From: "Margaret" <margaret-AT-rie.net.au>
Subject: AUT: Is the twisted pen mighter than the broken sword?
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001 15:38:36 +1000


This is a multi-part message in MIME format.


From: John Tomlinson
Sent: Friday, August 24, 2001 3:03 PM
Subject: Is the twisted pen mighter than the broken sword?


Asylum seeking in Australia


Blood drenched dreams dangling
from the spikes of the razor wire -
so close to freedom.
Wild fearful eyes stare
into our collective consciousness
and sear our indifference.
Batoned discipline enforced
by Wackenhut guards -
Capitalism's storm troopers.

Shayan Bedraie starves himself
in a vain attempt to communicate
his family's need for asylum.
A Pakistani man immolates
in a vain attempt to communicate
his family's need for reunion.
Daily thousands sigh silently at the razor wire
in a vain attempt to communicate
their need for freedom.

But enough of those people's troubles,
let me tell you why I dislike Australia's
policy of locking up asylum seekers.
The other day I was flying to Sydney-
a Middle Eastern family was on the same flight,
they had recently been granted a temporary visa.
One of the sons had a razor wire tattoo
engraved on his neck 
a reminder of the Woomera concentration camp.
I can't forget that young man,
with his tattoo accusing me of being indifferent
to the plight of refugees and asylum seekers.
It is true I did nothing to help
him, his family, his fellow inmates 
but why does he accuse me:
after all, you did nothing to help either.
We all just turned away.
So if I am accused 
you are accused
we are all accused 
so long as we do nothing.

John Tomlinson 24/8/2001

HTML VERSION: