<<As I write these words, I sit surrounded by more than a hundred children of diverse creeds and cultures – a microcosm of modern Australian society – attending a chess competition in an RSL hall in Lidcombe in Sydney's west. The room contains so many of the best elements of being Australian: Friendly rivals united by common interests>>

And we all sang Kumbaya.

MEANWHILE in the suburb of Lidcombe right next door to Lidcombe…

A riot by Muslim youths in Auburn last week was organised via Facebook, police believe. The troublemakers used the social networking site to flash up inflammatory references to police and rally their friends for a confrontation.One update identified police as "non-believers" who were raiding a "brother's home". More than 150 people gathered in Cumberland Rd, Auburn, on Tuesday night, forcing police to call in 100 officers, the riot squad and a helicopter.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/facebook-website-used-to-drum-up-auburn-rioters/story-e6freuy9-1225772429876

And, we all sang Kumbaya

MEANWHILE in the suburb of Lidcombe right next door to Lidcombe…
S/R
MEANWHILE in the suburb of AUBURN right next door to Lidcombe…

Australia does not care if the boats are safe, they just don't want the refugees to come here.

they don't care if they die in Malaysia's rotten jails or are tortured to death at home.

Enough already, everyone has the right to seek asylum.

Marilyn is correct to a degree. It's mostly about not wanting uncontrolled entry. I feel distress for those suffering in transit countries but no more than for those who lack the resources to go anywhere, the people who suffer and die in africa who are too poor to go anywhere safe. Maybe in a survival of the fittest sense there is a better chance that those making it to our shores are better equiped for survival than a kid dying in a dusty village but I don't want to think in those terms.

In the end I live with priorities that place greater value on the lives of those born or welcomed here than the lives of those born elsewhere, a pragmatic choice even if difficult to argue in some worldviews. I live with the same issue when a cup of coffee or some other luxury could be diverted to keep someone else alive for days and I choose the coffee. While nead exists that quandry exists. From there it becomes a balance between my and my communities needs vs the needs of those from outside, I doubt any in this debate always put the others needs on a par with their own needs.

In regard to the status of refugees my laymans reading suggests that some of those rights are contingent on coming directly from a territory where their life or freedom was threatened.

R0bert

@Marilyn,

<<Enough already, everyone has the right to seek asylum>>

And more than once it appears:

“ASYLUM seekers rejected after arriving by boat a decade ago are boarding vessels and coming back to Australia in the latest surge of arrivals.

Despite the majority having had asylum claims rejected twice, most are asking for multiple appeals and several have taken their cases unsuccessfully to the High Court. Immigration reports tabled in parliament by the ombudsman show 11 cases where asylum seekers have come by boat twice and had their cases reviewed because of the length of time spent in detention.

The number is almost certainly higher but the government does not keep statistics on people who arrive by boat multiple times."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/rejected-refugees-get-back-on-boats-for-another-go/story-e6freuzr-1226359362035

If at first you don’t succeed change your name (or your story) and try again!

The reason why things just don't get better is because every generation produces good & bad.
Also produced in every generation are those who cry injustice but do nothing about it.
If you want to be kind to the boat people then you have to be unkind to Australians & vice versa.
Are the proponents for letting more & more people into Australia actually contributing in helping these people or are they just crying foul & expect everyone else to do the indefinable "something".
They could for example forfeit their comfy lifestyle here & go to the countries that the boat people transverse & help look after the boat people.
There isn't anyone who doesn't feel sorry for the genuine refugees but by advocating their coming here they help increasing the number of people living in misery.
It really is as simple as damned if you do & damned if you don't.
Go over there & explain to them that they would be much better off having fewer children & see how long you last.