"I'm not racist but...." Oh yes you are!

The Shadow Minister for Immigration, Scott Morrison's blatant demonising of the bereaved asylum seekers is racism, pure and simple and worthy of the label 'Hansonism.' This capacity to create an 'us and them' mentality, whereby fellow human beings in distress can be viewed through a lens of fear and difference rather than concern and empathy, is shameful. When we profess our christianity yet practice something far less than what Jesus Christ would do, we are making a mockery of everything we declare our nation to be built upon. How can any one of us begin to compare what the asylum seekers have been through, with our lives? To suggest it is unfair to assist them with burying their dead and petulantly exclaim that we wouldn't be offered the same service shows a lack of maturity and understanding of all the issues. I am ashamed that there is still a deep vein of racism running through our society, though always prefaced with the ubiquitious "I'm not racist but...." Conversely, I suggest that if you find yourself nodding along as some politician dog whistles about sight seeing tours and how these 'lucky' people have their funerals paid for then you need to engage in some self-reflection.