Yabby
I think you are indulging in a little bit of wishful thinking,
>"The ambassador did point out that Colombo is 39 % Tamil,.."<
That might be true but it doesn't mean that Tamils aren't being badly discriminated against.

>"....including many leading business houses and professionals. So being a Tamil does not mean that Sri Lankan (sic) has become unlivable."< How? Some Tamils have made it that's all. What about the majority of Tamils ? Prejudices, violence opportunities? Whites in Zimbabwe?

The Irish Catholics were subject to the same in Northern Ireland in the 60/70s.

Even now after a 'draw' there are still brick walls between the Protestants and Catholics. Forgetting the comparative wealth of the to Catholic Irish to the Tamils I'll bet you didn't complain when IC migrated here in similar numbers in those days?

Given that the War in Colombo was won (?) what makes you think that the prejudice isn't simply added to by revenge?

>"Given that WA is largely treated as little then a cash cow by the
rest of Australia "<(why is that a given? I seem to remember Qld being a big export earner in coal and gas too).

> "I would be the first to support seccession of our state from you lot, but I don't kill for it, I accept the rule of law and order."< (let me guess ding bat Tuckey told you this?) The situation is not even remotely equivalent to what is taking place in Sri Lanka ! You don't have a hostile majority discriminating against you, stopping your progeny from jobs, a future, where you live etc.

Seriously old wheat stalk if the bow was any longer it wouldn't fit lengthwise in WA.

BTW What would you expect a Diplomat under the gun to say.? Actions speak louder that words i.e. The deportation of the regional UNICEF head.

We haven't expelled a a UN regional head for spilling the beans?

Oh yes 'the Australian' is a fair and objective source? It's better than some but.... really!

Horus,

YOU linked me to your spray. Yet I note you still haven't addressed either of my rebuttals?
So enough with the High horse BS.
Sinking their boats burning papers sure and this means what? They're desperate, are taking advantage of a weak spot and? You miss the point they are there who cares (except you and your mind set) about your legal non existent stance on their legality/illegality.
a. With the causation of the refugees? the topic posted?
b. One can disagree with your fixated point but it doesn't mean that any of us aren't concerned about the situation. Your point is simply irrelevant.

You are simply obfuscating trying your apparent Xenophobic best to hijack the conversation to something that has well and truly thrashed out before. At least Yabby is on topic.

And you chuck off at us? Fair suck of the saddle sores!

pontificator,

'I appreciate anyone who can reason or explain their views clearly '

No doubt. But I still believe you could try just a tiny bit, and we could all understand you. If you like, I will try to re-post your posts to translate them for everyone? Will that help? Mistress Bronny would be better, but I'm sure I could fill in the words you miss out and the words with letters missing, maybe group all the stuff in brackets into something sensible.

Yabby,

That's gold.

Hey I think Bronwyn will save us by writing a really nasty letter, or asking the messiah Ruddbot to write a really really nasty letter to those Sri Lankans

Hey stop disagreeing with (whoops I mean bullying) Bronny.

pontificator,

'if you think about it. It's called 'context' a concept a number of you have difficulty with.'
Keep showing those true colours. Pompous, moi? he says.

Ah, the only thing missing on this thread is CJ popping in to call everyone a racist. These are getting better than the gender threads.

Bronwyn,

'While you're yawning, these people are struggling to survive. But hey don't let that intrude into your cosy little world.'

You sound like a student harassing passers by about Nestle or something.

So what's your point. If you don't 'contribute' on the topic to OLO, you don't care? That you think your points will now have more weight after your impassioned lecture? That you're 'better' than people who don't post sincerely and with dedication on OLO about every topic? Just a cheap snipe because you felt like handing out a lecture?

I am bored to death with the whole obsession everyone has with asylum seekers and refugees. I note that it's a good topic for people to show off their 'compassion cred' and lecture people about racism, and come up with 'Australia the influential world saviour that can stop people ever wanting to leave their own country' type solutions.

My simple take on the whole thing has been expressed previously, and can be summed up with 'let them all in'. I couldn't give a toss.

BTW: You really are quite cranky lately. You used to be much more even tempered and I'm wondering what's going on that's making you like this these days. So many lectures. Are you missing your students or something?

pontificator,

'I'd challenge the name callers to the one I set H'
Setting challenges huh? Very mature. I set you a challenge to write a post with no missing words, and without mentioning your candlelight suppers.

You really think in your head that you're setting us a syllabus or something don't you. All this setting challenges, ordering us to 'discuss', giving 'prizes', 'tips', 'hints'. Leading the class through discussion, giving free counselling analysis to the troublesome students, and just being an all round fabulous examinator. Nothing wrong with your ego huh.

Yabby

<< Err hang on Bronnie, I don't bully you lol. >>

That's the trouble with bullies, Yabby, they don't recognise what they're doing, even when it's pointed out to them. I can handle all the rebuttal you care to throw at me, but when you start consistently attacking my character as you have been lately, I will continue to point it out. Of course, I know it will only incite more of the same, but at least what you're doing will be on the record and revealed for what it is.

<< You have to make valid points of reason, or people will shoot you down in flames. >>

Stop patronizing me, Yabby, I make 'valid points of reason'. You need to 'shoot me down in flames', as you put it, with valid reasoning of your own, not spineless put-downs.

<< I don't blame the Sri Lankans if they kicked a few of them (NGOs)out, for after all, they are self appointed, unelected and some of the people who work for them, can be highly arrogant and biased. >>

Perhaps, we could have some Sri Lankan related examples of this. Otherwise, it must be noted that this statement is pure conjecture on your part, and based on bias rather than hard evidence. I find it an unacceptable malignment of good people doing thankless work the rest of us can't or won't take on. The efforts of these people help enormously in the amelioration of poverty and suffering and don't deserve to be denigrated as you have here.

<< Yes, some Tamil terrorists wanted to chop off a piece of the island, ignored the rule of law, shot and killed to fullfill their objective. As terrorists, they should be prosecuted, not given a home in Australia. >>

Again, this is an unacceptable level of slander. You're wrong to equate Tamils with terrorism. Sure, a small minority have resorted to acts of terrorism, which BTW I don't condone in any way, but so too has the government sponsored military engaged in acts that could be described in much the same terms.

Horus

<< As much as we like you , our current refugee policy (or lack of it) seems a high price to pay to solve your insomnia. >>

Very funny. Well 'crafted' too BTW.

Houellebecq

<< So what's your point. If you don't 'contribute' on the topic to OLO, you don't care? That you think your points will now have more weight after your impassioned lecture? That you're 'better' than people who don't post sincerely and with dedication on OLO about every topic? Just a cheap snipe because you felt like handing out a lecture? >>

You were the one making the 'cheap snipe' when you described the topic as 'boring'.

Funny though, now that the thread's degenerated into a slanging match, you're suddenly finding it interesting!

<< BTW: You really are quite cranky lately. You used to be much more even tempered and I'm wondering what's going on that's making you like this these days. So many lectures. Are you missing your students or something? >>

My posting hasn't changed. It's as even, or as uneven, as it's ever been.

Right from the moment you first posted on OLO you started taking cheap shots from the sidelines. I drew attention to it then and will continue to do so. When you lay off the personal attack and debate the issues, you'll see me for the reasonable poster that I'm sure most others do.

Having said that, most of the threads I've been involved in lately have been dealing with serious issues, like asylum-seekers for example, so I might be coming across a bit heavy at times. I'll accept that.

You'll just have to make me laugh more often, Houellebecq. You've done that in the past I must admit. On rare occasions, I might add. :)

Perhaps we all need a repeat of Pelican's very successful dinner guest list thread from about this time last year. It mended a few bridges at the time, even if they were soon broken.

I even warmed to Col, so that's certainly saying something about the power of the virtual social gathering. :)