‘All they will call you will be… IMAs (Illegal Maritime Arrivals)’ – Woody Guthrie’s great song, Deportees, as relevant as ever

.
I was reminded this week of this beautiful song, written by Woody Guthrie — Plane Wreck at Los Gatos Canyon (The Deportees) — the heartfelt lyrics so relevant in Australia today.

For this is the new regime at the Australian Immigration Department: staff are now instructed to only refer to Asylum Seekers as ‘Illegals’ – ‘Illegal Maritime Arrivals’ – even though it is not illegal to seek asylum when you are fleeing danger.

The new ruling: don’t refer to them as people, with children, husbands, wives, parents. Don’t think of them as people to whom you have any obligation whatsoever.  See them as things, an acronym, a problem to be controlled and removed.

Language matters. It is a powerful magic.

And, as we know, if you keep repeating a lie (that Asylum Seekers are ‘Illegals’) for long enough, most people start to believe it is fact.

There are several versions of this song, and this is my favourite.

Take a moment if you can to listen to Dolly Parton’s pure voice singing in honour of those who have died in Australian waters seeking a better life and escape from persecution, tyranny and crushing poverty.

Letter sent to all staff at The Department of Immigration by the new Minister, Scott Morrison last week.

For more information about the reality of Asylum Seekers in Australia – please see the Asylum Seekers Resource Centre’s website and check out and ‘like’ their facebook page.