The Lines We Cross

Michael’s father receives a warm welcome home from his family and friends, who treat him like a hero. Alan feels worn and haggard after visiting refugee camps, but he maintains that there should be strict limits on immigration and that immigrants should be assimilated into Australian society. Michael does some online research about refugees and engages his father in a discussion, but the teenager struggles to articulate his questions and misgivings. The boy points out Western nations’ involvement in the wars that refugees are attempting to flee, asking: “Isn’t it like starting a fire in a building, walking away, and then being surprised when people try to escape the flames?” (166). Alan argues that Western countries aren’t responsible for the violence, and he says that his time abroad has made him even more determined to ensure the success of Aussie Values.

Late into the night, Michael spends hours researching Western countries’ involvement in the Middle East and Central Asia. He feels both overwhelmed by what he learns and angry at himself for going along with what his parents told him without forming his own opinions.