The issue of whether or not asylum seekers should be permitted to settle in Australia has recently been discussed in the media. In order to address a changing of the Federal asylum seeker policy and the death of large numbers of asylum seekers at sea Giselle Nguyen’s letter to the editor from the Herald Sun argues that the Australian government and society needs to do more to protect asylum seekers fleeing from persecution in their homelands. In order to combat the oppositions assertion that asylum seekers pose a security risk to Australia Nguyen employs an impassioned and at times embattled to draw sympathy within the primary readership of former asylum seekers, families and recent migrants. Accompanying Nguyen’s article is the photo of a young asylum seeker behind a wire fence. By drawing the association between the notion of imprisonment and the current asylum seeker policy the image is able to contend that the current policy is unjust and is further persecuting an innocent people. The image draws further on the sympathetic tone of Nguyen’s article to further attack the injustice exposed by the article.
Nguyen suggests that the new asylum seeker laws are exploiting vulnerable asylum seeker fleeing the violence of their homeland.Nguyen opens with the use of inclusive language contained within her title. By proposing that the ‘policy shames us all’ Nguyen makes the suggestion that the revised asylum seeker policy is not only offensive to those ‘who have endure similar hardships’ attempting to seek asylum in Australia, but is offensive to all Australians who value human freedoms. In doing so Nguyen appeals to the humanity of her readership causing them to reflect on their own ideals. Nguyen uses the words ‘terrifying conditions’ to describe the violence the asylum seekers are fleeing from. This causes the asylum seekers seem vulnerable and positions readers to think that asylum seekers need to be protected by Australia. Nguyen also employs her own personal experience by stating she is ‘the daughter’ of ‘hard working’ asylum seekers. In doing so she is able to establish her credibility and experience with issue and encourage readers to see her as a spokes person for all asylum seekers.
Nguyen makes the suggestion that asylum seekers have the potential to make valuable contributions to society and thus should be granted asylum. By describing her parents as 'outstanding members of society' Nguyen makes the distinction that asylum seekers can make valuable contributions to Australian society. By making the suggestion that 'incredibly hardworking' asylum seekers can improve society Nguyen can position working class Australians to not only identify with the work ethic of asylum seekers but also view asylum seekers as a resource that can bake Australia better. Nguyen further plays on this love of Australia through the use of the image. By placing a subject who has the potential to be an asylum seekers in a position that clearly indicates hard work Nguyen as able to emphasise the economic benefit of engaging with asylum seekers and providing a sanctuary for them. The suggestion that 'everything we have contributed' adds extra impetus to this idea. The us of 'we' in combination with the sweating man in the photo presents the notion that this is a large group of people who can assist within Australian society. Nguyen is thus able to draw on the support of blue collar asylum seekers who can relate to the notion of hard work and see the value in making a contribution to society.
Nguyen closes by arguing that the asylum seeker policy is discriminatory against asylum seekers. Here Nguyen's tone shifts from compassionate to more accusatory and explosive. This tonal shift, in conjunction with the use of the emotive word 'cowardly' to describe the government could position all minorities readers within Australia to feel a sense of solidarity for Nguyen's position.' The suggestion that 'we hold less worth' further reiterates this sense of solidarity and infers that the governments decision is not made in the interests of the people but rather as an act of discrimination against a vulnerable people. Nguyen closes her piece by signing off with 'this is a shameful time for our nation' by including every Australian Nguyen applies a call to all Australian's to act now in order to protect the inclusiveness and cultural openness that defines us as a people. This idea further re-enforces the symbolism contained within the image of the working 'asylum seeker' wearing flip flops and stubbies. These icons of Australia indicates that all asylum seekers have to potential to be Australian and that it is up to all Australians to act now and protect asylum seekers from the 'state of horror' that exists within their homeland.
Throughout the article Giselle Nguyen attempts to persuade her readership that Australia should be making strides to provide a sanctuary to genuine refugees. In employing an impassioned yet logical tone Nguyen encourages her readership of former asylum seekers and families to consider the impact our asylum seeker policy is having on people just like them. Nguyen leaves the reader feeling a sense of sympathy towards asylum seekers and are encouraged to act now to protect their innocence and vulnerability.
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