not our problem
Reader comment on item: [Australia's] Crisis of illegal immigration

Submitted by Asha (France), Apr 8, 2009 at 09:51

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this article. it gave me insight into an event i was unaware of and after reading how Australia refused these illegal immigrants for our own protection makes me so proud to be Australian.

I am saddened to think that there are some countries that are so ravaged with turmoil and violence that large numbers of people risk their lives on small boats in the hope of being accepted into a safer place.

However, i dont believe that this offering of a safer place is the responsibility of rich countries, and if these rich countries believe they should be accepting people like this then the real problem is being ignored.

By accepting these people we are in a way easing the turmoil and violence that occurs back at their country, we are lowering theirs death numbers by giving the people a place to go, why aren't the real problems being solved like the poverty and the violence and the lack of education? By accepting these people we are helping them ignore the problem that their own country has created. If their country wasn't so bad they would not be leaving. Therefore they need to solve the problems themselves instead of ignoring it by leaving.

I believe Australia needs to be protected by Australians. Look at France for example, what was a beautiful and free country, and in some ways was very similar to Australia is now somewhat distorted. The number of illegal immigrants in France is so extremly sad. The immigrants come and manipulate the democratic system by taking advantage of our laws that we created for our people.

By doing what Australia did in this scenario I am sure there are many who believe that we are racist and descriminating for not accepting these people because they are Afghanis or Pakistanis, but lets look at why they left their country in the first place- violence and war. So why should we accept people who know no better than this?

Think of Australia as being a baby, you would not let just anyone look after it unless, instead you would have a gruelling process until you found a person that you were completely satisfied with. I believe this applies to here. Australia is so beautiful and i love my country so much, that to have these people illegally arrive and have access to what we have fought so hard to build, that being a rich and safe country I am so happy that we said no.

These people are not our responsibility and if other countries want to bully us into thinking we are being selfish or irresponsible I tell them to visit France of America, where a boat load of 45 illegal immigrants will in 20 years time end up being boat load of 100 or more, thats if they have on average one child per person which i would highly doubt.

Keep your eyes open Australia and stay strong, we don't have to be like everyone else.

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