The USS Pilgrim has endured over 1 year in space bringing with it the largest group of humans to leave the Earth since the original colony jettison in the time of Captain James Kirk. These people left the Earth for the "Home"; the Admiral Tim Veltkamp colony in the Typhon Expanse. These people are blinded by the legend developed by President William Hunt, Admiral Tim Veltkamp and perpetuated by Vice President Nicole Branson that the Phoenix Colony is a paradise that provides a utopian environment within which they will be able to integrate into the grand cities of the great architect Acrylos Teero.
There are some other truths prevelent in the colony:
It is so important that we do take a stand because the state we find ourselves in at the moment is a depressing one. The asylum seekers will face many challenges. They may be human but in the eyes of those of us who have endured life on Outpost 294 and now Outpost 395 see them as nothing more than asylum seekers.
The word asylum seeker has become a term of abuse, used by school yard bullies to taunt other kids.
The default position of the citizens and the officials who police it is that almost everyone claiming asylum is lying. Why would anyone leave the Earth to come here?
Regional City State news media has written absolute nonsense about asylum seekers eating donkeys or barbecuing swan; where they can invent facts, exaggerate numbers, demonise vulnerable people, stoke up hysterical fears. The dander is so high that Rome has closed the borders of its city to anyone carrying USS Plymouth insignia.
It is a state in which effective policy has been replaced by acting tough and talking tough, above all appearing tough. In which Nicole Branson, and Vincent Viceroy are seen as too soft – they are too open, bleeding heart liberals – let’s send for Commander T'Ros, what we need is a real leader to deal with the integration of the travelers.
It is a state where people who have never met an asylum seeker are convinced there are hundreds in their area jumping queues for doctors and schools and council flats.
It is a state where urban myths about asylum seekers being given "N for Nicole" Housing or Federation jobs without qualifications are genuinely believed by people .
It is a state where, although in 2378 only the USS Plymouth was given permission to apply for refugee status, out of a total population of 13.2 million, the general election was dominated this issue, to the point where the Governor Eugenio Coren warned of pulling out of the refugee convention altogether.
The inhabitants of the USS Plymouth believed they were coming to a paradise. These are the things they face. This is hardly a paradise. Prejudice is part of all cultures from the grand kings of Earth in the 6th and 7th century to Romulus, to Vulcan and even here on the Phoenix Colony.
Welcome, inhabitants of the USS Plymouth... I hope you are ready.
Posted by:
Christine T'Nley
Omega News Network
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Federation
