THE BLAME GAME

I’m bloody angry. There’s a headline in the Herald Sun today about one of the Somalia-born alleged terrorists and it says ‘You Made Him Who He Is Today.’ And his uncle blames us. Blames Australia. Blames the ‘Australian system’. The Age has a similar tear-jerker, dominating Page One, with an uncle sobbing and talking about how the system failed an intelligent boy.

Well, enough already. I’m not to blame. You’re not to blame. The so-called system is not to blame. Australia’s not the blame.

Far from it. This country gave this family chances they could never have dreamed of in their Third World homeland of Somalia. Allowed the uncle to bring out Yacquib Khayre and his family. And give them access to education and health care and welfare benefits they could not have dreamed of in Africa.

(Some of the coverage and suppositions in the papers today must border on contempt of court. A lot of this is sub judice. Men have been charged. Allegations have been made in court. But nobody has come within months of standing trial.)

Trying to keep that in mind, I’ll just point out that Yacquib Khayre was three years old when he came to Australia. He’s now a 22-year-old man. An adult supposedly responsible for his own actions. Maybe his uncle should have dropped by Rod Laver Arena last night and listened to Dr. Phil talking about people being 100% responsible for their behaviour. Maybe then he wouldn’t have been so quick to damn this country for its failures.

And speaking of failures, not much mention in any newspaper about  Khayre’s father. He was also brought to the land of milk and honey for a new life. Where does he feature in all this?

I believe today’s stories will garner little sympathy from other Australians, even the majority who are inclusive and tolerant and accepting of other cultures and other religions. As I said… It’s not our fault.

© Copyright Derryn Hinch 2009