NEWS Albury has been been named among the towns and regional cities to host Syrian refugees should be embraced by the entire community.
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Australia is built on more than 50,000 years of immigration from all the lands on Earth.
Albury and the Border region has played a very important role in catering for newcomers to our shore over many years.
It is important the community is not hoodwinked into an uneducated debate about religion at this time.
The people of Albury, and Australia, should open their hearts to refugees, regardless of where they come from, and regardless of how they arrive on our shores for that matter.
Draping yourself in the Blue Ensign and ignorantly chanting that refugees are not welcome on Australian soil is unpatriotic, ill-informed and unAustralian.
This is not about race or religion. This is about compassion.
Since the start of the Syrian civil war four years ago, 11 million people – half Syria’s population – have been killed or forced to flee their homes.
11 million people. Australia will resettle 12,000.
This is not a big demand on our resources.
The Border community need just look to Bonegilla to remind ourselves we have the heart and resources to give people what they need: safety and a future.
We can call on our compassion in the late 1990s, when several families were given Safe Haven on the Border during the Kosovo War.
We can look to our Bhutanese community for a reminder that we are a compassionate society.
Australians are known for supporting the battlers, and lending a hand when they see a neighbour in trouble.
Our Syrian brothers and sisters are in trouble. 11 million killed or displaced in a population of 23 million.
The number is staggering.
The government is already screening refugee candidates but insists Australia will take refugees from all backgrounds.
It is important this happens.
We are all residents of Earth and from all the lands on Earth we come.
We should welcome our Syrian refugees because we are Australian.