Everyone applauds the good intentions of those who 'help' refugees.
But that is not the point.
What westerners (and we Australians) all need to realise -and soon - before it is too late -is that comfortable folks like you need to begin to...'learn' from other cultures how to live (Including from indigenous Australian culture).
Not teach them.. learn from them.
Maybe I should repeat it:
Not teach them,... learn from them!
We need to learn to be more humble.
'Helping' people can be counterproductive, unless the help is requested. It can make people feel dependent and ultimately resentful.
People, including refugees and migrants, don't want to be patronised-they want to teach us something, just as much as we lust after teaching them to make ourselves feel good about ourselves.
What we in the west, and people in Australia, need to be cured of is this 'disease' we have of patronising everyone else.
'We are so wonderful here!'
We don't seem to have the humility to learn something from people from other cultures who have arrived here in desperation on a boat.
We don't see it as an opportunity to 'learn' something to save ourselves from ourselves.
That is what it is. A blessing in disguise.
All we seem to want to do is 'teach' them to be like us!
Jesus! Who would want to be like us?
We seem intent on 'teaching' them how to integrate into our wonderful Australian culture.
"We've got the answers -just be a little more like us - and you'll be ok!"
What would Chris Lilley say?
Retirement, Kota Kinabalu
This is where I would like to be after I have robbed the bank
Winners and Losers
Debate 2008 Winners and Losers Editor at left.
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