ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

A bit of satire (or grist for the mill?) ...
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26 January 1788: Illegals detained at Eora Country, ringleader arrested for people smuggling
Posted January 26th, 2011 by andrew and filed in Social Justice

Some of the illegal vessels. Coast guard sources said they were infested with alien vermin that would pose a significant threat to our flora and fauna. The vessels were towed to sea and burned.

By Andrew McKenna

26 January 1788 (by the Christian Calendar):

Moderates have attacked Uncle Bennelong’s proposal to pursue an ‘Aotearoa Solution’ for passengers on the 11 ships that arrived in Eora waters early today.

All crew and passengers have been taken into detention, and the ringleader of the expedition, Englishman Arthur Phillip, will face people smuggling and slavery-related charges at the Council of Elders tomorrow.

The arrival of the 11 ships has been expected after other recent sightings of European ships in Eora Country waters.

Uncle Bennelong has said the illegals pose an ‘unacceptable threat to our way of life’.

He said the coast guard had towed the ships – which were infested with vermin – out to sea and burned them.

At least one member of Uncle Bennelong’s skin group has said the ‘Aotearoa Solution’ was ‘cruel’ and bad policy.

‘It further victimises the persecuted,’ said Uncle Arabanoo.

Uncle Bennelong: planning to introduce the Aotearoa Solution to deal with illegals

‘These people are the poor and outcast of the British Isles. We should be assisting them, not throwing them into prison. We could even teach them our ways and they could make a valuable contribution to our society.’

Uncle Bennelong pledged to introduce the Aotearoa Solution to process asylum-seekers offshore.

‘The next Kangaroo Skin Group Council will swiftly begin negotiations with foreign countries to ensure that there is offshore processing available in those countries,’ Uncle Bennelong said at meeting this morning.

Another moderate, Uncle Colbee, also spoke out against the plan.

‘My views and standing on these issues are well known and documented. I live in hope for all people who have made this great south land their home. I stand in the absolute assurance that hope will always triumph over fear,’ he said.

‘We pride ourselves on our relationships with our neighbours. We should embrace multiculturalism. They may even have good things to teach us.’

Auntie Barrangaroo said she was disappointed that Uncle Bennelong ‘proposes to invent harsh and inhumane treatment of those who arrive in this country seeking refuge’.

‘I regard the proposed arrangement to send refugees and asylum seekers to a third country for assessment as a total abrogation of our obligations to newcomers to Eora Country,’ she said.

Others from Uncle Bennelong’s skin group also responded with dismay at Uncle Bennelong’s lack of consultation.

Uncle Bennelong said his skin group would turn boats back out to sea in an effort to deter what was expected to be a growing trade of illegal asylum.

He did, however, condemn a group of young warriors who assembled outside the detention centre chanting ‘***k off, we’re full’.
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Hey Manfred...I hadn't realised the Mad Abbot had an indigenous alter-ego....

Smoke on the Water © Will Moody 2010

"ELECTION NEWS", the front-page spread;
and this is what 'The Clergy' said...
"This is the way we'll forge ahead:
We'll stop the boats, and stop 'em dead!"

(He claims a supernatural power
to stop the boats within the hour.
An occult gift, apparently,
bestowed on him quite lib’rally).

“We Aussies are a caring race;
we’re kind at heart and fair. (of face)
‘a fair go’ is our motto, yet...
We only give so we can get.”

“This land is rich, we’re well aware.
That doesn’t mean we have to share
with refugees from foreign wars
and grant asylum on our shores.”

Our Migrant Policy will be:
‘Hang on there, mate...where’s your degree?’
You’re welcome if you’ve got a skill,
but ‘Open Door’?...we never will.”

(Truth is that Oppportunity
to forge new lives in liberty
encourages potential to
contribute in the un-skilled too.)



Cheers, Will.

We 21st Century people are truly unique, Manfred. Of all the people down the millennia, only we have attained the ability to clearly see what is true, moral and wise, because after all we know !!! and we are 21 st Century which is much better than 20th Century, much much better than 19th Century and a whole lot better than being 18th Century.

Armed with these impeccable credentials, we can now set about the task of passing judgement on all those who have gone before. Our judgement is right because it is based on our status of being " now" rather than "then" . We can be certain of our supreme understanding of what ought to be and what ought not to be because we start with ourselves and ourselves assure us that we are right.


In fact we are so advanced, we can be like God, knowing the difference between good and evil, blessing and calamity, ..wait a minute that sounds familiar !

and now Pastor Neble will say a few words about we shall gather at the River or something like that .

welcome brudder from b w

It works as a satire because we project our notions of what's right , onto another era.

Thanks for the endorsement William

I agree absolutely Neville. Morals, values, ideals, customs and laws change over time. We should not judge our forefathers on our modern and liberal values. They often thought they were doing "good". That is why we study history - to learn from it.

Heather

I have watched this thread with one thought

What will be said about us in the future.

I say only this “Bring em on” Only don’t come here because you can’t abide how you things are in your own country and then bring it all here, then try to change us to be the same as you ran away from. Come to Australia Be Australian live by our rules or stay home. Easy hey.

Oh Dear
Dave Smith.

zondrae wrote:I have watched this thread with one thought

What will be said about us in the future.

I often wonder that myself Zondrae. I belong to another forum (nothing to do with poetry) that is mostly populated with 30 somethings who often say things like "they didn't know any better back in (insert year) but we are so much more informed now". I am always tempted to point out that in 30 years or so 'now' will probably be referred to as not knowing any better 'back then'.

That's life though isn't it - one can only make a decision on the information one has to hand at any given time and if it turns out to be a monumental mistake down the track so be it - but take it on board and learn from it - that is all one can do...You can never go back and find things as they were - that moment in time is lost to us forever....the tragedy though is in not learning.

Cheers

Maureen