Migrants who gripe about old and new homes are losers

While most people gain insights and widen their horizons by having varied and rich life experiences, some folks prefer to dwell on negativity wherever they are.

By the second and third year, most migrants would have developed the maturity and circumpection. Seen the pros and cons of different worlds and better able to strike a balance between extremes and strident viewpoints. Quite naturally, they would moderate their strong views which compelled or motivated them to move on.

Some individuals who are inclined to gripe about their country of birth or the places they departed from could have had traumatic experiences such as refugees escaping wars and upheavals. Some asylum seeks may have an incentive to play up their sufferings from persecution to gain acceptance in the new land or avoid being sent back to their country. However, majority of the migrants are classified under economic and skilled category. Many came for a better lifestyle if not for improvement of employment or business prospects. Their incessant bashing of their former country may be partly to justify why they had left and explain away the trade offs and sacrifices made, usually in terms of family ties, financial security and economic opportunities.

Yet there are others who would blame their less than satisfactory status in their new host country. In the age of internet and lightning speed information dissemination, it is not difficult to research and brace oneself physically and mentally for some imperfections or differences in the way of life.

Another group of complainers are Aussie residents who justify their move to find work and business opportunities in another land. I had an encounter with one years ago who has a long list of negatives about Australia. Good riddance to one less un-Australian. While Australia is not perfect (no country in the world is), it is a great place to build your home and raise a family. There are areas that are in need of improvement such as social services but we have to keep trying to make things better for everyone and not give up easily.

These groups of complainers are not mutually exclusive. The target could either be the place of disembarkation, or the place of arrival, or both. Some folks just can't stop wallowing in self pity or try to appear patronising to others. Those who complain that life is tough will always point their fingers at others such as unfavourable cultural or political factors. It is really up to the individual whether to open doors and make the best of what they have.

- clear glass