I said I was working on something more serious for you and I am, but in the meantime I wanted to share my brother's response to an email chain going around about the 'boat people' seeking asylum on Aussie shores. Siblings don't always see eye to eye on every issue but in this case, I would put my name to his words. Hoping there are loads more that share his view.
That's the ad campaign by the Australian government...okay first for the email chain and below his response.
Side note: I cringe at how poorly written this email chain is and had to forcibly hold back from correcting it.
Subject: Someone, please tell me what the Hell is wrong with all the people that run this country!
Both LABOR & LIBERALS
We're "broke" and can't help our own
Seniors,
Veterans,
Orphans,
Homeless,
Etc???
In the last years we have provided direct cash aid to:
Congo - 359 M
Egypt - 397 M
Ethiopia - 981 M
Haiti - 14 B
Hamas - 351 M
Iraq - 1.08 B
Jordan - 463 M
Kazakhstan - 304 M
Kenya - 816 M
Libya 1.45 B
Mexico - 622 M
Mozambique - 404 M
Nigeria - 456 M
Pakistan - 2 B
Russia - 380 M
Senegal - 698 M
South Africa - 566 M
Sudan - 870 M
Tanzania - 554 M
Uganda - 451 M
Zambia - 331 M,
Indonesia – The mind boggles as to how much they get(they got $650m in 2013!)
And with literally Billions of Dollars and they still hate us!!!
Our retired seniors are living on a 'fixed income'
Do they get any breaks while our government and religious organisations
Pour Hundreds of Billions of $$$$$$'s and Tons of Food
To Foreign Countries!
We have hundreds of adoptable children who
Are shoved aside to make room for the adoption of
Foreign orphans.
"AUSTRALIA",
A country where we have
Homeless without shelter, children going to bed hungry,
Elderly going without needed medication and mentally ill without treatment... Etc.
YET
We still allow illegal "Boat People" & other free loaders on our shores
While we are lining up with food, clothes, bedding, doctors and medical supplies.
Imagine if the "GOVERNMENT"
Gave 'US' the same support they give to other countries.
Sad isn't it?"
And now for response:
"WOW. That's not a very nice email, yeah the budget is
crap and nobody benefits from it except for a few but wow talk about anger
directed at the wrong people.
Immigrants and asylum seekers are not "illegal boat people", they are fleeing their country because they are being persecuted for their religious or ideological beliefs, escaping war or maybe just for the colour of their skin. They have the right by international law to seek asylum from horrible conditions that we can't even comprehend. Australia's "policy sovereign borders", works by intercepting boats outside Australia's waters or forcing boats back ILLEGALLY into their own waters so that they have to return to where they set off. The only illegal thing in this whole debacle is what the Australian government is doing while maintaining complete silence for "operational security".
Immigrants and asylum seekers are not "illegal boat people", they are fleeing their country because they are being persecuted for their religious or ideological beliefs, escaping war or maybe just for the colour of their skin. They have the right by international law to seek asylum from horrible conditions that we can't even comprehend. Australia's "policy sovereign borders", works by intercepting boats outside Australia's waters or forcing boats back ILLEGALLY into their own waters so that they have to return to where they set off. The only illegal thing in this whole debacle is what the Australian government is doing while maintaining complete silence for "operational security".
I'm really quite shocked you'd send me this email to be honest, there's
some pretty disgusting words up there. Those who have the ability to help the
less fortunate, should as a matter of principle. Do you realise that in this
budget foreign aid was drastically cut to all those in need? I know people who
worked for AusAid and lost their long time job because the government decided
that we will no longer provide help to those we are able to and instead spend a
couple of billion on fighter jets. Millions of dollars were cut from disabled
services and elderly services as well but its okay to invest millions more in
internet and telephone surveillance?
I agree that religious organisations shouldn't be given the tax breaks they are given but if you don't like it, get on the line to your local politician and tell them, otherwise it will remain this way for another couple of hundred years if no one says anything! if you want to see the separation of church and state then don't vote for the Christian liberals or the Christian democrats! Keep your religion and politics separate.
There are people in every single country on earth who go to bed hungry, who don't have a place to sleep and elderly that go without medication. But Australia is one of the highest grossing GDP's in the world, with one of the lowest unemployment rates in the world (maybe before Abbott starting firing everyone and closing down businesses). We have the ability to help those struggling, why on earth wouldn't we? If the situation was reversed, would you be saying the same thing if you were a "foreign orphan" in need?
This "budget emergency" is a farce from the liberal government as an excuse to cut basically everything. Our country is doing fantastic economically, it is all just a lie to help you accept the budget cuts. Abbott is a far right liberal, what did you expect? That's what they do! And who voted for them?
The problem is not that there are people in need other than in Australia, the problem is who controls how the money is spent. Don't direct your frustration at the situation of these people, but the people who you elect to represent you, create policies that are meant to represent you, and spend to benefit you. Get angry at the politicians and write them an email, don't send these hate emails around that's not helping anyone and just fueling the fire.
Steve."
I agree that religious organisations shouldn't be given the tax breaks they are given but if you don't like it, get on the line to your local politician and tell them, otherwise it will remain this way for another couple of hundred years if no one says anything! if you want to see the separation of church and state then don't vote for the Christian liberals or the Christian democrats! Keep your religion and politics separate.
There are people in every single country on earth who go to bed hungry, who don't have a place to sleep and elderly that go without medication. But Australia is one of the highest grossing GDP's in the world, with one of the lowest unemployment rates in the world (maybe before Abbott starting firing everyone and closing down businesses). We have the ability to help those struggling, why on earth wouldn't we? If the situation was reversed, would you be saying the same thing if you were a "foreign orphan" in need?
This "budget emergency" is a farce from the liberal government as an excuse to cut basically everything. Our country is doing fantastic economically, it is all just a lie to help you accept the budget cuts. Abbott is a far right liberal, what did you expect? That's what they do! And who voted for them?
The problem is not that there are people in need other than in Australia, the problem is who controls how the money is spent. Don't direct your frustration at the situation of these people, but the people who you elect to represent you, create policies that are meant to represent you, and spend to benefit you. Get angry at the politicians and write them an email, don't send these hate emails around that's not helping anyone and just fueling the fire.
Steve."
Good points!!!
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