"You've all going to a holiday in... IRAQ..."
The group met with the families of those they met at the start of the first episode that had made it to Australia and been successful in gaining refugee status. They were welcomed with such joy, such pride that these visitors came with news of their loved ones who were now in Australia. Everything was shared and the visitors were honoured. In both countries – Jordan and Kenya.
In an innocent moment both groups then offered vide messages to the families they’d met. In a most gut-wrenchingly honest moment we watched as the Congolese family had their excitement at seeing their brother, sister and family turn to dread and pain as they knew – they knew – they were so far awat from being as safe as they now were. From being as secure. From being as free. It was moving, disturbingly honest television. What is said by the families is heartbreaking and does not do it sufficient credit to transcribe here. Just watch the episode.
"Yes, the Congo. Look it up. It's in an atlas."
Both groups were then asked if they wanted to go to the places where their original friends came from – Iraq and the Congo. Both places decidedly dangerous and no place for “innocent” Australians. After a false start from Raquel, everyone agreed to go – Darren, Gleny-Rae and Adam to Iraq; Roderick, Raquel and Raye to the Congo.
In both situations, what the groups experienced was amazing. The might of the combined forces in Iraq protecting those there. The UN working in the Congo and the shocking human rights problems there (where an estimated 1,000 women a day are raped). That the repair of a soap making machine would cause the women of the settlement to burst into song about no more fear of being raped is… staggering. Just beyond belief. Then as quickly as they were there, they were gone again, and ready to head home – passport and mobile phone in hand.
The three guys involved in the series have surfaced on Twitter – Darren, Roderick & Adam.
Such a response has been seen by SBS that a panel session with the participants will be aired on Tuesday 28/06 at 8:30pm on SBS one discussing what happened and how the group felt the process impacted them. More stunning television guaranteed.
This series is amazing. What we do with the information we have learned from it will define us as a community and a generation.
Go Back To Where You Came From: Special Event – Tue 28/06 8:30pm, SBS one.
This program concentrated on the plight of refugees escaping from brutal, dictatorial regimes in third world countries – but it failed to adequately address the question why? And that is because of political and religious conflicts! These people live in squalor, and fear for their lives and those of their families, and have little hope of a better life. Obviously these people are traumatised, and most viewers would feel empathy toward them. Dr Corlett came across as a typical idealistic pro-refugee academic. The program played on people’s emotional reactions, and if that was its objective, then it largely succeeded.
But in my opinion, the program missed the crucial point – that almost all the refugees are Muslims, and the vast majority of Australians dislike Islam and Muslim culture. Of course, a comment like that is likely to get me branded as a ‘racist’, particularly by Muslims who desperately try to deflect any criticism away from their religion. However, Islam is an aggressive totalitarian religion, which seeks to control people’s lives from the cradle to the grave – one only has to read the Qur’an. Islam does not recognise any separation of religion and State, and therefore, it is the antithesis of a democratic society. Islam is also intolerant of all non-Muslims, particularly non-believers, and seeks to dominate all other faiths.
Above and beyond any empathy I have for the plight of refugees, the future of our country, as a free, open and secular democracy, governed by an elected parliament and the rule of law, is paramount. Islamic societies are essentially theocracies, run largely by the religious clerics. Allowing Muslim immigration to this country, is tantamount to setting ourselves up for future conflict, and generations to come will curse us for doing so. It is the single greatest social threat to our western way of life.
Bernie, thanks for stopping by and commenting. I think the series more than adequately highlighted why refugees flee their homes. It also showed the process to get here and the horror that can be. It showed the effect of separation on families, and the impact on the societies in the process and as they make it to Australia (or any other country the refugees are fleeing to).
I disagree completely with your assertion that the inclusion of Muslims in to Australian society will be a “curse” to us. By allowing those that follow Islam to settle into Australia is not setting ourselves up for future conflict any more than allowing any other people group. Your comments are, sadly, the reason why we need more television like Go Back To Where You Came From.
NOTE FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO COMMENT FURTHER: Play the ball, not the man. Personal attacks on any commenter will not be tolerated and the post removed. Air your views sure, tell us what you think. Racist, slanderous or personal comments are not helpful to the debate and so I will exercise editorial right to remove them.
Bernie
You can’t just say that “Islam is an aggressive totalitarian religion that tries to control people’s lives from the cradle to the grave”. That is just a meaningless statement, because the same can be said of any religion. It’s what happens in practice that’s important and what happens in some countries is that the governments are dictatorial and use religion as a tool to enforce that dictatorship. However, Indonesia, which has the worlds largest population of Muslims, is a functioning democracy.
You may have read the Qu’ran Bernie but your whole post shows that you don’t have the ability to think critically. Anyone could read the bible and assume the same things about Christians that you do about Muslims, but we know that most Christians don’t live their lives strictly according to the bible and you should be able to extrapolate from that the fact that most Muslims don’t live their lives strictly according to the Qu’ran.
And that’s the real problem Bernie; you’re not thinking critically about this whole situation. You buy what the Bolts, Akermans and Abbotts say about refugees without thinking for yourself. It’s a lazy belief system. Why not educate yourself and see if you can’t overcome your own prejudices?
I watched the all three programs and at no point did I notice the religion of the people – I noticed how they were family-oriented, caring and sharing (the refugees, the people in the camps and their extended families, that is).
We should be happy that Bernie at least watched the show ( I assume). Undoubtedly, there were many that should have but didn’t and never would. What I got from Bernie’s post was the inference that people who have a particular faith (in this case we are talking about Muslims – Bernie’s choice) deserve horrific treatment because their religion is a dominant force in their culture! Whatever we think about a religion or any particular religion specifically NO one and I repeat NO one deserves to be persectued because of how they look, what they wear, what god they worship, where they were born etc etc!
Another thing I noticed about Bernies post is the sweeping generalization that “almost all” refugees are muslim which simply isn’t the case! Refugees can be Christians or from many other faiths! One main reason for their persecution and their imminent escape is religious indifference! It’s just ridiculous that we would sit here and continue this cycle when these desperate innocent humans try to resettle abroad and try to start a new life which they deserve as human beings.
We are lucky in Australia that we are free to believe what we like without fear of violence or torture. Are we that selfish that we can’t share our land with other human beings who long to hold basic human rights that we take for granted every day?