for pledging to help bust the myths in the current debate on asylum seekers.

The most damaging myth in this debate is that held by our leaders – that Australians are intolerant towards asylum seekers. By sharing the factsheet with friends, family, colleagues and neighbours you can help change the conversation about asylum seekers in your community.

You can also share this vital campaign with your friends online by forwarding the original email below.

Thanks for working towards a progressive Australia,
The GetUp team

PS – if you haven’t already downloaded the factsheet you can do so by clicking on the link below:

http://www.getup.org.au/files/campaigns/asylum_myths_factsheet.pdf

—– Original email to forward to your friends —–
Dear friends,

With the tragic news over the weekend that another group of asylum seekers may be missing at sea, it is time for our politicians to stop using their plight as a political football.

For years GetUp members have stood shoulder to shoulder with like-minded Australians to defend some of the world’s most vulnerable people. We all thought that shameful chapter of Australian history had closed forever. In 2009, sadly, it hasn’t.

Whether they’re Labor or Liberal, our political leaders feel they have to talk tough on asylum seekers. Why? Because of the perception, real or imagined, that the Australian community is xenophobic. We’ll never change the politics until we counter that perception.

Your voice has the power to change that view. Tomorrow, as you gather with friends, family and colleagues for the race that stops a nation, there’s a good chance the topic will come up in conversation – so we’ve prepared this myth-busting factsheet to help make you a champion of tolerance and truth:

www.getup.org.au/campaign/ChampionsOfTruth

More minds are changed by discussions between families over the kitchen table and among friends and colleagues in the workplace than they are by pundits and politicians. Tomorrow, in every corner of the nation, more conversations will be taking place than on almost any other day of the year.

Thanks to those hostile to the rights of asylum-seekers, and some sensationalist and irresponsible media coverage, a lot of Australians’ opinions are being formed by disinformation and myth. And it’s those Australians Kevin Rudd is listening to. Tomorrow, you can help counter their influence.

We’ve all sent emails and signed petitions, but if we’re going to stop this happening every time a boat arrives we need to tackle the issue at its source. Click here to counter these myths, and help put an end to the ugly politics of fear:

www.getup.org.au/campaign/ChampionsOfTruth

It’s 2009 our papers and parliament are still full of the shameful intolerance that tarnished the first years of this century. With the issue in the headlines, and our factsheet in your hands, you can be on hand to take a stand once more for the Australia we want to be.

Thanks for being a part of the solution,
The GetUp team

PS – When children were behind razor-wire, when refugees were billed for their detention, when asylum-seekers were exploited for political expediency, the Australian community was there to rally behind tolerance and decency. Tomorrow, your help is needed again. Become a myth-buster with our handy factsheet.