helping john key

Renowned soothsayer john key today delivered his much anticipated evidence to show that this country is on the verge of major refugee/boat people chaos - from Stuff

"At least six boatloads of asylum seekers have considered heading for New Zealand in the past year, and those who don't believe a ship could one day reach these shores are "deluding themselves", Prime Minister John Key says."

Let's break it down

"At least six..."

A weak start and six is such a funny number - would have been better to go for double figures - it would make better headlines and is just as unreliable. The use of 'at least' is good because it implies many, many more without providing any evidence at all.

"asylum seekers"

Not a good term because it could generate compassion - better to call them 'trafficed people' or 'queue jumpers' to get the blood and fear flowing.

"... have considered..."

Again not good - just use 'have' - they have decided to float here but before they set off they changed their mind.

"... in the past year"

Bloody hell - is that right? Using one year heightens the fear but to really generate heat you need more years. Just think if at least six boatloads have considered in one year then over 10 years 60 boatloads have just about decided to make the harrowing journey. And again 60 is a funny number so let's go for 100 - everyone likes 100.

So here is what he should have said

"Over the last 10 years over 100 boatloads of queue jumping trafficed people have made plans to head here. Anyone who isn't concerned about this just doesn't understand middle NZ."

And that statement is as meaningless and vacuous as keys first quote, which sums him up IMO.

provide refuge for people

Idiot/Savant at no right turn says exactly what I think about these plans to build a detention processing centre on East Timor for refugees and the motivation behind john keys fears of an invasion of boat people. We all want to stop people trafficers but additionally abusing the victims is not the answer.

"Australia's policy is racist, illegal and immoral." sums it up from here

and

"We've never had a boat full of illegal immigrants arrive in New Zealand (unless you count the British in 1840). We've never had one even get close. But we have politicians whipping up racism and fear, culminating today in Key echoing Howard in saying "We reserve the right to determine who comes to New Zealand and who doesn't come."" from here

There is something off about this attitude to people in need. I have just moved and that was stressful enough - to move countires and cultures and continents, to be forced to, to be so afraid - I have not had that experience but I do know that it must be terrifying. I listened to a wonderful radio play last week "The Outsiders, by Ben Story" which looked at refugees from a kiwi perspective - ordinary kiwis were the refugees and to hear their woes and situation, their confusion and incomprehension of what was happening and what had happened, was frightening. And to know that the radio play was based upon the testamony of actual refugees and that everything in the play actually happened to someone - well, it really blew me away and made me think about how we have to do everything we can to help support these people and help them build a home and some safety.