Coming to grips with the happenings in Christchurch, New Zealand
I live in Australia. My friends, family and I come from different religions,and are from Malaysia, England, Italy, Malta, Chile, Portugal, Africa and America; and none of us are terrorists or dole bludgers or job stealers.
It breaks my heart to know that there are purposeful wanton acts of violence against children, women and men, around the globe, in the name of one side being right and the other side being demonized.
It disturbs me when the education system and the media and the community at large perpetuate misinformation about different ethnic groups and religions.
It riles me when on Facebook community groups, people single out Aboriginal people and other ethnic groups as being thieves or trouble-makers.
It worries me that I often feel that I am the only one person who has tried her best to share accurate information about the history of Aboriginal treatment in Australia, and to engage in polite and intelligent debate over the impact of migrants and ethnic groups on Australian lifestyles and culture, and the impact of Anglo Australians on different ethnic populations.
It grieves me that humankind is collectively like an infant, demanding what each wants for oneself, and by-passing critical systems, like regulating the content on the internet and tolerating differences.
I didn’t want to hear this perpetrator’s reasons for his actions or read about his personal history. Leave that to the police and those who care about preventing these happenings and can lead the way doing so.
I didn’t want to wake up to hear that 49 people had been killed, and 11 were injured, including a 4 year old child.
It pains me to say that sometimes I am ashamed to be a part of humankind.
It tires me trying to keep my head above water, and prioritize what I personally can do to try to build a cohesive, tolerant and understanding and nurturing world for people of all colors / “races.”
When we will wake up, to realise that our fears and blaming are largely in our “heads” and that of course it is possible to live together more peaceably and to share the Planet’s resources equitably.
I pray that day will come soon.
