“Go back to where you came from” rolls effortlessly off the tongue. It asserts a sense of authority, sets the boundaries of division, and its aftermath is a feeling of alienation.
I cringe with disgust when I hear or read this comment. Most times it’s said by a stranger to someone they know nothing about. Clueless about where it is they’re wishing that person back to. They know nothing about what struggles that person faces, how hard they work to pay a mortgage, to raise healthy, happy and content children. They know nothing about the thoughts that crowd their mind. Thoughts as simple as deciding meal plans for their family, prioritising bills to pay, and regretting the extra piece of mud cake that wont budge off their thighs.
In fact, the only thing known and exaggerated about the person is that they’re different in some way or other. If it’s not their skin tone, it’s their eye shape, their faith or possibly the language they speak or the accent they speak it with.
“Go back to where you came from” is an ideal tool to allow one to continue prejudices and distance people. God forbid a simple smile or ‘G’day mate!’ might lead to a conversation that reveals people are more alike than they are different.
Posted by gemms, 20th April 2015
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mom71809 said
- 22 Oct 2015
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mom73672 said
- 25 Jul 2015
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