A bit of humanity

I am currently writing an essay on war journalism and asylum seekers, and for some strange reason (or not so strange as I am an expert procrastinator) I find it easier to write about my essay than to actually write it. Maybe writing about it will give me the motivation I need to finish it.

Just before Christmas I took a class (my last class!) on war journalism and peace journalism. What is the difference you ask? Well the difference can be summed up in the current, or quite longstanding, coverage of asylum seekers, and the way I think it should be covered. Have you ever noticed that the people interviewed about asylum seekers are very rarely asylum seekers themselves? More often than not it is politicians, and occasionally a professional in the field advocating for better policy and treatment of asylum seekers.

I am so sick of hearing the words ‘waves of asylum seekers’, ‘floods of asylum seekers’, ‘economic migrants’, and the most untrue of the untrue words said: ‘illegal’. How do they get away with it? How does the media keep reporting untruths? How do they only ever provide one perspective, that of the politicians?

Why has events surrounding asylum seekers in Australia been reported in this way for so long? One answer could be the way in which it has been define: as a political issue. This means that it is an issue to be battled between political parties: Labor, The Coalition, and the Greens. When representatives of these three have been interviewed then the journalist may believe s/he has provided an unbiased and balanced version of events. All perspectives have been covered because all political parties have been represented.

If, instead it were identified by the media, the public, and those in power as a humanitarian issue it may lead to a different focus. Focus may shift to humanitarian need, the cause of the need, what can be done to alleviate the suffering of those involved, and how can Australia help? This may lead to a sense of pride in the Australian public rather than one of mistrust and fear. The public would see how they are able to help those in need, there would be a focus on solutions and support, rather than security and fear.

Putting things in perspective

With the opposition immigration spokesperson Scott Morrison back in the media spurting doomsday predictions about Australia’s out of control population growth due to asylum seekers (find the article here), I feel it is important to try and quell these fears with some good old fashioned facts. I have posted this previously on facebook and twitter, but it keeps coming back to try and scare us into xenophobia and racist fear. I feel it is my duty to inform people of the truth so we can all have an informed opinion on the issue. I am all for people having their own opinions. I am very opposed to mis, ill, or uninformed opinions.

I have stolen this from my good friend Micaiah Sells Out who stole it from a friend of his, who got it from Crikey. Although, as I said, I have posted it previously so I’m not all bad.

This just helps us put things back in perspective.

Something to think about…

A different perspective

I do not generally follow American politics like a crazy person, but I do find it interesting, probably due to my love of the West Wing. So, of course, I followed the recent mid term elections in the US. There have been many articles since about the failings of Obama and the democrats, but I quite enjoyed this article on Slate that gave the opposite opinion. Health care is being blamed for the beating the democrats took in the election. But as the author of this article says ‘We’ve become so obsessed with who wins or loses in politics that we’ve forgotten what the winning and losing are about’. That Obama managed to bring in a health care plan where others have failed for decades is an enormous win in itself. What’s the point of winning if you can’t make any great change when you do?