ASYLUM seeking, by its nature, enters into the realm of the political.
John Howard, consummate in matters political, may have been a deterer of desperate people risking their lives and giving money to criminals who prey on them.
Unfortunately, he also gave tacit permission to the less compassionate among us to voice publicly their fear and suspicion caused by ignorance or intent, against the so-called boat people.
For political purposes, this perception is fostered ruthlessly and despicably by Scott Morrison and Tony Abbott.
I fear this will be ongoing, because, no matter what, desperate people will keep seeking asylum.
The Prime Minister, accepting advice, has taken the courageous step to take on political risk, to admit and accept a mistake and try another way to stop people dying.
I find it objectionable to call this step a "cave-in".
Do we not teach our children to admit to mistake and make reparations?
One truly bright light has emerged in all the murky depths of last week in the Parliament Tony Windsor.
A big tick to the independent politician, who, once again, confronted the rambunctious, misinforming but desperately reaching for the top job politician Opposition leader Tony Abbott.
Using Mr Abbott's own words, Mr Windsor publicly threw them back in his face or, as was clearly visible on TV, his anal region.
