What should happen to asylum seeking refugees?

Great Debates
1

I just saw an article in the New York Times, which I won’t bother to link to because you can only read it if you’re a subscriber, but the facts are these:

A ship carrying 438 Afgani refugees was attempting to land at Christmas Island, part of Australia (or a possession of Australia – Australians, help me out here). The Australian government, after warning the ship not to enter Australian waters and being ignored, sent SAS troops to forcibly stop the ship, which has been done, and the troops are on board.

The refugees are from Afganistan but the ship left from Indonesia. The ship is Norwegian. They wre trying to get to Australia. It seems clear at this point that none of those countries wants them or is willing to take responsibility for them.

I’m interested in finding out what you all think should happen, and what your more general opinion is on the issue of refugees, either those seeking asylum or those “merely” seeking a better life. Do countries have a duty to take them in? How many – all of them? What if it puts a significant strain on the country’s resources and is viewed hostilely by its citizens, which is true (in whole or in part) in Australia, the United States, Canada, Germany, and Hong Kong.

Do we have a right to seek a better life in a country that doesn’t want us? Does the country from which we fled have a duty to take us back? Do humanitarian concerns outweigh political and economic ones? When?

I can see both sides of the issue and it seems to me that it has no easy answers, so I’m wondering what you all think.

2

Jodi,
If you look carefully you will notice another thread titled ‘Refugees’ that discusses this topic. The facts are way more complicated than you made out, with the ‘refugees’ landing at yet refusing to settle in several democracies along the way, including Indonesia, hijacking the Norwegian vessel after it rescued them from their own sinking ship and the ships captain entering Australian waters against orders. Very very messy all round.

The part of the thread about reponsibility for refugees in general is one I was intending to start myself once I see how the current cock-up pans out.

3

I don’t particularly care about the situation you’re asking about… but I did feel the need to point that reading a New York Times article online is as easy as a FREE registration… you don’t have to a subscriber…

just for future reference.

4

For what it’s worth this isn’t a bad opening post at all, though I’d disagree with several of the premises. But I’ll focus on the other thread since they seemed to get the jump on you on this issue.

5

Send 'em to the (insane) asylum!

BA-DOOM BOOM!

Thank you, I’ll be here all week.