I honestly cannot figure out what she is on about. If “strong border control” is “ugly and cowardly”, what is the preferred policy? “Weak” border control?
I do actually understand some aspects of what she’s saying. We saw it with US CBP and Immigration, especially in the Trump years. There were a number of well-publicized cases of Canadian citizens being denied entry to the US for no stated or apparent reason except that they looked Muslim, or had dark skin, and had funny foreign names. And there have been entry denials and bannings for other completely frivolous reasons. And all of it is reprehensible.
Does Australia do that? I don’t know, but I doubt it. I do know that they’ve long had fairly stringent immigration policies, as one would expect from a nation that is quite isolated and in a position to try to protect itself against some of the plagues that infest the rest of the world, whether human, animal, vegetable, bacterial, or viral. Can’t really blame them.
But the Djokovic case is not about racism, or any other kind of “ugliness” or “cowardice”. It’s a straightforward application of immigration law intended to curb the spread of COVID in Australia. Everything that Djokovic did recently demonstrated that he’s not just an admired anti-vax icon – which is an important fact all by itself – but also recklessly irresponsible with regard to essential COVID precautions. So, with that said, I have no idea what Natalie Tran is on about. The Australian government, in my opinion, acted fairly and responsibly.
Djokovic’s unvaccinated status could be problematic when it comes time for the US Open, a tournament he has won three times. Visitors to the United States must be fully vaccinated if not a US citizen, US national, lawful permanent resident, or travelling to the United States on an immigrant visa.
There are exceptions to this rule, but most of them would not seem to apply to Djokovic. He could claim to have a documented medical contraindication to receiving a coronavirus vaccine or could seek a humanitarian or emergency exception from the US government.
People from countries that have limited coronavirus vaccine availability also may seek an exception to the vaccination requirement, but Djokovic’s home nation of Serbia is not on the list of such countries (nearly all of them are in Africa).
I think she’s prolly talking about all the other people detained by immigration at the Park Hotel who have not had their cases reviewed or adjudicated, some of them for close to a decade. Novax got preferential treatment, even if he didn’t get the outcome he wanted.
Unfortunate that I’m surprised that ND would show the good graces - after the dumb gong show of the last two weeks - to make the following statement:
“I respect the Court’s ruling and I will cooperate with the relevant authorities in relation to my departure from the country.”
That I was expecting something vituperative from him seems to be the current tone in which I’ve been regarding him now, which sucks. He’s The Greatest, now, with this ultra, ultra-crappy blemish.
If the Covid situation is as bad them as it is now, I’m really hoping the UK and the US tell him go take a flying fricking leap. Even Macron will hopefully step up / intervene with the currently inadequte French Open protocols.
Missed edit window - bookmarked 2022 ATP schedule and will try to keep abreast of which ones No-vax’ll try to play.
Novaxil - now that has a nice Shkrelli ring to it. (god I hate writing MS’s name out, and then having to say it to make sure I’m spelling it right, which is also gross)
Some bad news for Djokovic from the French Sports Minister
Translation:
The vaccination pass has been adopted. As soon as the law is promulgated, it will become mandatory to enter public buildings already subject to the health pass (stadium, theater or lounge) for all spectators, practitioners, French or foreign professionals.
Thank you to the sports movement for the work of conviction with the last unvaccinated rare. We will work together to preserve the competitions and to be the ambassadors of these measures at the international level.
Unless he really has some axe to grind about maintaining a public image of being unvaccinated, presumably he’ll show up with “proof of vaccination” from his home country. What recourse do they then have to deny him entry?
If you read the commentary commentary from Serbian politicians and look at Serbian public opinion - I have absolutely no doubt they would falsify a vaccination certificate for him. And I think the probability of a whistleblower is pretty much zero - why face the huge backlash in your own country over a guy competing in a tennis match?
Given Novak’s history of malfeasance and the dubious legitimacy of said Serbian vaccination record, perhaps he should be subjected to an antibody test.
Regarding Miss Tran
Maybe she could talk to her refugee parents who had compulsory tuberculosis testing and compulsory tuberculosis medication if positive to be allowed to enter, all so we can live in a disease free county.
First of all, I object to the way you quoted me. You quoted only the short opening paragraph and the last two sentences of the closing paragraph, with no indication at all that there was anything in between (via ellipses or a “snip” indication). What I actually posted was fairly lengthy and explained exactly what I was talking about. I know you didn’t do this with bad intentions, but the way you presented my post makes it sound idiotic and without content, since you omitted all the content.
Secondly, part of the important context that you omitted is where I reference inhumane and discriminatory immigration practices of US immigration with regard to certain minorities, and then I ask:
Does Australia do that? I don’t know, but I doubt it. I do know that they’ve long had fairly stringent immigration policies, as one would expect from a nation that is quite isolated and in a position to try to protect itself against some of the plagues that infest the rest of the world, whether human, animal, vegetable, bacterial, or viral. Can’t really blame them.
The links that you posted were informative, thank you. It would appear that to some extent, Australia treats asylum seekers in some of the same harsh ways that the US does, especially the way they did it under Trump. If so, then I condemn those policies and would hope that a civilized country like Australia would treat asylum seekers and refugees in a fashion more like that of many European countries and Canada, where for instance here in Canada not only does the government welcome qualified and vetted asylum seekers, but so does the general community, which has reached out to help house and settle them, and we are the better for it. Most are hard working blue-collar types, but some are professionals with stellar credentials. But as I also said, I recognize that Australia has long had justifiably strict and protective immigration laws, and I’m not going to criticize them based on what may be one-sided views of the situation.
My final point here is the most important one. Djokovic’s case had absolutely nothing to do with asylum seekers and refugees. The fact that he was detained for a day or two in one of the same facilities is irrelevant. Djokovic was in Australia for a limited, short, predetermined time period for a specific purpose. He wasn’t seeking permanent residence or employment. Those who claim he was treated better than asylum seekers because he’s supposedly rich and famous are totally off base, in my view, because in fact the Australian government was extremely clear that you do NOT get to flout the law just because you’re rich and famous. That’s why he’s now on his way back to Serbia instead of playing in the Australian Open.
Agreed, not to mention the fawning adoration that the president of Serbia is constantly bestowing on him. So the only acceptable vaccination certificate for No-Vax should be from a trusted third-party country, or else a reliable antibody test at the destination (and off to detention until the results come back). I have absolutely zero sympathy for this dangerous plague-spreader.
I did include a < snip> but without that extra space; I forgot that Discourse sees it as some sort of weird markup that it just doesn’t display. If you quote my post, you can see the < snip>.
I was only trying to help answer the questions “what is she talking about?” and “does Australia do that?”
