CPA - The Guardian

The Aboriginal people, the first Australians, came by boat,
to settle a new land and make it their home.
Then came the English from far away in their ships,
laden with more human cargo of English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish.
Later South Sea Islanders were kidnapped and brought here by boat
to work as slaves in plantations.
Then in the gold rush came the Chinese, North Americans as well as
more British and other assorted peoples from various lands.
After the Second World War came the Jews, Germans, Italians, Greeks,
Cypriots, French, Maltese, eastern Europeans, Russians and even
more English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish and others on more ships.
After the Vietnam War came the Vietnamese also on boats.
And after wars and repression came the Arabs, Timorese, Turks,
Latin Americans and more Chinese on ships and planes.
After further wars came the Afghans, Iraqis, Iranians, Sri Lankans
Africans and Burmese by boat and some by plane.
Nobody ever wants to leave their homeland and become a refugee.
People take to the sea from fear and flee, because their lives
and that of their families are at risk.
Refugees come to Australia escaping war, oppression, poverty,
and to seek work and a better life.
They need our help, love and compassion
and deserve dignity and respect from those who are better off.
From the earliest arrivals almost all came here by boat or ship.
And the original white settlers came uninvited to this Aboriginal land.
Remember, we are all foreigners here in this southern country.
We are all from somewhere else.

Steven Katsineris

Next article – Poetry –Dreamers

Back to index page