Refugees are the future. Ours or theirs?

I have written in a fair while, I've been way too busy. It'd be more correct, actually, to say I haven't blogged in a fair while. I have been doing a lot of work for Critic and a lot of planning tends to go in to the political Radio shows -I could fit two or three entries worth a week- you can listen to it on Radio1 from 10 to 12 on Fridays, internationally if you want! Last but definetly not least, the set-up of our political organisation, OGNA, is going well. Although we are all busy, we now have a magazine, to which I contributed many articles. All the mag articles are on the blog linked above.

Right, that out of the way, is it any wonder I have lately been looking into space unintentionally, much more often than usual. Thoughts blank, I stare until I notice my eyes are getting dry. In other words, I'm exhausted! A word I argue is quite onomatopeic. Uni, work, Critic, Radio, seeing people... 15+15+6+6+20=no sleep. Enough of that though, though I'd love to rant, I only have so much time before I'm hungry!


What I really want to talk about is the New Zealand respose to refugees. A couple of weeks ago, the media, which tends to be rather story-less in NZ, reported that Sri Lankans were planning on coming to New Zealand. Normally this wouldn't be a problem. As long as they spend money, they can take over the country for all John Key cares. However these were refugees, economic migrants. There are clear distinctions between the two words, but both imply they will need the support of the New Zealand welfare system. May I add, at one point enviable, now deplorable. John Key is already on a crusade to steal the gold off the Afghanis poorer kiwis. The burden of education, necessary to keep democracy running and society efficient is every day more obviously being thrown onto the backs of parents or students. Medical services are being cut, the dole isn't rising, sometimes I wonder why my taxes increase. What do I get from paying them but an increase in debt and a reduction in pay? I digress. These Sri Lankans, first may not have been coming to New Zealand at all. For all we know, they were escaping their country and we have to ask why... Is it because the Tamil population has been subject to a government aided campaign of ethnic cleansing? Aimed at destroying language, culture and race? This is the treatment the Tamil population has received in the last almost 30 years. Is it then irrational that they want to leave in the most insecure of boats, often paying years-worth of salaries, in search of a better education and a better future?
I think not.

John Key, calling on metaphores of war and behind a wall clearly saying 'fuck off you foreigners' is saying this not just to Sri Lankans or any other group of refugees, he is saying it to anyone foreign to his own mansion. It is a lie to say Sri Lankans would divide society, it already is: rich and poor. I'm part pf the poor, you reading this blog are too. We are part of an economic class that keeps this country afloat. Meanwhile we are forced to agree with the media's portrayal of refugees. It's an us vs. them situation.

In terms of media analysis, at my disposal only TV news, John Key was presented as an individual, standing before the Kiwi flag- holding all our opinions. No Sri Lankan was interviewed. Instead TV3 showed images of an unrelated refugee boat crashing into the rocks years ago (2006, Christmas Island FYI). We see all the refugees crammed, an intent to make a metaphor for the future of the country? Maybe, they are certainly portayed in a negative light. Crowded, loud, crying, different. We are not given insights into the situation, we are abstracted from any possible feelings of sympathy. John Key on the other hand is smiling, he looks honest, he is well-dressed. We are certainly two worlds apart.

The future will only bring us more threatening invasions of refugees. Dhaka's floods, swelling already; or Somailia's future wars. But remember their cries, their hunger, their desperation. They desire a future too. I believe future is based on past experiences. The past is what makes us hopeful. What do they have to hope for if we shut off our sympathy. Are we not all human? Or is it better to ask, are we all not human? Not all no.