Goodwill Lacking At Exactly The Wrong Time Of Year

Sydney Morning Herald

Tuesday December 26, 2006

I, and others in Tamworth, have been appalled by the decision of Tamworth Regional Council ("Tamworth's war pits small minds against big hearts", December 22-24). To add to the dismay, the feeble explanations by the Mayor, James Treloar, have only made me cringe.

This morning things reached a new low when I found in my letterbox a pamphlet from Australia First. My heart sank when I saw this. You can imagine its content, the standard rubbish about being overrun by refugees. I gather I have the likes of Mr Treloar and his supporters on council to thank for this.

It really goes to show that once the genie is let out of the bottle it is very hard to put it back.

Paul Whiting Tamworth

Your article on Sudanese refugees in Tamworth showed how ignorant and selfish some Australians can be. At all times, but most especially at Christmas, there should be heightened awareness of the suffering of others. Many Sudanese refugees have experienced or witnessed violence, persecution and suffering of an unimaginable magnitude, well beyond any hardships the existing residents of Tamworth have known. The refugees also come from a vastly different culture so, of course, fitting into life in Australia will take time.

Yet rather than helping their fellow human beings and giving a second chance at life to those who need it more than anyone else, some Tamworth residents want to shut these refugees out because theylook different or don't behave "Australian" from the instant they arrive. This is abhorrent.

Brad Ruting Castle Hill

My heart goes out to the Sudanese people in Tamworth who, as Christians, must surely be wondering whatever happened to the ideal of peace on Earth and goodwill to all men.

Gloria Tommy Tahmoor

Here's a suggestion for the Mayor of Tamworth: concentrate on cultivatinga community spirit of tolerance and understanding, as is his job.

His actions are irresponsible and backward.

Alex Smee Red Hill (Qld)