I was forwarded an email from my dear E-pal, Frank, about how some countries handle refugees. I know that in many countries the penalties are harsh and in Australia we welcome refugees seemingly with open arms and handouts. Many Australians are adverse to this, and in some ways I can agree. Come to Australia legally, honour our way of life, contribute with skills, pay the taxes and abide by the laws is all that is mostly asked, it's not unreasonable, it's not unjust, its fair.
What happens when all legal avenues have been exhausted?, the lives of your loved ones are in jeopardy? to what lengths would one go to, to get their family to safe ground. As a mother, I would do anything.
Some years ago when the western world stood still for days mourning the shocking tragedy of Britain's subway terrorist attack that claimed the lives of 53 people, another tragedy took place in Beirut. A small paragraph in the world news section and some footage on SBS was all that appeared about the callous extinction of 55 kindergarten children on their very first school excursion. Watching the footage of a proud father videoing what should have been a happy childhood event, the memory still haunts me to tears.
In Australia we are free, we are free to travel, the only dilemma we face is what mode of transport, should it be planes, trains or automobiles? We are free to worship the religion we choose, we are also free not to. We are free to move localities within our lucky country; if your not happy with the area you reside in, then you can move to another place of choice. All our children have access to education, health care, sports, hobbies and the opportunity of a bright future. We have a wonderful climate, except for Melbourne with its confusion of 4 seasons in one day, most days. Forgiving Melbourne for its Gemini weather, it's a remarkably wondrous city. In this lucky country of ours we are free.
On the flip side of the world, the scene tells a different story, nothing like we can imagine to our lives in Australia. A young mother prepares her oldest child for their first school excursion, like many mums around the globe, every morning we are herding our children to wake up, get dressed, have breakfast, 'time is moving and you're not' mums demand. This mum looks across the 4 seat dining table where her 2 children are eating breakfast, one chair is empty, it's been empty for 6 months. Her husband was inadvertently caught up in a University protest, he was attempting to cut across the crowd to get to work. Herded into trucks like cattle, they were taken away for questioning; he is yet to return. The young mum knows that like her neighbour's sons, it's unlikely he will return. The neighbour's sons, 2 boys, one 17 and the other a year older, went to work one day in the same factory, raided by soldiers, both the boys amongst others were dragged into a truck for questioning about terrorist activities. They too are yet to return, but each afternoon, the neighbour stands in the doorway carefully watching the entrance to their street for the boys to round the corner. The boys, after work would play soccer in the street with all the other kids, read their books in the evening, hardly the activity of juvenile terrorists. There are similar stories throughout their short street, and many more in the avenue that connects the street. People by the hundreds have gone missing, people are shot in the street by snipers and at night time missiles can be heard projecting over the populace, more people are killed as the missiles hit their mark. As Religious and Political atrocities heighten, so does the body count.
On this particular day of the school excursion, the warring had been on a ceasefire for 3 months, bit by bit tensions had eased, businesses started to reopen, with nervousness, people resumed their normal activities. This school excursion was the first in 2 years for their school.
Clad in their crisp fresh uniforms, the children clamber onto the bus with eager excitement, rushing to the back window. With typical universal childhood abandon, their little faces were pressed up against the window, all waving frantically to their waiting parents. The young mum standing next to a dad videoing the event waves earnestly in return, picking up her toddler so she too can wave kisses goodbye to her older sister. Once all the children are in their seats the bus takes off on its trip with a toot of the horn. Still in view at the end of the street the bus stops, awaiting for passing traffic before it turns the corner, parents are still waving. A rumbling sound is heard from the bus, and before anyone can react, it explodes, obliterating 55 tiny children, 2 teachers, 2 parents, the driver and 3 people on the street. The blast rocks the area with such a force that everyone in the immediate area is knocked off their feet. Dazed by shell shock, fighting the heat from the fireball erupting from the bus, the young mum who is a nurse tries to gather enough senses to help the nearby wounded, in a detached moment, she knows that all that were on the bus are lost. As the wailing and screams of agony start, she is among them when reality takes hold, her beautiful angel was on that bus. Her vocal chords are forced to capacity by intense screams of anguish.
The young mum had heard about the far southern land in the lunch room of the hospital she works in. One of the doctors obtained sponsorship to Australia because of relatives. She has no friends or relatives, no hope that can offer the vital sponsorship that is required to gain entry to Australia. Although her command of the English language is impeccable, her nursing skills are sorely needed in our skill stretched country, the application for entry is denied. Her only misdemeanour is to have been born into an ancient war torn country, a country that has suffered strife for eons, and will continue to do so for eons into the future.
With one precious child left of the once happy family, the mother seeks alternative methods. Desperate measures to reach safer ground.
For people such as the young mum, I would welcome onto our sunny blissful shores without question and with a heart.
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