Stop The Boats Or Open The Door?

A Student Edge member shares their thoughts on refugees travelling to Australian shores.

Imagine living in a house knowing that outside your doorstep, there is war-like violence and upheaval. Every human being wants a home where they can feel safe and not have to worry about the hostility on the streets. Refugees seek help because they need it. They’d take and do all that they can just to leave the war zone and move into a safe haven. They can’t take all their prized-possessions, legal documents and luggage with them, because refugees don’t want to risk missing the boat; their only ticket to asylum, even if it’s to an unfamiliar place. For some, even leaving their beloved family behind is part of the risk-taking process.

Hopping onto the boat may be the first step to safety, but it’s certainly not the last. Refugees travel on boats filled with people who similarly want safety. The trip lasts for months and months; months that pass with little food, less sleep and persistent sea sickness.

Refugees are human beings too. They are people who also want the best for them and their family’s future. They come to Australian shores knowing it’s more than just a country; it’s a country of people whose hearts are filled with joy. Australia is blessed to have a government that acts upon issues and quickly resolves those that get out of hand. We are blessed to live in a country where our police and other authoritative figures are reliable enough to keep us secure and save us right away when we’re in danger. We are blessed to have natural and economic resources that can provide us with our needs and even our wants in life.

So, let the boats jam-packed with refugees seeking refuge sail onto our land of golden soil. Open the door of empathy and lend a helping hand to these people who need a home; one they can place their heart in. Refugees, welcome to Australia; home sweet home.

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