venere08 Forum Posts (9,996)

RE: Do you think that sending child refugees who are unaccompanied

The Foreign Minister is a male. I guess he has an instinct for fatherhood. Let us presume the children also have a father.

RE: Do you think that sending child refugees who are unaccompanied

It's not about not thinking that it would be nice to keep the children here.

Parents packing their child off on such a dangerous journey, for what is essentially their own ends, should not be encouraged. Sorry if it is hard to grapple with, but it truly is the only way to discourage and stop this action.

it's OK, Merri. This isn't any kind of personal attack on anyone, so it's nice to know you still think I'm lovely. ... We are all just putting in our two cents worth.

RE: Do you think that sending child refugees who are unaccompanied

That's the thing. People do not have all the facts.

The Federal government Minister is going to great lengths working very closely with the Malaysian govt, to ensure these children are provided with a safe environment, with basic medical and education services. They are are also transported there safely by Australian authorities. Both governments want to stamp out people smuggling and encourage proper refugee intake into Australia, and keep both adults and children safe.

Send young female or male children, unaccompanied in rough seas in crowded overloaded boats must be stopped. There is only one way to achieve this and that is to do what is being done now.

It is much the same as reinforcing any other kind of wanted behaviour. You reinforce wanted bahaviour. Not unwanted. There is no middle ground. If you are inconsistent, then the unwanted behaviour not only continues, but through intermittent reinforcement(that is, to be inconsistent) only increases the behaviour. In this case, encourages even more parents, sending children alone just so they hopefully bypass the usual refugee requirements.

As you can see, I have very definite views on this. And that is becasue I do care about the welfare of children. But I am not shortsighted about it.

RE: Do you think that sending child refugees who are unaccompanied

As you know, I am a mum too. And a person who very much cares about children and their physical and mental welfare. It is not a simple issue.

Yes, children are being used. Often by the parents, not just the people smugglers. Children should never be sent on such voyages on their own. Just because they were, does not mean that the parents had their welfare necessarily in mind. It would ahve to do with the fact that those parents know that they would fail the normal refugee status criteria, so they send their child ahead alone. What are they thinking??? This behaviour should not be encouraged. Being emotional about it, and allowing the child to stay, will do just that. Encourage further irresponsible behaviour on the part of parents in a similar position.

In Granada, Spain, I saw babies in mothers' arms. Their eyes were rolling back. I realised these babies are drugged by their mothers in the hope of attracting sympathy from passers by, especially tourists. I refused to give moeny to those gypsies as I did not want to reinforce such horrifying treatment of innocent babies.

RE: Do you think that sending child refugees who are unaccompanied

Not really. One little boy who crossed the seas on his own, whom I interviewed in Woomera, though it was a great adventure. That is not the point. They should not be subjected to such dangerous conditions. What is wrong with the parents remaining with their child(ren) and wait it out together in Malaysia???

RE: Do you think that sending child refugees who are unaccompanied

Hi Merri, I have worked in one of the detention centres, the one that used to be in Woomera. Some children did travel on their own. Sometimes the parents would follow. There may or may not be good reason, but I do agree with the foreign minister that we should not have have loopholes(such as a lone travelling child) to the policy of deporting all boat people back to Malaysia. This is the only way to discourage people smuggling as the parents or other family member would have paid $15-20,000 to the smugglers who would have promised them that this way they too would be soon allowed into teh country. I think once the people smugglers test this and find out we do not weaken our position, then there will be no more such dangerous boat trips. The true refugees wait their turn in Malaysia and are processed to enter Australia and welcomed into the country. This is already starting to happen.

I don't think we should bring Julia's child bearing status into the equation though. It has nothing to do with policy making. It only emotionalises the issue which is not what it's about.

RE: Moving on...

Well said, J. ....One of the most painfully difficult things to deal with, is the other severing the relationship based on misunderstanding, hurt ego, pride or other similar destructive reason. These things need to be worked through, not simply mandated to the other. So much damage is done to your partner and to the relationship itself that could become something truly wonderful. Too many people give up way too soon, not seeing things to the end. Why they would rather leave in a state of confusion, hurt and each going through their own brand of hell, is beyond me.

Sure, go your own separate ways, once you have truly explored all avenues and both are in agreement that it's the best thing to do. Not one impose their decision upon the other without full and proper discussion, no matter what it takes.

Yes, I agree, a person is never the same after going through something traumatic such as the crazy making stuff we spoke about. But the good thing is that it can make one stronger as it did me, so for that I am thankful. Ever read 'Knots'? It was written years ago by R.D. Laing, a then radical British psychiatrist. All about how people can make each other go crazy, tying each other into...'knots'.


p.s. I spoke with my ex today...he rang me back as I needed to ask him a legal question on a copyright issue. We have no issue in talking friendly fashion these days.

RE: Hello All

Welcome kg

RE: Is it possible We all have a clone

Well, we often hear the saying that wwe all have a twin.
In my own life, I have had a number of people come up to me mistaking me for someone they knew. I even had a petshop owner come up to me in hi s store, saying, 'Weren't you here a few minutes ago?'...um, 'No'. Thank goodness that other person had not been shop lifting!!!

RE: Moving on...

RE: Moving on...

Ambrose!!!!!!!!

Great to see you here!...the voice of reason...oft highly embellished, but a welcome voice nonetheless!!

That's an interesting and plausible way of assessing behaviour within relationships. I recall clearly thinking much the same, now that I think about it. I was and still am, a very straightforward, down to earth person...after a few years of crazy making stuff by my then husband, I started to question my own sanity, Fortunately, the work do saved me, but only just. I got out. Unlike many other marriages/relationships, it wasn't anything I did that led to our split - he is the first to say. It was his own demons, something that neither of us could fix and had destroyed not only our marriage(from the very beginning), but gradually destroying me also.

I do believe many couples who decide to split, should not. At least, not for good. More often that not, it is a communication issue. Things said, things not said, things partly said, things said that come out all wrong and so on...It takes a lot of guts and fortitude, but it can be done. If only people thought back to what originally attracted each to the other. There was something there, and often something substantial which can be built on. JMO.

RE: Serene's Randoms

does that now make it your back side then?

RE: Serene's Randoms

Yes, books are just wonderful things that can never be replaced by e-books....these books are for my studies/work, but they will be so good to have as I will learn tons from them and I neeeeeeeeed to learn so much for my writing.

I found another book I was looking for on another site and it's a signed copy. But I feel like waiting until Monday when I can call them as I keep getting a different price when I logged out a few times, thinking the first one might be a phishing site, so I logged in again. New price...more expensive. How does that work???

RE: Serene's Randoms

I feel like a kid about to receive wonderful Chrissie presents from far away...I just got an email from Amazon to say that my books have been shipped!!

RE: Italy Or Gaza.....

p.s....blooming typos...

RE: Italy Or Gaza.....

In Puglia, it's the pear an ricotta tarts ...though cannoli there too.

RE: Moving on...

Hi CherryDesires,
just a lil thread pointer...you might want to use the reply or quote button...less confusing that way...

Next, I want to say that Revealer simply posted something he had written. We do not know when he actually wrote that. Does it matter? He might have packed last year for all we know. Again, does it matter? ...

Also, if you had read to the end of his profile, he makes it very clear that he was not looking for a relationship as he was not ready for one and that he was therefore here only for friends/hang out.

RE: Italy Or Gaza.....

That doesn't solve the issue...

but at least we will be able to catch the train from Martina to Bari again...thanks A.

RE: Italy Or Gaza.....

As always, the decision makers have absolutely no plan!!!!!

With all those brains, and all the conventions, all they come up with time and again, is simply shuffling people from one location to another.'......That's it????!!!!!

RE: Italy Or Gaza.....

As long as they can't cross European borders and it's far away from anywhere else, fantastic!.....Keep them gainfully occupied building themselves a new town, grow their crops, teach their own children....then they won't have neither time or inclination to throw stones and create mahem.

RE: Italy Or Gaza.....

If I know Italians, they will do something about it themselves.
Enough is enough. People no longer feel safe with such behaviour.
We are not used to that kind of everyday violence.

Ship them all to The Haag, I say.

RE: Italy Or Gaza.....

I will be there in a few weeks, and will be living only 45min away. I can only imagine what the residents there are saying/thinking.
It is an outrage and not to be tolerated any longer.

Thank you, UN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RE: Moving on...

You are the best dad to your little girl, so she will see past the rest. Children are more resilient than us adults. My son was 2.5yrs when we split, but unlike you, his father couldn't give a rats and even relocated to Melbourne. He grew up feeling very rejected. It won't be like that with you. Believe me, she will know how much you love her, despite not seeing you at her home. She really will.

I wish you the very best in all that is ahead for you.

RE: Moving on...

I just put my order through, along with 14 other books!!!...I'm hopeless in a bookshop. Worse still, in a cyber one!!!...

But I can't wait for them to arrive ... it will be like Christmas

I did have some trouble with the site freezing now and again, but it came good. Hope yours went through ok.

RE: Moving on...

Yes, I did gather that. Thank you for letting us into a part of your life that most people would not only find difficult to express in words, but also to share with the outside world. You have chosen your profile name well.

that book...A fantastic read, I understand and one which helps us, the Hero, explore and identify the archetypes in our own life journey.

RE: Moving on...

You're welcome

And to your question "what life is about?" ...I just came across this when searching for another of his books, 'Hero with a thousand faces'.

RE: Serene's Randoms

I am so over our winter!!

Love at first sight - Is there such a thing?

Lovely to hear, Sailfree ...

There was a beautiful story the other day on the news, where a family celebrated the lives of their parents/grnadparents/great grandparents...they had been married forever, having met when he was only 14yrs old when he started to woo his lady. They died 2 days apart, with her going first.

RE: WHAT WAS THE GREATEST HISTORICAL CRIME EVER COMMITTED BY ANY HUMAN BEING IN YOUR OPINION ?

Well, at least this will be one thread on the Inters, where we can safely post knowing that our comment will not be hidden by a trigger happy OP!!!

Ho jlw


And hey gilly, wherever you may be!!

RE: The dry oak tree...

someone much like some of the us ladies here(without the aftershave!!lol)