I was very disappointed to read Mark Hamlin’s Soapbox piece in The Leader on Wednesday (November 18). I found it to be very negative and self-serving.
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Yes, Mark, the recent terror attack in Paris was shocking. However, there is a vast difference between Europe and Australia regarding terrorist activity.
In Europe, hundreds of thousands of refugees and others are flooding across borders. They are not being screened and checked due to the sheer numbers.
In Australia, however, they don’t even get to our mainland, even if they are deemed genuine refugees.
Our government certainly will not, as you state, “open its borders” to refugees.
The special Syrian refugees will be very carefully chosen and checked before they are accepted to come to Australia.
The chance of a terrorist in disguise as a refugee getting to Australia is virtually nil.
Mark’s fear talk of terrorists embedded all around us as neighbours, colleagues or even school children, is just what we don’t need.
It is fear mongering at its worst and is factually incorrect.
Yes, it is a very difficult time for the people of Syria. Half their population has fled for their lives. Many have been killed.
It needs a world response based on kindness from the rest of us fortunate to not have been placed in their position.
Mark’s response is simplistic, ignorant and destructive, and we don’t need it.
Least of all the persecuted Syrians whose horrors we can’t even imagine.
Juanita Doody
Tamworth