By Jane Salmon
A Story About Young Refugee or Stateless Children Born Overseas
Once upon a time, a group of brave children embarked on a perilous journey. A tornado of strife had upended their lives in Iran. Friends were lost. They had to leave.
Some of their companions had failings, but all along the way, they leaned on each other for support, their resilience shining brighter than the darkest of nights.
They decided to journey to a mystical place called Aus where problems magically disappeared. But on this trip, there were no yellow brick roads to security; only their own unwavering resolve to find a place to call home.
They missed everyone back in Iran, especially Grandma. “There’s no turning back now, Toto,” they whispered to their loyal companion, as they braved the overgrown and broken path ahead.
Their quest was fraught with challenges – crowded camps, discrimination, upheaval, tall seas, bad boats, wrong passports and uncertainty loomed around every corner. But through it all, they clung to hope and determination, building strength with every step they took.
Along the journey they met the wicked witches of immigration, the flying monkeys of Border Force, the trolls of Serco and some a kind witch or two, too.
They coped when their allies lacked heart, ideas or courage. They did not give up and lie down for long, even when drained by depression or frustration.
Despite every adversity, they pressed on: fuelled by their dreams of a better tomorrow. And finally, after overcoming countless obstacles, they reached the gates of the fabled Aus, a gleaming beacon of hope in a world filled with shadows.
But hardship was far from over. In Aus, they encountered new challenges like arbitrary guards and snobbish locals, elusive leaders, sloth-like ticket sellers, zombie lawyers and confused neighbours.
Yet, through it all, they refused to lose sight of their dreams. Flawed as Aus seemed, it was somehow still a sanctuary, a place where their aspirations could take root and flourish. It was where they found friends, opportunities, and a sense of belonging.
And as they explored some of the wonders of Aus, their hearts filled with gratitude and hope, they whispered to themselves, “This could be our home.”
But they had more to go through.
They had to deal with the silly school kids who teased them about their accents, customs and food. They had to do paperwork for everyone.
They had to write and tell their story a million times to the big-headed wizards of Aus that just didn’t seem to care.
These wizards hid in their offices and in an all-white castle in Canberra where the halls were lined with mirrors.
But they clacked their ruby red slippers together and pled “Fair Go For All” and “Permanent Visas Now” enough times that, FINALLY, after years and years, the longed-for work rights, Medicare and access to study came to them. They had a safe haven in Melbourne.
“We truly belong!” they exclaimed as they received their magic tickets.
At last, they were free! Poor old Grandma could visit. Their dreams and goals were within reach. Their parents could stop worrying and reap the benefits of their hard work and worry.
“There truly is no place like home!”, they whispered to Toto.
And they never forgot how to be kind and to treat others the way they wanted to be treated themselves.
In time, they replaced the old Wizards of Aus and made it a better, more interesting, colourful and welcoming place.
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The alternative is even more family splitting:
Bizarre rule that could see parents deported while child becomes a citizen
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The way refugees are treated here in Australia should make the government hang their head in shame. It is beyond disgusting and totally inhumaine.
Australia has a well earned reputation, like the US and UK, for adopting nasty and social Darwinist migration policies, yet will scream blue murder if anyone accuses us of this inconvenient fact.
Our media, politics (bipartisan) and societal talking points act as an echo chamber, but are not organic, carefully curated from different angles using imported nativism of dec. John ‘passive eugenics’ Tanton (admired white Oz, visited and hosted by SPA) and climate science denial techniques; one of his friends Peter Brimelow had been embedded in Fox News near or around Tucker Carlson, according to Media Matters.
We share this with the US of course, also UK and Hungary, with similar attempts being made in NZ, Canada and Ireland; usually comes with the whiff of fossil fueled and related Koch Network (e.g IPA & CIS) sailing under the water line….. to support nativist authoritarian RW parties who are terrified of and wedged in by RW MSM, if they don’t follow orders….
@ Denis Hay: Agreed. Australia remains a racist society unwilling or unable to cut the apron strings to England in case Australians become more successful than Poms, or indeed, any other nationality. This cultural cringe has sadly impeded the opportunities for social and business development away from the mutton and three veg thinking of the pre-1950s.
Where did culinary diversity come from ….. the Chinese takeaway, the Italian pizza, the French Patisserie, Malayasian spicy food, etc? Must have been some immigrants bringing their skills and knowledge into Australia and making it a more interesting place.
Australian foreign policy for the past 40 years has failed Australian voters by wasting too much Australian capital purchasing third rate armaments from the US NE military industrial complex and so propping up the decrepit American economy. Check out how much US financial paper is held by PRC China interests, then ask yourself, ”Is economic theory a BIG CON???
Bring in refugees fearful for their lives in the hands of their own governments, decentralise Australian and state government offices into relevant regional centres and provide public infrastructure for refugees to grasp the economic opportunities that too many Australian voters ignore.