Thursday, June 23, 2011

Shame.

Are you watching the SBS documentry Go Back to Where You Came From? The premise of the show is explained here.
I am watching and burning with shame. My heart breaks for people living in such horrific conditions. People who have been tortured and traumatised beyond belief. What are we doing? What as human beings sharing an earth are we doing? Why are we allowing this to continue?? This horrifies me on so many levels. It makes me want to scream with frustration at governments the world over who know this is happening and do nothing. Our government who wants to send people to Malaysia? To be tortured!!! Sending children to be tortured. It makes me sick. It makes me ashamed to live a life of such privilege while others suffer in so many ways.
I will be watching the last installment tonight, with a heavy heart.

17 comments:

  1. we have been watching and I feel exactly the same way. Both Dave and i shed tears watching it. im glad you are posting about it and i love your rage.

    em

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  2. It's heart breaking, isn't it? K

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  3. I did created a little web page with some info and practical things people can do:
    http://pocketcarnival.com.au/asylumseekers.html

    I agree, it's fucked up.

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  4. I think it's one of the BEST REALITY TV PROGRAMS I HAVE EVER SEEN!!

    People cannot stick their heads in the sand ANYMORE.

    NOW they can understand, NOW they can have empathy, NOW they might just GET IT!

    I hope they win a logie for this....they bloody deserve it!

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  5. I too have been watching this program, and it has reduced me to tears over and over. These poor people who have no choice but to flee from one desperate situation to another.
    Absolutely heart wrenching.

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  6. totally awful, horrific and heartbreaking isn't it.
    have been asking myself the same questions, and thinking exactly the same things.
    But you put it perfectly once again xo

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  7. I caught the end of the second episode and I was ashamed/angry/gobsmacked at the attitudes of the participants. I just don't know how human beings can watch and allow others to suffer.

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  8. YEs YEs I was watching it as well. I was even more ashamed of that young smoker girls attitude - even amoungst all of it she could still do and say what she did - ARGH.

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  9. I've somehow missed the show but I'm going to catch up with it online. Just wanted to comment to let you know you're not alone in your anger and desolation.

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  10. It fills me with shame. I wept last night...though saying that none of the footage surprised me because we have to know on some level that this is why these people get on rickety old boats and cross the ocean risking their lives. How can we not know that this is their desperate plight??? Too many people in this country do not care or just don't want to know about it. Every australian needs to watch it. It is unfortunately that they can't take footage in the detention centres....that would be a real wake up call.

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  11. I saw the first night, missed last night's show but caught up online... yep, I'm feeling sick and sad and ashamed and angry too(but at the same time compelled to do more about it... I hope it has that impact on others too)

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  12. I watched the first show and couldn't face the second. Truly heartbreaking and filled me with shame also. I'll watch it tonight and will then start to learn more about the situation and write some letters - thanks Penny for the info.

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  13. I want to take action. I'll go check out penny's site. I think lots of people have already felt shame and disgust before the program (I have, for a while). But the question is what can we DO???

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  14. i didn't need to watch the show to feel it. we have a very, very passionate kinder teacher who every week visits the detention centre and was in tears last week because of one incident in court.
    we definitely need to take our heads out of the sand, these people are running for their lives.. ♥

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  15. Don't be ashamed - be bloody grateful we live in an awesome country like this and use that anger to make some change!! That's what I'm doing so the anger and unjustness doesn't bring me down!!

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  16. i didn't watch it, and i don't think i could stand it given what you are saying - i have never agreed with the whole malaysia idea - it's barbaric! And to think, that as a government they stopped cows going overseas yet it's ok to send people over to get tortured. not quite right hey!

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  17. I was touched by it too..but it is an endemic problem..selfishness, greed and being generally uncaring. If we genuinely cared for our neighbours and people around us, the world would change, one street and neighbourhood at a time!

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what a nice person you are- taking the time to comment in this busy hectic world...Thank you!!