Compassion for strife at sea is possible … but not if you're an asylum seeker
Passengers aboard the cruise ship Orion, which recently rescued French sailor Alain Delord in the seas southwest of Hobart, were at first upset that they had to detour from their planned route. They were on course for Macquarie Island and the diversion to attempt to rescue the stricken sailor was go...
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| Format: | Other/Unknown Material |
| Language: | English |
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2013
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| Online Access: | https://theconversation.com/compassion-for-strife-at-sea-is-possible-but-not-if-youre-an-asylum-seeker-11775 https://hdl.handle.net/1959.7/uws:55170 |
| Summary: | Passengers aboard the cruise ship Orion, which recently rescued French sailor Alain Delord in the seas southwest of Hobart, were at first upset that they had to detour from their planned route. They were on course for Macquarie Island and the diversion to attempt to rescue the stricken sailor was going to take them more than 50 hours off course. But finding they had the chance to save someone’s life put their situation in perspective, and many passengers later spoke of being compelled to help when faced with the opportunity to save someone’s life. Indeed the Orion’s Captain, Mike Taylor, reported cheers throughout the ship when Alain Delord was eventually pulled on board. So close to Australia Day it is great to witness such an example of the national spirit on display. A tiny capsized boat holding one person who has been adrift for days in open waters, brings out the best of our ability to go out of our way to help someone in distress. It’s the same spirit we see nightly on our news as many communities face bush fires. Irrespective of language, nationality and inconvenience, the chance to do something good prevails. Mr Delord described his rescue as a “miracle”; one that gave him “a second chance at life”. Contrast this recent scene of rescue at sea with the hostility displayed last year towards asylum seekers arriving by boat . As asylum seekers arrived by boat seeking safety, politicians competed to seem tougher on border security and harsh detention regimes were re-established on Nauru and Manus Island. |
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