Boat people (illegals) - we treat animals better than this.

Animals on the farm; animals in zoos; animal at home – all are considered with care for their welfare and well-being. The various Animal Welfare organizations see to this and have the force of law behind them. But humans who we consider as “inferior” we treat with no respect, no compassion and with no dignity. Why?

When someone is so diminished that they are no longer considered human what happens? Slaves know that they have some value (they were either purchased by or work for someone who gives them some idea of what they are worth because they produce something of value) – judicial prisoners know that they have recourse to a legal system and generally there is limit to their incarceration; refugees - “boat people” (illegals) - in the Australian context, have nothing.

These people are desperate. To have it indicated to them, in no uncertain fashion by the Australian Government, that they may as well give up hope of  any help, assistance or compassionate regard would be devastating. To be so diminished as to be considered only as counters on a game board to be pushed about from country to country is similar to an annihilation of any ideas they may hold of their worth as human beings.

Again, in the Australian context refugees, “boat people” (illegals) are neither criminals nor are they deemed to have a value – they appear to be “non-people” and the Government wants nothing to do with them.  They are moved “off shore” to desperately poor or to micro-countries that Australia can pay off to accept this Australian “detritus”. They are a nuisance to the Government and should just go away.

This is an abrogation of what is decent; an abrogation of what is right and is neither ethical nor moral and is doing the image of Australia much harm. It is a fact – almost a “Law” that for every cause there is an effect. This cannot be codified, it cannot be quantified or qualified and there is no measure to gauge what the effect may be. But of a certainty there will be an effect and it may not be what anyone expects.

Always – repeat ALWAYS – treat people the way you would like to be treated. There is no other viable option. To act or behave in any other manner is to diminish oneself and a belief in the humanity we are all party to.

Harmony and nature.

What is more natural than harmony? Nature, as in the natural world, is harmonious – its colours, its sounds, the very balance between the various elements of earth, water, air and fire (warmth) are just right for us and the animals and creatures that inhabit this beautiful planet. It is inherent in the music of the spheres. Why then do we humans seem to be hell bent on upsetting the balance, and creating disharmony? What can I, you, we, do about it?

The first thing to remember is that for there to be balance and harmony in our lives we need to be balanced and harmonious within ourselves. We must be balanced and in harmony with ourselves, with who we are – remember we are the most important person in our lives. Finding this balance, establishing harmony is a never ending process. It is a journey of discovery and the most important that we will ever undertake.

By harmony and balance I mean that we each understand our place in the world, that we are part of humanity, that we are not better (or worse), or more important, than anyone else. That each of us has our place and our contribution to make in the great scheme of things. I am not sure that we need to ask the question, “Why?” all we need to do is to do our best.

If there is no balance, no harmony in your life, how will you see the necessity to have harmony and balance in the world generally? You can’t! Some readers may have realised that I like poetry and if you follow the full meaning of the following lines I don’t believe that you or anyone will go too far off balance, or be too ‘disharmonised’:-

“Beauty is truth, truth beauty,” – that is all

Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know. (John Keats)