Note to any refugees wanting in...

[MightyFighting]

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/11/20/1100838274214.html?from=top5

Convert to Christianity, the god-botherers will look after you.

 

[Qsaint]

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/11/20/1100838274214.html?from=top5

Convert to Christianity, the god-botherers will look after you.

Shows you how dangerous it is to mix religion in with politics.

 

[Rodion]

What's the problem? Family First objects to a man being sent back to a country in which he will be persecuted. First sensible bloody thing they've said, IMO.

If the guy had red hair and was being sent back to a country in which bloodnuts were persecuted everyone would be saying FF had got it right, but apparently it's different if you're a Christian.

Seriously, MF and Qsaint, you really need to get over your dislike for that religion. Family First are right.

 

[Mead]

Those right wing fundamentalists have gone too far this time. Utter, utter bastards, trying to prevent someone from being deported and persecuted, what bigoted hate crime will FF perpetrate next?

Actually, after a cursory examination of the FF website, i found their asylum seeker policy-
http://www.familyfirst.org.au/policy/ffp_asylum_seekers100908.pdf
I'm not in favour of religion in politics, but on this issue they appear to be pretty central, and actually one that I think is close to the most sensible, compassionate series of suggestions made by any party.

Some of the concrete things they suggest are
-an inquiry to find a way of expediting applications and 'restoring australia's reputation as a compassionate society'

-strictly limiting mandatory detention to a short period for assessment of health and security reasons, and introducing hostel-style accomodation whilst claims are processed.

-reform to ensure all detention facilities are managed publically rather than via independent contractors. Also a lot of airy-fairy stuff about ensuring that more effort is made to respect cultural differences, ensure mental health, providing safe and supportive environments etc.

-relaxation of deportation rulings when someone can demonstrate that they've integrated into the Australian community and should be given PR.

I actually think that's a pretty decent, intelligent policy- its not exactly an open-door policy, but it would be a good step to making the system a bit less bastardy than it currently is.

 

[mantis]

-relaxation of deportation rulings when someone can demonstrate that they've integrated into the Australian community and should be given PR..

You mean by denouncing their own religion & "converting" to chrstianity, just goes to show how stupid FF are.

Please don't deport me I have seen the light, let's all bow down to jesus, then after they are granted asylum, I can just see them sitting in their homes laughing their heads off, at how gullible some Aussies are, then heading off to the nearest Mosque to pray to Allah.

 

[Mead]

You mean by denouncing their own religion & "converting" to chrstianity, just goes to show how stupid FF are.

Please don't deport me I have seen the light, let's all bow down to jesus, then after they are granted asylum, I can just see them sitting in their homes laughing their heads off, at how gullible some Aussies are, then heading off to the nearest Mosque to pray to Allah.

Because, you know, all refugees are muslim. They all look alike to you, right, Mantis?

Arguing that people should be allowed to stay if they have integrated into the community is hardly an unreasonable position to take- given the enormous amount of trouble that countries like the netherlands are experiencing due to 'hard' fundamentalist groups and the corresponding rise in skinhead and neo-nazi activity, its objectively very sensible. If you think otherwise, Mantis, you're an idiot.

Maybe I didn't look hard, but nowhere did I see anything from FF saying that it would be a good thing if people converted. In this instance, the Iranian guy who is facing deportation is actually catholic, so the chances of him having any strong affiliation with them is pretty low.

I think a lot of people are prejudiced against religious values type parties because of the hard right Fred Nile type image that seems to be cultivated, but I don't actually think that is where FF are at all. Attacking them over this issue is utterly ridiculous- would people be up in arms if the Greens were trying to prevent an openly homosexual Iranian from being deported? Or is it only okay to persecute Christians?

 

[mantis]

Or is it only okay to persecute Christians?

Yes, it's their turn.

 

[DaveW]

This seems eerily similar to one particular episode of the West Wing.

 

[mantis]

I think a lot of people are prejudiced against religious values type parties because of the hard right Fred Nile type image that seems to be cultivated, but I don't actually think that is where FF are at all.

I must have got confused then, I though FF were anti abortion & anti gay marriages, good to see a "christian organisation" that is so open minded. I look forward to them opposing little johnny coward, when he tries to pass these bills through the senate.

 

[- PC -]

It is believed that there are about 50 Iranians in immigration detention who have converted to the Christian faith since their arrival in Australia by boat four years ago. Most face deportation under a secret agreement the Australian Government struck with the Islamic Republic of Iran last year

Wonder how many of these 50 have had jailhouse lawyers telling the best way to ''con the man'' is to join the side of the angels.

Maybe they have converted..not for me to say.... but it smells a bit


I could go on about how if they truly believed in JC and god with a big G then JC will receive them with open arms in the afterlife once they get what is coming to them in Iran.

Faith IMO is about strength through adversity and having everything you believe been knocked to the ground shattered and ridiculed and you still seeing the good in it all. If as they say they are true Christians..wont their strength in their faith be enough?

Maybe GWB should bomb Iran because they dont believe in his god...oh he already did that in Iraq.

Maybe if they had come in through the front door they may well have been citizens of Australia already

 

[medusala]

Wonder how many of these 50 have had jailhouse lawyers telling the best way to ''con the man'' is to join the side of the angels.

Maybe they have converted..not for me to say.... but it smells a bit

The other favourite one their lawyers tell them to use is that they are homosexual and would face extreme persecution because of it.