Dear Divergence,

Given the current changes in IR legislation and the gross underfunding of public schools, transport and hospitals (not to mention water) in this country, it seems the Eutopians are doing a great job of turning themselves into Dystopia without any help from asylum seekers, illegal immigrants or any other of our favourite bogeymen ( and women).

Congratulations to Petrou Georgio, you give me hope.

I remain open mouthed that there are people who actually think they can justify locking children up behind razor wire as a deterrent. Again, attitudes like those only help to get us closer to Dystopia.

In a nutshell Enaj!

Divergence faces the reality and many will draw upon the emotional distress of children to encourage boat loads of illegals to come to our shores once again.Undoubtedly the detention centres and those assessing refugee status need to smarten up their acts.

As a child I was horrified to watch my father lop the heads off chickens and watch them flap around until lifeless.However they still tasted good when cooked.People are horrified at the killing of kittens or kangaroos yet turn a blind eye to animals suffering an agonising death due to starvation and thirst because of drought.We are very selective about our compassion,depending opon our agendas.

Millions are suffering in Zimbwabe under Mugabe,they are refugees as well.Why can't we help them too?Are those who come here with no ID bypassing many countries on the way more deserving because their children stir the emotions?

If you free them, the boats will return.How much do you treasure this countries' self determination.How much tax are you willing to pay to accommodate tens of thousands?

How many wrongs can our little country afford put right, before we too, become refugees in our own country?

Arjay - I find your reference to your father killing chickens, and the killing of kittens and kangaroos extremely distasteful and completely irrelevant.

The reference to the starving millions in Zimbabwe also is completely irrelevant - many of us do reach out and attempt to help the suffering around the globe in our own ways - however we can. Just because of your own feelings of personal guilt for not helping, you cannot use this as reason for not helping those who reach out to our nation.

As for "How many wrongs can our little country afford put right" - this comment is simply selfish, and an exceptionally blinkered view – this is but one planet – how do you expect us to move forward without some form of helping our fellow man?

Have a thought for others before yourself for a change.

motema's point about (absconded) asylum seekers living already in the community by whatever means, proves the point that the Government is simply holding the detained asylum seekers as pawns in some political game, otherwise why don’t they round up all these other people, instead of handing out bridging visas?

“There is no reason at all why asylum seekers who arrive by boat can't (after health and security checks) be released to live in the community along-side those who come by plane.” How true these words are.

“I remain open mouthed that there are people who actually think they can justify locking children up behind razor wire as a deterrent” (enaj) – and they do – this is just the point. As I said, the Government is using these people to prove some illogical and non-existent point that has no bearing on the protection of Australia’s borders.

Ranier – the comparison to the removal and dehumanisation of Aboriginal peoples is very moving and insightful – you are spot on to make this link – have we really not learned from our mistakes?

I am disgusted by our behaviour; we must do something to rectify the situation immediately. Human-beings – *children* should never be used in this way.

Agree mandi,their parents should not use children as emotional blackmail to gain their freedom nor should these children be used as media fodder by interest groups to change laws that people have voted for.Not very democratic that.

Mandi, Well said and his/her weak pithy ittle come back suggests he/she is thinking more deeply about the issues. We can only hope.