When one brings up the topic of immigration and Austria.....it usually drives a very stimulating conversation. If you went to any European country and discussed how migration and asylum was handled in 2014/2015, and looked for a country that did a 180-degree twist....Austria is it.
They may have a Green Party President, but the Chancellor and the control of their Parliament operate under a coalition deal....the right-of-center OVP Party, and the far-right FPO Party.
This past week, the FPO folks in one province of Austria stood up and suggested a new idea....to have a 'Ten Commandments of Immigration'.
It starts off with 'you should learn the German language'. Most people (even Germans) will agree that it's a necessity....if you intend to stay.
But the last of the commandments centers on a curious suggestion....'you should live in gratitude to Austria' (for allowing you the chance to enter and stay).
For the pro-asylum and pro-migration crowd, this was a 'punch below the belt', and it's gotten them mostly hyped up.
The odds that this draft will pass beyond the province or become some national document? Zero chance. But it's driving an interesting and stimulating conversation. If you were some migrant on the road to a better life, who do you owe your prosperity or good luck upon? If you had a safer community, improved chances for economic happiness, and fundamental basic rights that were protected....shouldn't you be a little grateful?
Can we even suggest in this PC-conscious atmosphere that gratefulness can even exist now?
In some ways, this little draft proposal has thrown a massive topic out on the table for people to think about and consider.
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