SBS, Asylum seekers and our failure to act

Last night the final episode of 'Go back to where you came from' series two aired on SBS.  This has been an important program in raising awareness of the plight of refugees trying to seek asylum in Australia. During Wednesday nights episode the burning of the Quran by American soldiers in Afghanistan was highlighted. The incident caused widespread uprisings and demonstrations throughout Kabul and many Afghans and foreigners were fearful for their lives as a result.

The cast of SBS's Go back to where you came from

Now, the Australians, who were in Kabul at the time as part of the program, where fearful for their lives.  They seemed genuinely scared, but some still would not accept that any of the people who live in Kabul might need to seek asylum illegally in Australia as a result of such incidences.

Yesterday (the day after this episode aired) The Age newspaper published an article saying that none of the American soldiers responsible for the burning of the Quran were charged criminally. This really got me thinking.

The American armed forces have gone into Afghanistan under the guise of a peace keeping mission. Yes, peace keeping. They go in there and burn what is a highly sacred text to most Afghanis and cause a riot. Not very peaceful really. Then, these people suffer no consequence as a result.

This brought to my mind instances in the US when the American flag has been burned by protesters. It is a criminal offence in the United States to burn an American flag. People responsible for this act have been sent to prison as punishment. Yet, it would appear that it is perfectly okay for Americans to go into another country and burn a sacred symbol, without repercussion.

In this instance, the American 'peace-keeping' soldiers were responsible for the loss of lives and the displacement of Afghani civilians. And this made me wonder, how many other times have US, Australian or British troops been responsible for the violence they sight as the reason for intervention in an area? How many times have they been responsible for the desperation of the refugees they then turn away from their shores?

Asylum seekers coming to Australia by boat

Yesterday, 5 Australian soldiers were killed in Afghanistan. This week two Asylum seeker boats sunk at sea on route to Australia.

Such tragedy's are often sighted as the reasons for Western intervention or the reason for 'turning the boats away,' but how many times are these actually the fault of Western armed forces?

If these events were reversed, if Afghani soldiers had invaded America or Australia and began burning flags or the Christian bible and forced Australians or Americans into dangerous boats, what would the government say? What would our media report? I don't know, but I think we all need to ask ourselves whose fault these things really are.

If there is one thing the SBS has proved through Go back to where you came from it is this: there has to be more we can do, there is further discussion to be had, more education needs to be done. Asylum seekers coming to Australia illegally by boat are desperate. They have no options left. They either attempt to make it to Australia, or they will be arrested, tortured and killed. They need another option and it is the responsibility of everyone. Not just the governments. Not just America. Not just Australia, but everyone in the whole world. We are no longer citizens of a country. We are citizens of the world and we need to be there for each other. We need to be willing to support and help one another. I don't have all the answers but I know for sure we are not doing enough.

50 shades of fan-fucking-tastic!

I know what you're thinking, another blog about 50 Shades of Grey, I'm so sick of hearing about that pornographic book.

But I have to tell you a story. I LOVED the 50 shades trilogy!! Like, seriously LOVED it. Those three books are the best books I have ever read. Hands down. I finished the trilogy a week ago and I still can't stop thinking about it. I can't even bring myself to start reading another book, because NOTHING will ever compare to Anna Steele and Christian Grey's fucked-up, heart-warming, love-hate relationship.

Granted, the whole Twilight fan fiction thing put me off at first. I haven't read Twilight or seen the movies but I know enough about the franchise to know I'm not interested. Vampires just aren't my thing to be honest.

But, as long as you can make it through the first half of 50 shades of grey (the first book in the trilogy), the similarities between the two really aren't that obvious! Reading the first book I have to admit I felt uncomfortable at times. Every now and then my brain would just start screaming 'TWILIGHT! TWILIGHT! TWILIGHT!" and the kinky sex scenes were confronting to say the least, but the book is addictive. Once you get past the first few chapters it is a really compelling read. I couldn't put it down, I just had to read more.

Now don't get me wrong, I'll be the first to admit that this was not a piece of literary genius. The writing leaves a lot to be desired and it can get somewhat repetitive at times. "His impressive length," "feeling him inside me," and "the full feeling" are just a few of the phrases I probably read 100 times too many but once you start getting into the story none of that really matters. You actually start to forget that you are reading. You just become so engrossed by Anna and Christian.

If you are going to read the 50 shades trilogy, be warned, you need to be prepared to read all three books, one after the other. The first book really doesn't have a conclusion as such. It's like the cliff hanger at the end of a season of your favourite TV show. Same goes for the second book.

Christians story and his struggle to be Anna's "more" are heartwarming and heartbreaking all at once. What sets this trilogy apart from Twilight is that these are people. This story is real. Obviously the specifics are fictional but this could actually happen does actually happen. There are no vampires and werewolves, no mythical, supernatural creatures, just a real human story, about people who are trying to find a way to love each other in a world so full of hate and revenge.

BDSM exists. People do it. Sure Christian and Anna's life is a little exaggerated at times, but this is a story people! Anna is so relatable. In the first book I wanted to slap her for being so stupid, in the second I wanted to hug her and tell her it was all worth it and in the third I wanted to make love to Christian Grey and tell Anna to fuck off!

I was compelled by these books right up to the very last page. I just had to know more. I was so hungry for more. Always hungry. (get it?) I spent a lot of time over the last few weeks reading into the wee hours of the morning willing myself to put the I-pad down and go to sleep. Reminding myself I had classes to get to and work to do. But I just couldn't bring myself to put that book down. I wanted more. So much more. (you see what I did there?)

The ending is actually unexpected, in a really weird way. Not to give too much away if you actually haven't read the book yet. But the trilogy ends in the way you would expect any other, normal, boy meets girl romance novel to end. But it is not what you expect when reading 50 Shades. The story is far from traditional. The sex, the dark secrets, the attempted murder and kidnap, and all that freaking money, make it different. And all the way through I found myself dreading the end because I didn't think it could possibly end well, or how I wanted it to end. But the ending was truly perfect! Unbelievably perfect.

I'm glad E.L.James didn't change Christian too much. Even on the very last page, his demons are still evident. And I'm glad she changed Anna. It made it real. Relationships are about compromise and meeting each other half way, and that is what 50 shades is all about. Granted this case is rather extreme. Finding a middle ground between virgin and BDSM domineering "50 shades of fucked up" isn't exactly like compromising between 2 kids and 4, but the point was still made.

On a final note, 50 Shades is not just porn. It is a heart warming and romantic story about an unconventional couple who probably should't be together but they find a way because they love each other. It's protagonists are real. It's antagonists are real. It tells the story of a little boy who was broken as a child and the woman who convinces him that life is worth living and there is another way.

So, if you have ever loved a romance novel. If you have ever loved. If you have ever wondered where your prince charming is hiding. Go out, right now, buy the trilogy and find a quiet place to spend the next few weeks of your life. Forget what you've heard. Forget Twilight. Forget the hype about an erotic pornographic book and immerse yourselves in the world of Anna Steele and Christian Grey. I urge you, do it now!