Multiple dead in Chch NZ - Mosques targetted

[Yeahnahyeah]

Heart breaking. It's 3:37pm on Friday here, and this is actually fucking happening.
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12213056

JessicaWakefieldSVH, thank you so much for your thoughtful and highly informative posts.

None of what you're saying comes as a surprise to me, as I'm aware of the dynamics in other colonised countries.

But you're helping me understand how these apply in New Zealand. Including the conversion of Polynesian people to Islam in reaction to the identification of Christianity with colonisation in NZ.

(I know there's been plenty of colonisation by Islam, but clearly in NZ it's Christianity that is associated with the brutal events you describe.)

Sorry, should have said Māori and Polynesian

Thanks :) Māori are Polynesian too, usually in NZ they’re spoken of separately in conversations but technically we are all Polynesian and share many similar customs, traditions and physical attributes.

None of what you're saying comes as a surprise to me, as I'm aware of the dynamics in other colonised countries

I'm knowledgeable about the US treatment of its terrible treatment of indigenous people. I know that Australia has a lot to answer for in that regard. Canada and NZ however have run a good PR job for the world stage that they are nicer than the US and Australia. Jessica's posts have been very informative.

Māori language isn’t even on the curriculum, people get outraged when it’s suggested. The current PM has no intention of adding it. Dame Whina Cooper used to say we won’t be ‘one people’ until Māori culture is embraced, shared and taught alongside pakeha culture. I think that’s relevant to Muslim communities too. Whether you’re Christian or not, you know a certain amount about Christianity, can I guess acknowledge some aspects of different religions. But I’m not sure how many non-Muslims learn or are aware of the customs etc Our fears come from our ignorance a lot of the time.

Even though I have no issue with Muslims, I could definitely put effort into learning more myself.

There are some documentaries about Whina Cooper on YouTube, if anyone’s interested shes one of my sheros. She founded the Māori women’s welfare league, my Nan was a founding member, amongst many many other great things including the Land March of ‘75.

Ah good, I thought Māori people were Polynesian – then got sudden doubt after I posted. Common usage matters.

Stories coming out of real heroism by some of those who died.

Christchurch mosque shootings: Who were the victims?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-47593693

Hosne Ara is reported to have been in the women's area of the Al Noor mosque when she heard gunfire. Her husband, Farid Uddin, uses a wheelchair and was in the men's area.
"Immediately after hearing the sounds of shooting, she rushed to the spot to find out and save her husband, but received bullets and died," her nephew told Bangladesh's New Age newspaper. Her husband reportedly survived.

I can’t stop crying

I think I saw Farah Uddin yesterday being interviewed. There was a chap in a wheelchair saying he'd managed to get out of the mosque but didn't want to go further than the carpark – because he was so worried about his wife.

They each thought of the other.

Farid Uddin

Sorry, brain not switched on today.

Jessica I have appreciated your posts as although I am aware of the issues you posted as someone half a world away it did not feel like my place to post on them. (If it is of any comfort my family in NZ are well aware of the colonisation & suffering of the Maōri people )

goo.gl/images/3Uk8vf

An iconic photo of Dame Whini Cooper.

Love that photo. My Mum marched in that, 8 months pregnant with me!

WaddIelikeapenguin

Thank you.

Just learning of a young 3 year old who had their life taken. Gosh, it’s unbearably sad.

Editorial in our local Dunedin paper this morning. It is unbearably sad JessicaWakefieldSVH, and will continue to be so for a very long time.

www.odt.co.nz/opinion/editorial/kia-kaha-christchurch

Yes, it will. We haven’t stopped talking about it. I feel so incredibly sad for those people and their loved ones. I’m trying to find positive ways to honour their memory and spread some love in the world. Kia Kaha Kiwis, Arohanui to you all.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's speech in Parliament today, on the attacks in Christchurch on the 15 March.

thespinoff.co.nz/society/19-03-2019/we-cannot-know-your-grief-but-we-can-walk-with-you-at-every-stage/

Parliament was opened with a prayer by an Iman.

www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/watch-beautiful-prayer-delivered-imam-rings-around-parliament-in-first-session-since-christchurch-terror-attack?auto=6015459532001

The government is determined to enact laws that will ban sen-automatic weapons. Our local newspaper, the Otago Daily Times, agrees with the government.
Extract from today's editorial:

There will be many New Zealand users of semi-automatic weapons who could rightly say they, and their behaviours, have not been putting the public at risk. They could rightly say proposed law changes would punish the many in an effort to curb the risk of a tiny minority. They would be right.

We have a strong, sizeable and sensible hunting community in New Zealand, and a law-abiding community of gun enthusiasts. It is reasonable for them to feel discontent at a proposed banning of semi-automatic weapons. Yet it may be the wider population has already made the decision for them.

Some New Zealanders will consider their lives to be materially worse off by any changes to gun laws. But for most New Zealanders, those changes will bring a tangible feeling of safety and assurance.

It is the right thing to do, and it is time to do it.

www.odt.co.nz/opinion/editorial/gun-law-changes-must-proceed

www.odt.co.nz/news/national/surrender-guns-now-law-change-pm

Illyria47 and I walked by the Mosque in Dunedin today, and saw the many flowers and messages of support left there since the attack.

Thank you for the post Otepoti I found the prayer by the Iman particularly moving.
A phrase was used after the Pittsburgh Synagogue shootings which I found brought tears to my eyes and it was this when speaking of the dead, "May their memories be a blessing". I think it is apposite today for the victims of the massacre on Friday. And let us not forget the 48 people who were injured, many remaining in hospital, some still in a critical condition. Our collective heart is still very heavy.

What a magnificent speech by Ardern.

This is a really important article by Dame Anne Salmond I hope others read, it really is something I think anyone wondering how this happened should absorb. Speeches are great, support is important, but there is much more to this.

i.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-shooting/111363583/online-on-talkback-in-taxis-and-at-dinner-tables-the-doctrine-of-white-superiority-is-alive-and-well

Thanks for posting this hard hitting and truthful article by Dame Ann Salmond JessicaWakefieldSVH. The Prime Minister did at least acknowledge in her speech to Parliament today that the gunman's views were likely to be shared by some New Zealanders which is something.

Yes the person who committed these acts was not from here. He was not raised here. He did not find his ideology here, but that is not to say that those very same views do not live here.

So Dame Salmond is right to draw attention to the 'dark underbelly' in this country, and to challenge us to overcome it.

But let's not pretend that there's not a dark underbelly in New Zealand society. It's real, and its twisted, and its been here forever. The rest of us have to name it, challenge it when it comes to light, and replace it with different, better ways of being Kiwi.

I hope the genuine outpouring of grief and sympathy we have seen over the past few days does mean that NZ society can be capable of change.

Oh I always have hope, I really do. As long as people are willing to be honest and to listen. That includes the PM, as it isn’t just about the guns. I would love to ask her how she feels appointing Winston Peters as her deputy has affected the immigrant population.

On a positive note, my English friend who lives in Christchurch walked past the building site of a company that uses Nazi symbols as it’s branding and marketing, he took photos and sent them to Stuff and police. They’ve now been charged with distributing and possessing objectionable material- you can see the article today. They had been operating for some time sadly. I hope more people stop walking past or turning away from small and large instances like this. We must always have hope. For Christchurch

Just read that Stuff article JessicaWakefieldSVH. Good on your friend, he is a despicable man.
And there is this:

www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12213303

A Christchurch man was arrested after yesterday's mosque shootings for allegedly inciting racial or ethnic hatred.The 18-year-old has been charged under Human Rights Act legislation.

There have been quite a few thoughtful articles on where NZ is as a country since the Christchurch attacks, as well as the one from Dame Anne Salmond. This one includes an important perspective from a Muslim immigrant to NZ.

www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/111339270/is-the-kiwi-way-of-life-under-threat-after-the-terrorist-attack-in-christchurch

Extract from article:

Al-Asaad says we need to address violence in its many forms including colonisation, Islamophobia, racism, gender bias, family violence and hate towards the rainbow community so others don't think they can commit violence

You can't help but wonder if this country was really honest about its history and identity, if it wasn't so blatantly Europeanist, white and colonial in its mindset and culture, would people like him feel confident enough to plan and carry out attacks like this with such impunity? The answer is probably no.

But one can hope, as you say.

Thank you, that’s really good. I agree re violence, our domestic violence problem is tolerated far too much- rugby has a lot to do with it. TJ Perenara wrote something lovely, but he made the mistake of saying only one group, muslims, are living in fear right now. Many children fear going to sleep at night, I did. Imagine all those boys growing up fearful, keeping that fear in and not being able to address it because of the way we socialise boys. Not to mention so many many women live in fear of violence & sexual assault. Honest conversation is the only way forward. I am so very proud at how our country is supporting the Muslim community, they need that love right now. But in some ways, responding to large scale violence of this kind is far easier than being honest about all of those issues talked about in both articles. We tend to think simplistically and don’t see the multiple factors involved in what makes up our society and how it affects the most vulnerable. There are lots of issues which I won’t go into right now, where there are competing rights and needs, and that results in a lot of arguing and even more division. I see complex problems with adults incapable of listening and considering each other’s views and fears. Now is a time of great reflection. Rather than coming out of this shouting ‘that’s hate’ ‘ you bigot’, I sincerely hope we can find new ways to live alongside people with different views, lifestyles and beliefs, without resorting to any kind of exclusionary politics, censorship, or intolerance- and focus on the real dangers. I hope we all can use our wisdom to create societies that deal with conflicting views much better than we have. I have a lot of strong views myself, some may not be that popular, I’m vegan! But I have never ever felt the need to shut others down, to attack with words or with violence of any kind. I wish those with whom I disagree, and as an atheist that’s a lot of people, no harm at all. Sending you a big hug OtepotiLilliane42